Microsoft decided that Excel 2008 should not include support for VBA. If you are wondering why Solver wasn't included with Excel 2008, forcing you to download this additional software package, it is because it employs VBA for its user interface. It runs as a separate application outside Excel. It also uses AppleScript – rather than the Excel C API – to 'talk to' Excel while it's solving. Solver's user interface has been rewritten using AppleScript instead of VBA. Solver is basically an Excel 2008 for Mac add-in that allows linear programming. But the catalyst for this move has been Microsoft's Mac Excel team.” We're now applying more development resources to the Macintosh, motivated by the Mac's resurgence in the market and the move to Intel processors. “For many years, we've offered Solver upgrades for Windows users, that have gotten more and more powerful over time - but we haven't been active on the Mac.
“Frontline Systems developed the original Solver for Excel on both Macintosh and Windows,” says the developing company. Courtesy of Frontline Systems, but also of the Microsoft Mac Business Unit, the analysis tool for Excel has finally reached the Mac. As a Mac owner using Microsoft's Excel, you will be pleased to know that Solver for Excel 2008 is now available for free download.
