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Frontline Systems Develops Solver
for Lotus 1-2-3 97 Edition

INCLINE VILLAGE, NV -- November 17, 1996 -- Frontline Systems, the leading developers of spreadsheet solvers, announced a new Solver for Lotus 1-2-3 97 Edition, which will replace the Lotus-developed solver included in earlier versions of 1-2-3.

"This Solver provides a new level of analytical power and capability for Lotus customers. We're pleased to supply the latest version of Frontline Systems' Solver with 1-2-3 97 Edition," said Andrew Wyatt, Lotus director of product management and design for spreadsheets.

"Our new Solver for 1-2-3 97 Edition brings our Solver technology, already proven in use with Excel and Quattro Pro, to 1-2-3 users," said Daniel Fylstra, president of Frontline Systems. "This completes our 'sweep' of the three major spreadsheets, and allows us to further leverage our ongoing investment in Solver development."

Solver is Effective for Resource Allocation Problems

The Solver automatically finds the optimal values for certain input cells, called decision variables, which drive a spreadsheet model. The solver ensures that these values satisfy limits, called constraints, on other cells calculated by formulas in the model. A designated formula cell, called the objective, is maximized or minimized at the optimal solution.

A sample 1-2-3 97 Edition workbook, included with the Solver, shows users how to:

• Assemble products from parts in inventory so as to maximize profits
• Ship goods from plants to regional warehouses at minimum cost
• Schedule employees to meet demand at an amusement park while minimizing cost
• Invest cash monthly in short-term certificates of deposit to maximize interest income
• Allocate funds to stocks in a portfolio to maximize return for a given level of risk

All of these sample applications represent resource allocation problems. The resources may be raw materials, people or equipment time, money, or anything else in limited supply. The decision variables represent the amounts of resources, and the constraints quantify the limits on their use. The Solver finds the allocation of resources that will maximize profit or minimize cost, while satisfying the constraints.

Solvers use the methods of linear programming, nonlinear programming, and integer programming to find optimal solutions. The new Solver for 1-2-3 97 Edition supports all of these methods. It is designed to handle problems of up to 200 decision variables; users who need to solve larger problems will be able to obtain enhanced versions of the Solver with more capacity and greater speed directly from Frontline Systems.

Upgrade Path from the Solver in 1-2-3 Release 5

Analytic Capabilities. The new Solver provides linear and nonlinear optimization capabilities similar to those of the earlier Lotus solver. It also handles problems with integer constraints, which allow users to include features such as fixed costs and yes/no decisions (such as whether to build a new plant) in their models.

Problem Size Limits. Although the earlier solver had no fixed limits on problem size, in practice the new Solver can handle problems substantially larger than the old one in the same amount of memory and allowed solution time.

Existing Models. Solver models created in 1-2-3 Release 5 may be converted into the form required by the new Solver with just a few mouse clicks. The new Solver accepts constraints as written in earlier versions of 1-2-3, and automatically converts them to its new form, which is similar to the one used in Excel and Quattro Pro.

Existing Macros. Users who have written 1-2-3 macros employing commands such as {SOLVER-DEFINE} to control the earlier Lotus solver will find that the new Solver supports the same commands, with a few minor changes. The new Solver also sports a complete programmable interface for LotusScript, which will be the preferred approach for implementing new applications.

Interoperability with Other Spreadsheet Solvers

Common Features. For mixed environments where both Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Excel are used, the new Solver offers significant advantages. The Solvers for 1-2-3 97 and Excel 97 use the same underlying technology and have very similar features and options. Users who have learned how to set up Solver models in one spreadsheet program will find that their knowledge transfers easily to the other.

Common Models. For the first time, it is possible to transfer Solver models from Excel to 1-2-3 and from 1-2-3 to Excel, and solve them in either spreadsheet program. This allows users to leverage their model-building skills, and makes a large library of existing Solver applications in Excel accessible to 1-2-3 users.

Common Scripts. The LotusScript language supported by 1-2-3 97 Edition is compatible with Visual Basic Application Edition as supported by Microsoft Excel. The object models presented by both spreadsheets, and manipulated in VBA or LotusScript code, have much in common. The new Solver carries this a step further by supporting a very similar programmatic interface in both spreadsheets, with user-callable functions such as SolverOptions and SolverSolve. The result is that users can leverage their expertise, and a good deal of the scripting code they write, across both spreadsheet programs.

Pricing and Availability

A free limited-use version of the new Solver will be distributed by Lotus on CD-ROM copies and OEM versions of 1-2-3 97 Edition and SmartSuite 97 Edition. Users who purchase 1-2-3 or SmartSuite on floppy disk will be able to download the Solver from either the Lotus or Frontline Web sites. Users can obtain an unlimited-use license for $50, through an automatic, 24-hour-a-day registration system built into the software. Free electronic support, and fee-based phone support will be provided by Frontline Systems.

For More Information Contact:

Frontline Systems Inc.
P.O. Box 4288, Incline Village, NV 89450
Tel: 702-831-0300
FAX: 702-831-0314
Internet: info@frontsys.com

Copyright © 1996 Frontline Systems Inc.
Last modified: December 01, 1996