DLL Solvers for Custom Programs

Frontline's Dynamic Link Library (DLL) Solvers can be called from custom programs you write in any Windows programming language capable of calling DLLs, such as C/C++, Pascal or Fortran; Visual Basic, Delphi or PowerBuilder; or Microsoft Access, Microsoft FoxPro, or Borland Paradox. Our Small-Scale Solver DLL product line gives you all the tools you need to solve nonlinear, quadratic, linear, and mixed-integer programming problems, and includes a wide array of diagnostic capabilities. At present, our Large-Scale Solver DLL handles only linear and mixed-integer linear optimization problems -- but large-scale nonlinear and quadratic Solver "engines" are on the way.

Instead of defining your model through spreadsheet formulas, you define the model through code and data in your programming language. For nonlinear optimization problems, you write a "callback" function in your chosen language, which computes values for the objective and constraint left hand sides for any given values of the variables. For linear optimization problems, you can define the model via a matrix of constant coefficients for the objective and constraints. Through separate arrays, you can specify the "sense" (<=, =, >=) and right hand side of constraints, upper and lower bounds on the variables, and integer constraints on the variables. You pass this information via arguments to the DLL Solver's routines, and they return to you optimal values for the variables as well as status and sensitivity information.

For a summary of Solver DLL Version 3.5 product features, and instructions for downloading our free Solver DLL V3.5 Evaluation Kit, please click here.  For more information on individual product configurations, click on one of the product names below:

• Small-Scale NLP/MIP Solver DLL
• Small-Scale LP/QP/MIP Solver DLL
• Large-Scale LP/MIP Solver DLL

If you sign up (it's free) for our Private Web for Solver Users, you can download a free evaluation version of our Small-Scale Solver DLL (limited to 10 variables, and to 5 constraints for nonlinear problems). The evaluation kit includes a Windows Help version of our complete Solver DLL User Guide; declaration header files for Visual Basic, Delphi Pascal, C/C++ and FORTRAN; and source code of example programs in all four languages! Both 16-bit (for Windows 3.x) and 32-bit (for Windows 95 and NT) versions of the Solver DLL are included.

Runtime Licenses for the DLL Solvers

If you wish to distribute copies of your application using one of the Frontline DLL Solvers, we can offer you very attractive volume discounts for appropriate runtime licenses. For a discount schedule, please contact Frontline Systems at (775) 831-0300, fax (775) 831-0314 or email to sales@frontsys.com and give us a rough estimate of the number of licenses you might need.

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