NeuroSolutions for Excel: Product Summary

NeuroSolutions for Excel Product Summary

NeuroSolutions for Excel is a Microsoft Excel add-in that simplifies and enhances the process of getting data into and out of a NeuroSolutions neural network. This tool benefits both the novice and the advanced neural network developer by offering easy to use, yet extremely powerful features. The foremost feature of this product is that all tasks can be performed directly from Excel!

For the novice, NeuroSolutions for Excel provides:

Automated Neural Network Topology Search

Visual Data Selection

One-step Training and Testing

Enhanced Automated Report Generation

For the advanced user, NeuroSolutions for Excel has the following features:

Data Preprocessing

Data Analysis

Parameter Optimization

Sensitivity Analysis

Advanced Training Methods (i.e. Leave-N-Out)

Batch Experiments

Automated Neural Network Topology Search
NeuroSolutions for Excel™ has made it easier than ever to find the solution to your specific problem! With the Express Builder you can quickly and easily setup a few or every variation of neural networks available in NeuroSolutions - plus your own custom networks!

Express Builder Default Panel

Express Builder Advanced Panel

Upon completion, all of the statistics of the training and testing simulations are compiled in a easy-to-read worksheet with the "best" result highlighted for easy retrieval. Inlcuded in the report is a Summary of All Networks, Performance Metrics (e.g. MSE, Min. Abs. Error, etc.) and Confusion Matrices for classification problems.

Express Builder Report

NeuroSolutions for Excel™ is organized into eight modules (click to expand each module), each of which can be extended with user-defined custom batches written in Visual Basic for Applications.

Express Builder Module

The Express Builder module allows the user to easily setup a simulation that automatically builds, trains and test multiple neural network topologies and finally creates an easy-to-read report of the results including the "best result".

Build and Test Models
The Build and Test Models automatically builds, trains and test multiple models in NeuroSolutions and then creates a report of the results.
Apply Model
Easily apply the best model from the training run to new data in Excel™

Preprocess Data Module

The Preprocess Data module allows the user to easily apply various preprocessing techniques to their raw data to prepare it for input into a neural network. The following Preprocess Data operations are built into NeuroSolutions for Excel™

Shift
The input data is adjusted to either move the inputs back by a specified shift value to do predictions or move the inputs forward to lead your desired output.
Encode Two Class Column
The selected column of data is checked to verify that there are two classes contained within the column and is then encoded into another column. The data to be encoded can be textual or numeric, but must be translated to only numeric, integer codes. The encoded column will be written in the first empty column in the dataset.
Pause Training
As an alternative to completely stopping a training run, the network can be paused, so training can be resumed at the same point.
Classification Report
A classification report generated if the desired output of the testing set is a single two-class column.
Randomize Rows
Randomly arranges the rows of data within the active worksheet. This is performed on ordered data so that the training data is representative of the entire data set.
Translate Symbolic Columns
Translates textual columns into columns of 0's and 1's. This is a requirement for columns containing words since neural networks can only work with numeric data.
Clean Data
Cleans the data by replacing blank cells, error codes, and/or user-defined text with an interpolated value, the column average, a random value, or the closest value in a column.

Analyze Data Module

The Analyze Data module provides the user with useful information about their data. The operations available in this module can be used during the preprocessing stage of neural network design or to analyze the network output. The following Analyze Data operations are built into NeuroSolutions for Excel™:

Histogram
Time Series Plot
X-Y Scatter Plot
Correlation
Summary Statistics
Trend Accuracy

Tag Data Module

The Tag Data module provides a simple graphical method for tagging portions of your data as Training Input, Training Desired, Cross Validation Input, Cross Validation Desired, Testing Input, Testing Desired, and Production Input. This module also provides powerful auto-tag methods. The following Tag Data operations are built into NeuroSolutions for Excel™

Tag Selected Column(s) As Input, Desired or Symbol
Tag Selected Row(s) As Training, Cross Validation, Testing or Production
Clear Selected Tags
Tag Rows By Percentages
Select Cross-section

Create/Open Network Module

The Create/Open Network module allows the user to create a NeuroSolutions breadboard (neural network) from scratch through the use of the NeuralBuilder utility or by opening an existing NeuroSolutions breadboard. The following Create/Open Network operations are built into NeuroSolutions for Excel™

Open, Close or Save Breadboard
New Classification Network
New Function Approximation Network
New Custom Network
Load Best Weights

Create Data Files Module

The Create Data Files module creates tab-delimited ASCII files for each tagged cross-section so that NeuroSolutions can read the data. This module is not used very often since the files are created automatically whenever the neural network is trained or tested. The following Create Data Files operations are built into NeuroSolutions for Excel:

Create All Data Files
Create Files for one Data Set (Training, Cross Validation, Testing or Production)
View Data Files
Delete All Data Files

Train Network Module

The Train Network module gives the user the ability to train a network once, multiple times with different random initial conditions, or multiple times while varying one or more network parameters. This powerful module permits the user to easily find the optimum network for a particular problem. The following Train Network operations are built into NeuroSolutions for Excel™:

Train
Trains the active NeuroSolutions breadboard one time and creates a report of the results.
Train N Times
Trains the active NeuroSolutions breadboard N times with different random initial conditions and creates report of the results.
Leave N Out Training
Trains the network multiple times, each time omitting a different subset of the data and using that subset for testing. The outputs from each tested subset are combined into one testing report and the model is trained one additional time using all of the data.
Vary a Parameter
Trains the active NeuroSolutions breadboard N times for each value of a network parameter as the parameter is varied from a user defined starting value by a user defined increment for a user defined number of variations.
Train Genetic
Trains the active NeuroSolutions breadboard while genetically optimizing the choice of inputs and parameter values to achieve the best model.

Test Network Module

The Test Network module can be used to test a network after training has been completed. In testing the network, various performance measures are computed. This module also allows you to perform sensitivity analysis on the network. The following Test Network operations are built into NeuroSolutions for Excel™:

Test
Tests the active NeuroSolutions breadboard on the chosen data set and creates a report of the results.
Sensitivity About the Mean
Performs sensitivity analysis on the chosen data set. This procedure allows you to determine the effect each of the inputs has on the network output.

Custom Batches

The user can also create his/her own custom subroutines (batches) for any of the right modules by calling built-in NeuroSolutions functions and/or writing Visual Basic code. These custom batches can then be run from the NeuroSolutions for Excel™ menu from within Microsoft Excel™.

For example, suppose that you wanted to create a batch that will train your data using four different type of neural network architectures and then return the results of the architecture that performed the best. NeuroSolutions for Excel will allow you to write a custom VB subroutine to perform these steps automatically and then add that batch as an option within the Train Network Module.

Supported Microsoft Office Versions

Office 97

Office 2000

Office 2002

Office 2003

Office 2005

Office 2007

Office 2010

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