Solvers for AMPL and AMPL Plus

Frontline Systems Solvers (for linear, integer and nonlinear optimization problems) are also available in a form compatible with the AMPL Modeling System. AMPL (A Mathematical Programming Language) is a very high level algebraic modeling language, which allows you to express optimization models in a form very close to standard algebraic notation (as found, for example, in many of the textbooks listed in Recommended Books). Instead of defining your model element-by-element using spreadsheet formulas, you define the model through high-level statements which may involve indexing, summation and vector notation. A model which might occupy hundreds or thousands of spreadsheet columns and rows can often be expressed in less than one page of AMPL statements. The data for the model is defined separately; one model can be used with many different data sets, which may involve different numbers of decision variables and constraints. The AMPL language processor has a DOS or UNIX-like command line interface, but it can be used with AMPL Plus, a complete modeling system with a graphical user interface and ODBC database access developed by Frontline Systems.

Frontline Systems Solvers currently available for AMPL and AMPL Plus:

• XLSOL: A fast, compact optimizer for linear, integer and quadratic problems of up to 800 decision variables, using the same "engine" as the Premium Solver for Microsoft Excel and the Small-Scale LP/QP/MIP Solver DLL.
• LS-XLSOL: A large-scale, sparse Simplex method optimizer for linear and integer problems of up to about 6500 decision variables, using the same "engine" as the Large-Scale LP Solver for Microsoft Excel and the Large-Scale LP/MIP Solver DLL.
• GRG2: A compact nonlinear optimizer based on the Generalized Reduced Gradient method, for problems of up to 400 decision variables and 200 constraints, using the same nonlinear "engine" as the Premium Solver for Microsoft Excel.
• LSGRG: A large-scale, sparse Generalized Reduced Gradient method nonlinear optimizer, for problems of up to about 2000 decision variables and 1000 or more constraints, using many state-of-the-art methods in nonlinear optimization.

Frontline Systems Solvers for Standard AMPL (like AMPL itself) include a 32-bit DOS Extender and run under DOS, or in a DOS window under Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Window NT. Frontline's Solvers for AMPL Plus are Dynamic Link Libraries and run (like AMPL Plus itself) as native programs under Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Windows NT.

For more information on these Solvers, contact sales@frontsys.com. You can also learn more about the AMPL and AMPL Plus Modeling Systems here. To learn about the complete package of AMPL or AMPL Plus, AMPL-compatible solvers from Frontline Systems, CPLEX Optimization and other vendors, and consulting and training assistance, please complete the form below.

Copyright © 1997 Frontline Systems Inc.
Last modified: June 24, 2004.