Features
Optimization
Simulation
PRO vs PLATFORM
Everything You Need to Develop and Deploy Powerful Optimization and Simulation Applications
Common, Easy-to-Use Object-Oriented API
Use the same high-level objects (like Problem, Solver, Variable and Function), collections, properties and methods across different programming languages.
Web Service API for PHP and JavaScript
The same object-oriented API is exposed "over the wire" through Web Services WS-* standards to remote clients in PHP, JavaScript, C# and other languages.
Procedural API for C and FORTRAN
Procedural languages can use conventional calls that correspond naturally to the properties and methods of the Object-Oriented API.
Solve linear, nonlinear, non-smooth problems
Linear and quadratic programming, mixed-integer programming, smooth nonlinear optimization, global optimization, and non-smooth evolutionary and tabu search are all included.
8 Plug-in Large-Scale Solver Engines
The world's best optimizers, from Gurobi™, XPRESS™ and MOSEK™ for linear, quadratic and conic models to KNITRO™, SQP and GRG methods for nonlinear models "plug into" Solver SDK.
Fast Monte Carlo Simulation Engine
Easily define uncertain variables with sampling from 50 continuous, discrete and custom distributions, rank-order correlation of dissimilar distributions, and distribution fitting.
Large-Scale Sparse Matrix Objects
Easily create a sparse DoubleMatrix object with 1 million rows and columns, and use it in your code with high performance and minimal memory use.
Parallelized Solver Algorithms
Exploit multiple processor cores for optimization and Monte Carlo simulation using Solver SDK's built-in parallelized algorithms, without having to write parallel code yourself.
Thread-safe for Multi-user Applications
Call Solver SDK on multiple concurrent threads -- making it easy to build Web server and other applications that handle multiple clients concurrently.
Solver Server Handles Multiple Client Apps
Our Solver Server that supports a WS-* standard Web Services API is included with Solver SDK -- use it support to multiple remote clients concurrently.
Load, Update, Solve Excel Workbook Models
Solver SDK can read Excel workbooks, interpret Excel formulas, and run Excel-based optimization and simulation model -- while running on a server without Excel itself.
Load, Update, Solve RASON Models
Solver SDK can interpret models in our high-level RASON modeling language, bind to external data sources, and run RASON optimization and simulation models.
Load and Solve LP, MPS, OSiL Files
Solver SDK can load and solve linear and mixed-integer programming models defined in these traditional file formats.
Example Applications in Multiple Languages
Source code is included in each supported programming language for over 35 example applications, illustrating how to set up and solve every type of problem.
Help and Support
Our 344-page SDK User Guide, 723-page SDK Reference Guide, 183-page Solver Engines User Guide, and our highly-regarded technical support supports your efforts.
Straightforward Runtime Licensing
Obtain licenses to distribute Solver SDK with your application, or use it on your on-premise or cloud-based server(s), with simple terms that work for your application.
Industry Leading Conventional Optimization Capabilities from Premium Solver Platform
Analytic Solver Platform provides best-in-class tools to help you solve virtually any conventional optimization problem of any size.
Excel Solver compatible
Use existing Solver models and VBA macros as-is, but solve faster -- just open your workbook and solve.
Unlimited size models
Handle problems with up to 8,000 decision variables (40 times larger than the Excel Solver) using built-in Solver engines, and virtually unlimited size problems with optional plug-in Solver engines.
Easier model building
Our Constraint Wizard helps you think about and define constraints. Guided Mode helps you better understand your model, refine it for better answers in less time, and find and correct any errors. When you're up to speed, Auto-Help Mode gives you expert help only when you encounter an error.
Dimensional modeling
Build more structured, easily readable, compact Excel models, that represent business situations with many 'dimensions' such as products, customer types, geographic regions, or time periods.
Helpful example models
Over 60 example models show you step by step how to create a basic Solver model, build more complex models, and use more advanced features.
Better solutions
Find better solutions to portfolio optimization problems, global optimization problems, and models using arbitrary Excel functions with the built-in LP/Quadratic, SOCP Barrier, Interval Global and Evolutionary Solvers.
Faster solutions
Find solutions between 2X and 200X faster thanks to more advanced Solver engines, better optimization algorithms, and our super-fast, proven accurate PSI Interpreter.
Insightful reports & charts
Easily understand and share results, and get insight into the key drivers of your model results and potential decision trade-offs you can make.
Easy to use interface
Use either a dialog-based interface that matches the basic Excel Solver, or our Ribbon and Task Pane interface with quick access to advanced features and help.
Remove guesswork
Simply define your model in Excel -- Premium Solver Platform will analyze it algebraically and automatically choose the best available Solver engine for it.
Automatic transformation
Premium Solver Platform goes beyond model analysis -- if your model would solve slowly because it uses functions like IF, VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, MIN and MAX, it will seek to transform your model automatically into a form that can be solved much more quickly and accurately.
Upgrade Solver Engines
We developed the solver in Excel -- you get an extremely powerful, 100% compatible upgrade now, and the ability to "plug in" the world's best Solver engines for every type of optimization problem, whenever you need them. Your plug-in Solver engines will work with all our Platform products.
Industry Leading Simulation and Stochastic Optimization Capabilities from Risk Solver Platform
Analytic Solver Platform provides best-in-class tools to solve simulation/risk analysis and stochastic optimization problems of any size.
Solve any model type
Since it handles conventional optimization, simulation optimization, and stochastic optimization problems, you can build virtually any model you want, and let Analytic Solver Platform take it from there.
Rich simulation features
Over 50 probability distributions and over 50 statistics, risk measures and Six Sigma metrics are included, as well as the ability to fit distributions and automatically update them.
Seamless integration
All functions work as native Excel functions, so if you know even a little about Excel you'll be up and running in no time.
Insightful charts
From instant preview charts of distributions and fully customizable charts of inputs and outputs, to customizable multi-chart windows with full data visualization features, to charts that automatically cover multiple parameterized simulations, Analytic Solver Platform gives you greater insights.
The fastest simulations
At up to 100x faster than competing alternatives thanks to our super-fast, proven accurate PSI Interpreter, you'll spend less time watching your simulation run, and more time analyzing results.
Build decision trees
Build multi-stage decision trees with point-and-click ease, and modify them right in Excel.
Simulate over trees
Add probability distributions and run simulations, to see the true range of outcomes for each decision alternative.
Full sensitivity analysis
See how your optimal decisions change as you vary the chances and payoffs across multiple outcomes.
Wizards and Guided Mode
Our Distribution Wizard helps you define probability distributions. Guided Mode helps you better understand and refine your stochastic optimization model, and find and correct any errors. Auto-Help Mode gives you expert help only when you encounter an error.
Helpful example models
Over 60 example models show you how to create Monte Carlo simulation models, decision tree models, simulation optimization models, and stochastic optimization models with chance constraints and recourse decisions.
The fastest optimizations
Analytic Solver Platform can handle the most challenging stochastic optimization models, thanks to advanced methods such as stochastic decomposition, more advanced Solver engines, and our super-advanced PSI Interpreter.
