The data you show looks like this would work perfectly. However I am not
familiar with this Solver function. What formula do i place in the Target
Cell and I assume that the "by changing these cells" should be my list of
lengths?

Thanks!

"Dana DeLouis" wrote:

One approach that sometimes work is to run Solver in a vba loop.
After each solution, the program removes that solution from the data, are
runs Solver again.
For your 2nd example, the first pass picked 250,340, & 410, for 1,000 (0
waste)
The Second loop picked 250,375,375, again for 0 waste...loop again...etc.

--
HTH :)
Dana DeLouis
Windows XP & Office 2007


"Travis" wrote in message
...
This one is kinda hard to descibe. I have a list of multiple values. I
need
a way to display the correct combinations of the values, each in a
different
series, where the sum of each series is between x and y. :S

Two example scenarios:

I have some files that are of various sizes. I want to backup to a
floppy,
cd, thumbdrives, etc... To minimize wasted space, which files to copy to
disk 1, disk 2, etc...


I have some CAT6 cable that comes in 500' or 1000' spools. I have
multiple
cable drops in various lengths. To minimize cable waste, how many spools
and
which runs from which spool.

Is this too complicated for excel?

410 405 375
380 405 375
410 300 375
310 300 375
310 300 375
340 300 375
375 332 250
375 332 250
410 332

Which combination of these lengths will maximize the use of a spool of
1000'
cable?
and how many spools would i need?

Thanks,