Use this page to navigate to an area of interest on our Web site. We recommend that you review the tutorial section to gain a background in optimization methods, and the types of problems you can solve. Since our Solvers in Excel, 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro use the same underlying technology, you can benefit from all parts of this site, no matter which spreadsheet program you use.

Optimization using Excel Solver - Frontline Systems

• Premium Solver for Microsoft Excel
  • Frontline News Page
    • New Features of the Solver in Excel 97
    • New Technical Support Policies
      • Known Problems in Microsoft Excel Solver
        • Assume Linear Model Option
          • Understanding the Solver Reports
            • Reports: An Example Model
            • The Answer Report
            • The Sensitivity Report
              • Dual Values and Ranges for Linear Models
            • The Limits Report
          • Estimates, Derivatives and Search Options
          • Precision and Tolerance Options
        • Use Automatic Scaling Option
        • GRG Solver Stopping Conditions
    • Frontline Offers New Platform for Spreadsheet Optimization
    • Premium Solver Platform Offers ‘Breakthrough’ Enhancements
    • New Large-Scale Solvers Integrate with Premium Solver Platform
    • New OPTQUEST Solver Integrates with Premium Solver Platform
    • Dash Associates and Frontline Systems Announce Cross Licensing Agreement
    • Solver DLL Version 3.5 Features Evolutionary Algorithms, Multi-Threaded Optimization
    • Premium Solver Version 3.5 Features New Evolutionary Solver
    • Backgrounder: Genetic and Evolutionary Algorithms Versus Classical Optimization
    • New Solver DLL Component Features Nonlinear Optimization
    • Frontline Unveils Premium Solver V3.0 and Premium Solver Plus
    • Backgrounder on Feasibility and Linearity in Solver Models
    • Backgrounder on Integer Constraints in Solver Models
    • Press Release: Solver DLL Components Support New Microsoft Visual Tools
    • Press Release: Speed Gains in Excel 97 Solver
    • Press Release: Solver for Lotus 1-2-3 97 Edition
    • Press Release: Lotus to "Superdistribute" Frontline Solver
    • Backgrounder on Software Superdistribution
    • Frontline Systems Corporate Backgrounder
  • Frontline Products Page
    • Premium Solver Products for Microsoft Excel
      • Large-Scale LP Solver Engine for Microsoft Excel
      • Large-Scale GRG Solver Engine for Microsoft Excel
      • LGO Global Solver Engine for Microsoft Excel
      • OptQuest Solver Engine for Microsoft Excel
      • XPRESS Solver Engine for Microsoft Excel
      • Frontline's Add-in Functions for Microsoft Excel
        • Premium Solver for Microsoft Excel
    • DLL Solvers for Custom Programs
      • Solver DLL V3.5 Features Evolutionary Algorithms, Multi-Threaded Optimization
      • Small-Scale NLP/MIP Solver DLL
      • Small-Scale LP/QP/MIP Solver DLL
      • Large-Scale LP/MIP Solver DLL
    • Help with Solver Models
    • Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure
  • Frontline Table of Contents Page
  • Frontline Feedback Page
  • Frontline Search Page
  • Solver Users Self-Registration Form
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Premium Solver Product Family - Comparison
    • Premium Solver Platform for Microsoft Excel
  • The Standard Evolutionary Solver
  • Premium Solver Plus for Microsoft Excel
  • A Tutorial on Spreadsheet Optimization
    • Books, Seminars, and Web Resources
      • A Message from Amazon.com
      • Recommended Books - Order Online
        • Introduction to Modeling Languages and AMPL
    • A Product Mix Example
      • DOTPRODUCT Function
    • Hints for Building Readable, Manageable Models
      • AMPL and AMPL Plus Modeling Systems
        • AMPL Plus Screen Image
    • How the Solver Handles Constraints
    • Elements of Solver Models
    • Linear and Nonlinear Functions
      • QUADPRODUCT Function
    • Discontinuous and Non-Smooth Functions
    • Algorithmic Methods Used by the Solver
      • Large-Scale LP Solver for Microsoft Excel
      • Linear Programming
      • Nonlinear Programming
        • If You Aren't Getting the Solution You Expect
      • Mixed-Integer Programming
  • Software Maintenance and Upgrades
• Solver for 1-2-3 97/98
  • Solver FAQs - Questions About Pricing and Availability
  • Solver FAQs - General Questions
  • Solver FAQs - Questions About Upgrading
  • Solver FAQs - Questions About Mixed Environments
  • 1-2-3 Solver Frequently Asked Questions
    • Solver FAQs - Questions About Building Applications
      • VBA and Macro Function Reference
• Lotus 1-2-3 97 Solver User Guide Contents
  • Using Frontline's Solvers
  • The Enhanced Solver Products
    • The Premium Solver
    • The Quadratic Solver
    • The Large-Scale LP Solver
  • How to Use This Helpfile
  • Telephone Support and the World Wide Web
  • Further Reading
  • Extracting Files
  • Modifying the Registry
  • Using the Files Add-Ins Menu
  • Elements of Solver Models
    • Decision Variables and Parameters
    • The Objective Function
    • Constraints
    • Feasible and Optimal Solutions
    • Linear and Nonlinear Functions
    • Quadratic Functions
    • Functions to Avoid: Discontinuities
  • Linear and Nonlinear Programming
    • Linear Programming
      • Problem Size and Numerical Stability
      • The Simplex Method
    • Quadratic Programming
    • Nonlinear Programming
  • Integer Programming
    • The GRG Method
    • The Branch & Bound Method
  • From Algebra to Spreadsheets
    • Setting Up a Model
  • Decision Variables and Constraints
    • Variables and Multiple Selections
    • Using the Variables Button
    • Constraint Left and Right Hand Sides
      • Implicit Non-Negativity Constraints
      • Efficiency of Constraint Forms
      • Using Integer Constraints
  • If You Aren't Getting the Solution You Expect
  • Solver Completion Messages
    • 0. Solver found a solution. All constraints and optimality conditions are satisfied.
    • 1. Solver has converged to the current solution. All constraints are satisfied.
    • 2. Solver cannot improve the current solution. All constraints are satisfied.
    • 3. Stop chosen when the maximum iteration limit was reached.
    • 4. The Set Target Cell values do not converge.
    • 5. Solver could not find a feasible solution.
    • 6. Solver stopped at user's request.
    • 7. The conditions for Assume Linear Model are not satisfied.
    • 8. The problem is too large for Solver to handle.
    • 9. Solver encountered an error value in a target or constraint cell.
    • 10. Stop chosen when the maximum time limit was reached.
    • 11. There is not enough memory available to solve the problem.
    • 12. Another 1-2-3 instance is using SOLVE123.DLL. Try again later.
    • 13. Error in model. Please verify that all cells and constraints are valid.
    • 14. Your free trial license to use the Solver has expired.
  • Problems with Poorly Scaled Models
  • The Tolerance Option and Integer Constraints
  • Limitations on Nonlinear Problems
    • GRG Solver Stopping Conditions
      • Locally Versus Globally Optimal Solutions
      • When Solver has Converged to the Current Solution
  • Problems with Discontinuous Functions
    • When Solver Cannot Improve the Current Solution
  • Solver Options - Introduction
  • Max Time and Iterations
  • Precision
    • Precision and Regular Constraints
    • Precision and Integer Constraints
  • Integer Tolerance
  • Assume Linear Model
  • Show Iteration Results
  • Use Automatic Scaling
  • Assume Non-Negative
  • GRG Solver Options
    • Convergence
    • Other Nonlinear Options
    • Estimates
    • Derivatives
    • Search
  • Solver Reports - Introduction
  • Selecting the Reports
  • An Example Model
  • The Answer Report
  • The Limits Report
  • The Sensitivity Report
    • Interpreting Dual Values
    • Interpreting Range Information
  • Controlling the Solver's Operation
  • LotusScript Function Reference
    • SolverAdd (Form 1)
    • SolverAdd (Form 2)
    • SolverChange (Form 1)
    • SolverChange (Form 2)
    • SolverDelete (Form 1)
    • SolverDelete (Form 2)
    • SolverFinish
    • SolverFinishDialog
    • SolverGet
    • SolverLoad
    • SolverOk
    • SolverOkDialog
    • SolverOptions
    • SolverReset
    • SolverSave
    • SolverSolve

Copyright © 1999 Frontline Systems Inc.
Last modified: June 24, 2004