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Argo is a Monte Carlo simulation Add-in for Excel. Developed by Booz Allen Hamilton. Available for free.

Argo leverages Excel's calculation dependency chain to create dynamic simulation networks that update efficiently with Excel's calculation cycle. Simulation models built with Argo automatically update as cells are changed in a Workbook in the same way that Excel Worksheets recalculate single values. This capability opens the door for spreadsheet simulation models to be interactive decision making tools.

#Resources

• Introduction
• User Forum

#Installation

Download the latest version of Argo, which is an Excel add-in with the extension .xll, from the Argo Landing Page.

Note that there is a video walk-through of the installation process described below accessible from the download page.

Save the Argo.xll file to your computer and remember the location.

It is possible to open the Argo.xll file directly via double-click. This action will launch Excel and provide the option of enabling Argo for one-time use. This must be repeated to use Argo and can complicate the process of opening workbooks; therefore, it is not the recommended approach for enabling the add-in.

After downloading and saving the Argo .xll, open a blank Excel workbook. From within Excel, click:

• File > Options to open the Excel Options dialog box
• Select Add-Ins on the left side of the Excel Options dialog box to open the Add-Ins pane
• Select Excel Add-Ins in the combo box labeled Manage at the bottom of the Add-Ins pane
• Click the button labeled Go... to open the Add-Ins dialog box
• Select the button labeled Browse on the Add-Ins dialog box to open the File Dialog Browser
• Locate the Argo .xll and click open on the File Dialog Browser to load Argo into the Add-Ins dialog box
• Check the box next to the Argo Add-In in the Add-Ins dialog box

This will load Argo and an Argo tab will appear on Excel's ribbon.