As a fully integrated Excel add-in program with its own toolbar and menus, Crystal Ball picks up where spreadsheets end by letting you perform Monte Carlo analysis (a standard technique for simulating real-world situations involving elements of uncertainty).

What is the likelihood of reaching a particular goal? What are the critical factors affecting risk? The answer to these and other common “what-if” scenarios can be determined by assigning probability to unknown variables. Excel can't handle the complexity of probability analysis, so you need a better tool: Crystal Ball 2000.

Crystal Ball automates the cumbersome "what-if" process using Monte Carlo simulation, by applying a range of values or a probability distribution to each uncertain variable.

The program generates random values from within the defined probability ranges, and then recalculates the model literally hundreds or thousands of times, storing the results of each "what-if" scenario. This timesaving process alleviates having to manually enter different scenarios over and over again.

Monte Carlo Simulation Does: Calculates multiple scenarios of a spreadsheet model automatically

Distribution Gallery Does: Provides an intuitive interface for selecting model input variables; includes 16 discrete and continuous distributions plus custom distribution

Forecast Charts Does: Graphically display simulation results and statistics

Sensitivity and Tornado Analyses Does: Two separate methods for identifying the most critical model input variables

Distribution Fitting Does: Uses historical data for defining assumptions

Correlation Does: Models dependencies between uncertain input variables

Charting and Reporting Does: Automates report generation, includes the ability to overlay forecasts and to project trends through time

Precision Control Does: Provides advanced simulation capabilities

Latin Hypercube Sampling Does: Alternative simulation method to Monte Carlo

Data extraction Does: Exports data from Crystal Ball memory