DPL can automatically create a linked model in the Influence Diagram from an Excel spreadsheet. Linked value nodes are created for the named driver and metrics ranges you select.
Before linking a spreadsheet to DPL, you need to name the key drivers and output metrics (NPV, IRR, Total Cost, etc.). See Excel's documentation for information on naming cells. You may also want to look at the example spreadsheets installed with DPL, as they are all set up for easy linking.
To build a DPL model from an Excel spreadsheet, choose Home | Workspace | Add to WS | Excel Linked Model. DPL will display the Create Model from Excel dialog. Click the Browse button to locate the spreadsheet file you would like to build from.
Once you have specified the desired spreadsheet file, the Range Names dialog will appear. This dialog lists all of the named ranges or cells in the spreadsheet. You can choose to Select all or some (by using Ctrl+click) of the named ranges. After pressing OK, DPL will create and add value nodes to the Influence Diagram for all the named ranges selected in the spreadsheet, import data for those cells that contain constants, establish the node/cell links, and add the necessary influence arcs. The model may be run immediately. Once the links are established, you can then change the value nodes to decision and/or chance nodes as appropriate.
Adding Linked Nodes to a DPL Model Created from Excel
Once you have created a model from a spreadsheet, you can add new, linked nodes to a model by using Influence Diagram | Nodes | Linked Node split button. The split button will be set to create Excel Calculation-linked nodes by default. Or, if you desire a different link type, drop down the Linked Node split button to add a Excel Initialization-Linked or DPL Program Calculation-Linked node.
Versions: DPL Professional, DPL Enterprise, DPL Portfolio
See Also
Creating Spreadsheet-Linked Nodes