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LiveLink™ for Excel®

Integrating Spreadsheets with COMSOL Multiphysics®

With LiveLink™ for Excel®, COMSOL Multiphysics users can take advantage of the capabilities and structured simplicity offered by Excel® to extend the modeling capacity of the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. Parameters and variables that are defined and modeled in COMSOL Multiphysics® are instantly available in Microsoft® Excel® and are automatically synchronized with the user's physics model. What's more, LiveLink™ not only makes it possible to create a COMSOL material library from data stored in a worksheet and import it into COMSOL Multiphysics®, but it also enables users to load Excel files for parameter and variable lists into the COMSOL Desktop®.

The full capabilities provided by LiveLink™ for Excel® are available in the Windows® operating system, whereas import and export capabilities are available in the macOS and Linux® operating systems.

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A heat sink model overlaid on an Excel spreadsheet.
An Excel spreadsheet showing the results and parameters of a busbar model.

Working with COMSOL Multiphysics® in the Excel Environment

LiveLink™ for Excel® enables users to perform and control their COMSOL Multiphysics modeling from an Excel environment. When LiveLink™ for Excel® is installed, a COMSOL Multiphysics tab is immediately made available in the Excel ribbon. Using the buttons on the ribbon on the COMSOL tab, it is possible to control most of the steps in the modeling process, including:

  • Opening and saving models
  • Importing and redefining parameters, variables, and functions
  • Running mesh and solver routines
  • Extracting and treating data
  • Presenting results

Parameters are automatically synchronized with cells in the Excel worksheet, and they can be changed on the fly and resynchronized — and the model can be solved again. Moreover, COMSOL modeling can be augmented with some of the tools and functionality provided by Excel®. For instance, columns of data in the Excel worksheet can be used to define point coordinates so that evaluations can be performed based on a model solution. After the evaluation, extracted results will populate related Excel columns, and curve-fitting of the extracted data can be achieved by using tools from Excel®.

Opening a COMSOL Model from Excel®

When a COMSOL Multiphysics model is opened from Excel®, a COMSOL Multiphysics server is started. This server is where the model file is loaded. It provides a graphics window that displays the model geometry, mesh, and results plots, enabling users to track the progress of the modeling being controlled via Excel®. COMSOL Multiphysics graphics can be inserted into an Excel worksheet along with other figures and tables, and there is an option to produce a complete report or dashboard based on a model. This functionality makes it possible to share COMSOL results with users who are proficient in Excel® but not in COMSOL modeling. Results can also be shared with others by creating COMSOL apps; using LiveLink™ for Excel®, these apps can save numerical results and graphics as Excel sheets that can be shared among colleagues.

The Material Export settings dialog box with various material properties.

Working with Excel® in the COMSOL Multiphysics Environment

LiveLink™ for Excel® provides tools for importing data directly into COMSOL Multiphysics® for further use in the modeling workflow. For example, model definitions, such as parameters, variables, and functions, can be imported from an Excel worksheet. Furthermore, with LiveLink™ for Excel®, users can create a material library within Excel® and configure the export in such a way that COMSOL Multiphysics® recognizes the material properties and stores them appropriately in the Material Library. Users can export results to Excel®, where they can compare, optimize, and calibrate these material properties.

Working with COMSOL Models Using Visual Basic® for Applications (VBA)

For advanced Excel users, LiveLink™ for Excel® makes it possible to use VBA to modify COMSOL models and control COMSOL solvers and results evaluation tools. If a user wishes to perform an action that is not directly available as a button in the COMSOL Multiphysics tab or to automate an operational procedure, the macro language VBA that is built into Excel® can used. COMSOL® has a comprehensive application programming interface (API) that enables the control and modification of all aspects of a COMSOL model. Users can change any setting in a COMSOL model, solve the model, and then transfer the numerical results or plots to VBA and, thus, into Excel sheets.

A collage with a VBA window overlaid on an Excel spreadsheet and a Results window.

Supported Formats for File Import and Export

File Format Extension Import Export
Excel® .xlsx
Microsoft, Excel, Visual Basic, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For a list of such trademark owners, see the Trademarks page. COMSOL AB and its subsidiaries and products are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or supported by these trademark owners.

Every business and every simulation need is different.

In order to fully evaluate whether or not the COMSOL Multiphysics® software will meet your requirements, you need to contact us. By talking to one of our sales representatives, you will get personalized recommendations and fully documented examples to help you get the most out of your evaluation and guide you to choose the best license option to suit your needs.

Just click on the "Contact COMSOL" button, fill in your contact details and any specific comments or questions, and submit. You will receive a response from a sales representative within one business day.

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