IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio

IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio supports rapid, reliable development of analytical decision support applications based on optimization technology with debugging, testing, and tuning of optimization models

IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio provides the most efficient way to build mathematical programming and constraint programming models for tackling complex planning and scheduling problems. With its Integrated Development Environment (IDE), descriptive modeling language and built in development tools, it supports the entire model development process.

Develop, debug, test and tune math programming, constraint programming and constraint-based scheduling models

Click to enlarge imageThe following diagram shows the complete model and application development process supported by IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio. Each box corresponds to detailed descriptions of the supported capabilities below.

With most optimization projects, it is crucial to identify relevant data on demand, resources, constraints, costs, customer preferences, goals and solution metrics early in the process. IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio helps make this process easier.

A model library provides quick starting points for providing wide range of examples. For easy understanding and possible jumpstart for a model development, the example set is categorized from four different viewpoints (complexity, model feature, industry, technique) and can be imported to the integrated development environment (IDE). More importantly, IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio's ability to integrate with IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise provides a way to generate an application prototype very quickly, allowing business users without formal training in Operations Research (OR) to participate in the model refinement process.

With an application prototype, users can review the entire model in the business context that makes sense to them. Not only can users verify that all model inputs and outputs are correct, but they can help determine how the model should behave—how constraints should be relaxed, what explanations should be given and which model inputs should be exposed for modification in the scenario creation process.

Data preparation and manipulation with the OPL modeling language is powerful and efficient. IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio can import data and export optimal solutions to databases and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The modeling language supports both arrays and sets of data, and external database tables are naturally mapped to tuple sets. Tuple sets, like database tables, support primary and foreign keys, allowing for efficient model execution. Writing constraints and goals by referencing fine-grained sets of valid possibilities supports precision indexing, allowing models to solve problems more quickly, and eliminating the need to write unnecessary code.

IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio is a full featured integrated development environment (IDE) with extensive support for project management and model review.
The OPL modeling language represents mathematical problems descriptively, producing substantially simpler and shorter code than general-purpose programming languages. Its powerful syntax supports all expressions needed to model and solve problems using mathematical programming- and constraint programming-based approaches.

The OPL modeling language allows compact formulation, and the IDE provides easy navigation and execution of models. Click to enlarge image.

IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio is the most efficient way to take advantage of the full power of IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer and IBM ILOG CPLEX CP Optimizer.

Real-world applications often require algorithmic approaches beyond the single-model view of most OR textbooks. OPL Script, built on top of the OPL modeling language, can be used to solve complex problems by combining or chaining models, where recommendations from initial optimization models act as input data for subsequent models.

It is common for the introduction of new business requirements to lead to unexpected results during the model refinement process. For example, a new constraint might make a model infeasible or a solution might no longer make sense after an additional objective has been enabled.

IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio has several features to help model developers find and address the problems that arise in real world applications:

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Run Configuration allows you to organize models and data sets into executable scenarios.
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Achieving reasonable solving performance with a model can sometimes be a challenging task, even with help from the world's fastest optimization engine. IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio makes model performance tuning easier.

Managing data sets, parameter settings and models

The first step in performance tuning is to create a set of scenarios, combining particular alternate model formulations, data instances and engine parameters. IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio's Run Configurations feature is specifically designed to support the systematic isolation of performance problems.

When an IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio project contains multiple models with multiple engine settings and multiple data files, a Run Configuration references the specific combinations to be executed. Easily configurable through drag-and-drop, a benchmark suite is easy to manage, right from the IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio integrated development environment (IDE).

The Profiler in IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio helps you identify the precise bottlenecks in your models, including showing how memory and time is spent, both during model generation and model execution.

Example from the Profiler, detailing time and memory consumption for a MILP model. Click to enlarge image.

• Easier migration from desktop to client server
• New capabilities in the IDE:
  • The IDE can connect to an instance of IBM ILOG CPLEX Enterprise Server giving users access to external resources for large, long, multiple solves.
  • New Key Performance Indicator (KPI) comparison toolkit makes it easier to do runs across a variety of model formulations and/or data sets and then compare results, speeding model development.
  • Both pre-configured KPI comparison toolkit applications and a tutorial for constructing such applications are provided.

Learn more about important concepts and features of IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio that enable you to work with it effectively and efficiently.

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