Optimizing Business Applications

INFORMS National Meeting

Los Angeles, April 23-26, 1995

MS/OR: Eye on the Pacific Rim

Go to the INFORMS Los Angeles Meeting Home Page

This meeting will have a lot to offer for people interested in optimization and modeling software and use of new graphical user interfaces. Here is a list of sessions during the meeting that cover interesting topics:

 

Large Scale Optimization: New Developments in Graphical Interfaces for Optimization Software

Sunday 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Chair: Robert Fourer, Dept. of Industrial Eng. and Mgmt. Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3119

SA22.1: How the New Graphical User Interface of the MPL Modeling System can be used to Increase Productivity in Modeling

A new version of MPL takes advantage of open systems and multitasking to provide direct links to solvers and databases, and to create a complete model development environment within a Graphical User Interface. This presentation will discuss the current and future impact of state-of-the-art graphical interfaces upon optimization modeling.

Bjarni Kristjansson, Maximal Software, Inc.
2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201

SA22.2: Recent Developments in Mimi's GUI

We describe recent developments in the graphical interface of the MIMI (Manager for Interactive Modeling Interfaces) system. We also present current industrial experience with graph-based modeling in planning and scheduling applications.

Thomas E. Baker, Chesapeake Decision Sciences, Inc.
200 South Street, New Providence, NJ 07974

SA22.3: Linking Graphical Objects to Index Sets in an Algebraic Modeling Language

We consider the linkage between index sets of an algebraic modeling language for optimization and the graphical objects in an interactive report. Forward and reverse links with floating indices, as well as the link between models and GANTT charts, will be illustrated with the use of the AIMMS modeling system.

J.J. Bisschop and R. Stegeman, Paragon Decision Technology B.V.
P.O. Box 3277, 2001 DG Haarlem, The Netherlands

SA22.4: Graphical User Interfaces for Algebraic Modeling Languages in Mathmatical Programming

Algebraic modeling languages and graphical user interfaces are both well accepted by the users of mathematical programming systems. There are many approaches to bringing them together. We contrast some of the most appealing designs, using the AMPL language for illustration.

Robert Fourer, Northwestern University
Dept. of Ind. Eng. and Mgmt. Sci., Evanston, IL 60208-3119

David M. Gay, Brian W. Kernighan
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ 07974

 

PANEL: The Future of Graphical Interfaces for Optimization Software

Sunday 1:45pm - 3:15pm

Co-Sponsor: Computer Science Technical Section

Chairman: William R. Stewart, Jr., College of William & Mary, School of Business, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795

SB22.1: The Future of Graphical Interfaces for Optimization Software

As a counterpart to the preceding sessions's talks on the current state of the art in graphical interfaces for optimization software, this session will turn an eye toward the future. After short opening statements by panel members, the floor will be opened for questions and discussion.

Panelists:

Christopher V. Jones, Simon Fraser University
Faculty of Business Administration, Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6

John C. Stone, Primal Solutions
124 University Avenue, Suite 300, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Bjarni Kristjansson, Maximal Software, Inc.
2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201

Thomas E. Baker, Chesapeake Decision Sciences, Inc.
200 South Street, New Providence, NJ 07974

J.J. Bisschop, Paragon Decision Technology B.V.
P.O. Box 3277, 2001 DG Haarlem, The Netherlands

Robert Fourer, Northwestern University
Dept. of Ind. Eng. and Mgmt. Sci., Evanston, IL 60208-3119

 

Mathematical Programming User-Vendor Interface I

Sunday 1:45pm - 3:15pm

Chairman: Henry S. Weigel, Dept. of Energy, Energy Info Administration, EI-60, 1000 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20585

SB12.1: Mathematical Programming User-Vendor Interface I

Speakers:

Thomas E. Baker, Chesapeake Decision Sciences, Inc.
200 South Street, New Providence, NJ 07974

B. Ashford, DASH Associates

Bjarni Kristjansson, Maximal Software, Inc.
2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201

A. Fenaroli, IBM

K. Spielberg

 

Mathematical Programming User-Vendor Interface II

Sunday 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Chairman: Henry S. Weigel, Dept. of Energy, Energy Info Administration, EI-60, 1000 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20585

SC12.1: Mathematical Programming User-Vendor Interface II

Speakers:

Joe Creegan, Ketron Management Sciences, Inc.
1715 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 602, Arlington, VA 22202

G. MacDonald, Haverley Systems

George Wilson, IBM Corporation

Alexander Meerhaus, GAMS Development Corporation

 

Software Demonstrations I

Monday 9:45am - 11:15am

Co-Sponsor: Computer Science Technical Section

Chairman: William R. Stewart, Jr., College of William & Mary, School of Business, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795

MB12.1: Planning and Scheduling with MIMI

Modeling languages offer an extremely powerful and efficient means for expressing models. Spreadsheets offer a very flexible and familiar modeling environment for building applications. Advancements in both areas are making it easier than ever to quickly build complex mathematical models. We will debate the advantages unique to these two environments.

Tom Baker, Chesapeake Decision Sciences,Inc
200 South Street, New Providence, NJ 07974

MB12.2: Windows version of DATAFORM/OML table editor.

The user’s view of a model is often through the data. This data table editor uses familiar Windows and spreadsheet paradigms to create, view, and update tables in the MPSIII model database.

Joe Creegan, Ketron Management Science
1725 Jefferson Davis Highway, #602, Arlington, VA 22202

 

Software Demonstrations II

Monday 2:00pm - 3:30pm

Co-Sponsor: Computer Science Technical Section

Chairman: Bjarni Kristjansson, Maximal Software, Inc., 2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201

MC12.1: Flexible Mathematical Modeling Tools for Windows

We will be demonstrating LINDO Systems’ family of popular mathematical modeling packages for Windows including: a new release of LINDO -- our linear and integer programming engine, a new release of LINGO -- our integrated modeling language with linear/nonlinear solvers, and What’s Best! -- our large scale linear/nonlinear spreadsheet solver.

Linus Schrage, Lindo Systems, Inc.
1415 North Dayton Street, Chicago, IL 60622

MC12.2: Using MPL for Windows with the New CPLEX Windows DLL

We will demonstrate MPL for Windows with the new CPLEX Windows DLL. The tight integration of MPL and CPLEX allows users to transparently access CPLEX solution algorithms directly from MPL’s pull-down menus and set options in user-friendly dialog boxes. We will also demonstrate how MPL for Windows can link directly with relational databases such as Paradox, Oracle, FoxPro, and Dbase. Special emphases will be given to what effect this can have on formulating large industrial models.

Bjarni Kristjansson, Maximal Software, Inc.
2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201

 

Software Demonstrations III

Monday 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Co-Sponsor: Computer Science Technical Section

Chairman: William R. Stewart, Jr., College of William & Mary, School of Business, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795

Title: Using the CPLEX Callable Library

The CPLEX Callable Library is used to develop powerful customized applications that solve linear and mixed integer programming models. The ease of application development using the CPLEX Callable Library will be demonstrated, as well as the flexibility and full range of features included in this complete math programming software system.

Irv Lustig, CPLEX Optimization, Inc.

MD12.2: OSL for PC's, Power and Flexibility in Several Operating Environments

The IBM Optimization Subroutine Library (OSL) provides industrial strength solvers for LP, QP, MIP, and network programming problems, plus tools for parametric and sensitivity analyses. OSL is available for a wide variety of computing platforms including workstations and PC’s. OSL for PC’s will be demonstrated in several operating environments: OS/2 2.1, Windows 3.1, and Windows NT/2000.

Dr. Thong Vukhac, Optimization Software Development Group
IBM Corporation, Kingston, NY

 

Software Demonstrations IV

Tuesday 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Co-Sponsor: Computer Science Technical Section

Chairman: Bjarni Kristjansson, Maximal Software, Inc., 2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201

TA12.1: New Modeling and Optimization Tools for Windows

Dan Fylstra, Frontline Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 4288, Incline Village, NV 89450

TA12.2: Using XA Callable Linear and Mixed Integer Solver Windows DLL

Easy of use and flexibility are but one of the many features of the XA DLL Solver Library. Custom applications using EXCEL, FOXPRO, ACCESS, Visual Basic, C/C++, FORTRAN, MPL, GAMS, AMPL, and monte carlo simulation will be demonstrated.

Jim Byer, Sunset Software Technology

 

Software Exhibit

Sunday - Wednesday, April 23-26

The software exhibit will be located in the Pasadena Room on Level One of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Software, hardware, and reference material will be displayed by numerous vendors. Come in to browse through the most recent OR/MS educational materials, to see demonstrations of new and developing technology and to enjoy a cup of coffee during the following hours:

   Sunday, April 23         1:00pm - 5:00pm
   Monday, April 24         9:00am - 5:00pm
   Tuesday, April 25        9:00am - 5:00pm
   Wednesday, April 26      9:00am - 12noon

 

Maximal Software will be at the Exhibit

We will be demonstrating througout the conference the new MPL Modeling System for Windows and Macintosh. This new version of MPL implements a complete model development environment within the Graphical User Interface. We will also be demonstrating the new Windows DLL solver from CPLEX, as well as how to connect to relational databases, such as Paradox, FoxPro, and DBase.