Connecting Modeling Languages with other Systems

SA30.1 Using Shared Libraries (DLLs) to Extend an Algebraic Modeling Language

• David M. Gay; Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, 600 Mountain Ave., Murray Hill, NJ 07974; dmg@research.bell-labs.com

One way to add flexibility to an algebraic modeling language is to permit introducing certain kinds of extensions by means of shared or dynamic-link libraries (DLLs). We sketch the uses of sharedlibraries and describes their use with AMPL language to introduce new functions and table handlers.

SA30.2 AIMMS as an Object in Other Applications

• Johannes J. Bisschop; Paragon Decision Technology BV, PO Box 3277, Haarlem, 2001 DG , The Netherlands; j.j.bisschop@paragon.nl
• Marcel Roelofs; Paragon Decision Technology, PO Box 3277, Haarlem, 2001 DG , The Netherlands; marcel.roelofs@paragon.nl

We will focus on the usability of AIMMS models as optimization components in other applications such as spreadsheets and e-commerce packages. Special attention will be paid to an Excel add-in and an intuitive COM object library to interface with languages such as Visual Basic and VBScript.

SA30.3 Hooking Non-Traditional Solvers to an Algebraic Modeling Language

• Robert Fourer; Northwestern University, Dept. of IEMS, 2145 Sheridan Rd., Tech. Inst., Evanston, IL 60208; 4er@iems.nwu.edu
• David M. Gay; Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, 600 Mountain Ave., Murray Hill, NJ 07974; dmg@research.bell-labs.com

New optimization techniques are forcing algebraic modeling languages to adopt new approaches in communicating problems to solvers. Global optimization and constraint programming solvers may need to see explicit expression trees, while accepting diverse nonsmooth and combinatorial expression forms. We take examples from several solver interfaces to the AMPL modeling language.

SA30.4 Interactive GUI Objects in AIMMS

• Marcel Roelofs; Paragon Decision Technology, PO Box 3277, Haarlem, 2001 DG , The Netherlands; marcel.roelofs@paragon.nl
• Johannes J. Bisschop; Paragon Decision Technology BV, PO Box 3277, Haarlem, 2001 DG , The Netherlands; j.j.bisschop@paragon.nl

In some planning and scheduling applications, the end-user wants to manipulate both the input and output data in a graphical manner. We will focus on 2 of the several interactive GUI objects in AIMMS: the advanced interactive network object for spatial planning and the flexible interactive Gantt chart for scheduling.