Using Solver with Linear Constraint(s)
 

Excel 2002 SP3
Win XP Pro SP2

*Follow-up to: microsoft.public.excel*

Hi,

Sorry but I have "writer's block" right now as regards to a spreadsheet
solution I need.

It's a simple problem but I am just drawing a blank at the moment....

Let me try to describe it:

I have a cell chosen as the target for solver e.g. M25 = 1% (total
market share)

And a range as the cells to change by solver e.g. J4:J23 (market share
as % at each period e.g. month or quarter, etc.)

Each cell needs to progressively grow until reaching 1%. And the rate
of growth of the cells in J4:23 needs to stay constant or linear.

The 1st value affected by J4 is a $ amount like $100,000. The ending
value is very high in comparison: 100,000 % that the original $ value.

I cannot project the 1% divided by the number of period as the 1st
period growth would be much too high.

I need the values in the range J4:J23 to change to solve the equation
but in a linear fashion, each cell value being progressively higher than
the last.

I have played around with the Linear, Automatic Scaling, etc.; options
but have not been able to get the result I want.

Actually, I do not really see a linear solution in this case but again,
I am in a "blank" right now....

Any help or suggestion?