How TopRank Works

Simply take your existing spreadsheet model, select any cell or cells as outputs, and TopRank scans the spreadsheet to find cells which affect your results. Click the ‘Run What-if’ button and TopRank tries different values for each variable cell, changing values over ranges such as -10% and +10%. Each time a new value is tried, the spreadsheet is recalculated and new results are generated. Upon completion, TopRank ranks the variable cells according to the effect they have on your selected outputs. You can also select exactly which cells you wish to vary, and by how much, for a more customized analysis.

TopRank uses Vary functions in Excel to vary inputs across a range. TopRank functions are true Excel functions, and behave exactly as native Excel functions do. TopRank windows point to the cells they refer to via callouts, and changes in one place are automatically carried out in the other.

See TopRank Add Inputs

Graphic Results

TopRank results are displayed in a variety of reports and charts. Graphs include:

Tornado Graphs – Display the relative ranking of one input versus another by comparing the effects of all inputs on results. For each input, the length of the bar indicates the amount of change the input caused on results.

See Tornado Graph

Sensitivity Graphs – The effects of an individual input on results can be plotted with a standard line graph. The value of the input is plotted on the X-axis and the value of results is plotted on the Y-axis. This simple X-Y plot indicates how results change in conjunction with the underlying input.

See Spider Graph

Spider Graphs – Also compares the effects of multiple inputs on results. For each input, the percentage changes in its value from the base case is plotted on the X-axis, and the percentage change in results is plotted on the Y-axis. As inputs have different effects on results, the graph often resembles a spider.

See Sensitivity Graph

Advanced Features

Multi-Way What-If Analysis – Varies two or more inputs at the same time instead of one at a time. Multi-Way What-if Analysis calculates the effect of each combination of input values on the results.

VaryTable Function – Often in the real world inputs only vary among several possible values. The VaryTable function lets you specify a list or table of values among which an input varies.

Until now, What-if analysis was done by manually selecting a cell, trying two or three different “What-if” values, recording the values of some result cell, and repeating for a few other cells in the spreadsheet. This process was both time-consuming and non-rigorous. Now, in a matter of seconds, TopRank gives you the answers you need by performing a fast and rigorous analysis.

Two Editions to Meet Your Needs

TopRank	Professional	Industrial
Automated what-if analysis	•	•
Automatic identification of inputs	•	•
Tornado, spider, and sensitivity graphs	•	•
Specify ranges to vary inputs	•	•
Browse through inputs with Tab key	•	•
Swap out TopRank functions for non-TopRank users	•	•
Change related inputs at the same time	•	•
Multi-Way What-If Analysis	•	•
Support for @RISK functions		•
Unlimited Multi-Way What-If Analysis		•

Designed for your largest, most complex models, TopRank Industrial adds the following features:

Support for @RISK Functions – TopRank Industrial recognizes @RISK probability distribution functions to provide more flexibility in modeling variation across an input. @RISK functions can model a greater variety of ranges and probabilities than standard TopRank Vary functions.

Unlimited Multi-Way What-If Analysis – TopRank Industrial supports an unlimited number of input combinations, while TopRank Professional allows only two or three variable combinations.

TopRank Features & Benefits

FEATURES	BENEFITS
Automated what-if analysis	Quickly focus your analysis
Seamless integration into Microsoft Excel	Never leave your spreadsheet; get up to speed quickly
Automatic identification of inputs	Saves time
Tornado, spider, and sensitivity graphs	Multiple, easy-to-understand ways to identify critical factors and communicate to others
Specify ranges to vary inputs	Control analysis to reflect your situation
Browse through inputs with Tab key	Easily identify inputs and illustrate to others
Swap out TopRank functions for non-TopRank users	Share models with anyone
Change related inputs at the same time	Save time defining categories
Multi-Way What-If Analysis	Identify scenarios of multiple inputs affecting results
Support for @RISK functions	Model variation more accurately
Unlimited Multi-Way What-If Analysis	Unlimited combinations of input scenarios