** SOLVER FOR LOTUS 1-2-3 97 ** You can use the file SOLVE123.EXE in this directory to install a limited-use trial version of a new Solver add-in for Lotus 1-2-3 97 Edition. This add-in, which replaces the Solver in previous versions of 1-2-3, is a what-if analysis tool that you can use to find answers to problems that you define, using constraint formulas and an objective formula to be maximized or minimized. The Solver add-in was developed and is supported by Frontline Systems Inc. This README file covers the following topics: 1. Installing the Solver 2. Network Installation 3. Getting Help 4. What is the Solver Good For? 5. Upgrading from the Solver in 1-2-3 Release 5 6. Known Problems in this Version 7. Downloading Updates ** Installing The Solver ** To install the new Solver, simply run the program SOLVE123.EXE on the computer where you have installed 1-2-3 97. You can double-click the filename SOLVE123.EXE in Windows Explorer, or select Run from the Start menu and type or browse to the path of SOLVE123.EXE. You don't have to specify anything further: Just click the Setup button, then the OK button when prompted. SOLVE123.EXE is a "self-extracting archive" which creates a Solver subdirectory within your 1-2-3 directory (for example, c:\lotus\123\solver) and copies the necessary files into this subdirectory. It then registers the Solver add-in (filename SOLVER.12A) so that it loads automatically whenever you start 1-2-3. To use the Solver add-in from 1-2-3, select Range - Analyze - Solver to display the main Solver Parameters dialog box. Click the Help button in this dialog box to access extensive how-to information about the Solver (see "Getting Help" below). After you install the Solver, you'll also see a sample workbook SOLVSAMP.123 in the 1-2-3 Recently Used Files List. You can open this workbook, solve the problems on any of the six predefined application sheets (sheets B through G), and practice setting up a Solver problem on sheet A. After you install the Solver, if you have problems registering or auto-loading the Solver, double-click on the file SOLVER.HLP in the Solver subdirectory, and read the section "Custom Installation". To deactivate the Solver, choose File - Add-Ins - Manage Add-Ins, then click on the check mark next to the filename SOLVER.12A so that the check mark disappears. Then click Done. To remove the Solver add-in completely from your system, choose File - Add-Ins - Manage Add-Ins and click the Remove button in the Manage Add-Ins dialog box. You can then delete the Solver subdirectory and all the files it contains. ** Network Installation ** If 1-2-3 is installed on a network server with restricted permissions on its directories, SOLVE123.EXE must be run once by a user (such as your network administrator) with permissions to (i) create the solver subdirectory in the \lotus\123 directory on the server and (ii) copy its files to that directory. It is OK to run SOLVE123.EXE many times in this way, once for each client machine -- this will simply copy the same files each time to the network server, and set up the appropriate local Registry entries (pointing to these files) on each client machine. If this approach is acceptable in your environment, you can skip the rest of this section. If you run SOLVE123.EXE from an account without permissions to write to the server (e.g. from a typical client machine account), you will probably encounter the error message: Error copying Solver files to hard disk. Check available disk space and permissions. SOLVE123.EXE exits at this point, having changed nothing on either the client or the server machine. This means that the local Registry entries pointing to the Solver files have not been created, so the Solver will not be automatically available when you next start 1-2-3 on that client machine. If you have many client machines using 1-2-3 from a server with such restricted permissions, and it is inconvenient to run SOLVE13.EXE on each client machine from an account with the necessary permissions, you can do one of two things: 1. Download an updated version of SOLVE123.EXE from Frontline Systems' World Wide Web site (see the very end of this text file for details). When you run this updated version on a client without per- missions to write to the server, it will display an error message as above, but with a new choice: Error copying Solver files to hard disk. Check available disk space and permissions. Press OK to continue, Cancel to quit. If Solver is already installed on a network server, press OK to complete client setup. If you click OK, SOLVE123.EXE will proceed to create the local Registry entries, and the Solver will then be available automatically when you next start 1-2-3. (Note -- this assumes that you have run SOLVE123.EXE at least once from an account WITH permissions, so that the files are already on the server.) 2. Manually create the Registry entries on the client. Instructions for doing this are in the SOLVER.HLP file, which should be in the \lotus\123\solver directory if you have run SOLVE123.EXE previously from an account with permissions. To read the instructions BEFORE you run SOLVE123.EXE, you can use the WinZip program to open SOLVE123.EXE as an archive and extract the SOLVER.HLP file alone. Follow the instructions under the topics "Modifying the Registry" and "Using the Files Add-Ins Menu." ** Getting Help ** Frontline Systems offers telephone technical support for the Solver on a fee basis, and also maintains an extensive World Wide Web support site which you can access free of charge. Lotus Customer Support also offers some information about the Solver, though not in the same depth as the Solver developers, Frontline Systems. Most questions can be answered from the Solver's online Help, or by consulting Frontline's Web site. We encourage you to use the free resources first. To learn about Solver licensing and telephone technical support, click on the Help button in the Solver Parameters, Solver Options or Solver Results dialog box. The Solver will display a dialog box which reports the status of your Solver license: If you are using the trial version, this dialog shows how many problem solution attempts (clicks of the Solve button) remain before the trial license expires. If you have purchased a permanent license, it shows your user name and registration serial number. To purchase a permanent license, click the Register button. Also included in this dialog is telephone support and Web site information. Click the Help button in this dialog to reach the Solver Help file. If you have access to the World Wide Web via the Internet, you will find a wealth of current information about the Solver -- over 70 pages at this writing -- at Frontline Systems' Web site, http://www.frontsys.com Since this site is frequently updated, it is well worth while to check it periodically for the latest news about the standard and enhanced Solvers. If you can't find the answer you need, you can send email to Frontline Systems directly from your Web browser with a single mouse click. Or, if you're using a separate email system, send it to: info@frontsys.com To reach Frontline Systems by phone, fax, or mail, please use: Frontline Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 4288 Incline Village, NV 89450, USA Tel (702) 831-0300 Fax (702) 831-0314 ** What is the Solver Good For? ** The Solver is especially useful for resource allocation problems. The resources may be raw materials, people or equipment time, money, or anything else in limited supply. The decision variables represent the amounts of resources, and the constraints quantify the limits on their use. The Solver finds the allocation of resources that will maximize profit or minimize cost, while satisfying the constraints. The workbook SOLVSAMP.123, which is installed with the Solver when you run SOLVE123.EXE, shows you how to: * Assemble products from parts in inventory so as to maximize profits * Ship goods from plants to regional warehouses at minimum cost * Schedule employees to meet demand at an amusement park while minimizing cost * Invest cash monthly in short-term certificates of deposit to maximize interest income * Allocate funds to stocks in a portfolio to maximize return for a given level of risk The Solver uses the methods of linear programming, nonlinear programming, and integer programming to find optimal solutions. You'll find more information on these topics in the Solver Help system, accessed by clicking the Help button in any of the Solver dialogs. ** Upgrading from the Solver in 1-2-3 Release 5 ** Capabilities: The new Solver provides linear and nonlinear optimization capabilities similar to those of the Solver in 1-2-3 Release 5. It also handles problems with integer constraints, which allow users to include features such as fixed costs and yes/no decisions (such as whether to build a new plant) in their models. Problem Size: Unlike the 1-2-3 Release 5 Solver, which had no fixed limits on problem size, the new Solver has a fixed upper limit of 200 decision variables, and 100 constraints for nonlinear problems. But you will be able to solve problems on most modern PCs all the way up to this limit, which in practice is substantially larger than the 1-2-3 Release 5 Solver could handle in the same amount of memory and allowed solution time. If you need to solve larger problems, contact Frontline Systems about enhanced versions of the Solver with more capacity and speed. Converting Models: Solver models created in 1-2-3 Release 5 may be easily converted into the form required by the new Solver. Just follow these steps: Open your 1-2-3 Release 5 worksheet containing a Solver problem. Select Range - Analyze - Solver to display the Solver Parameters dialog. Type or select the objective (cell to be maximized or minimized) and the range of adjustable, or variable cells. Then click the Add button to add constraints. In the Cell Reference edit box, select the range of constraint formula cells in your 1-2-3 Release 5 model, then click OK without selecting anything else. The new Solver will separate your constraint formulas into their "left hand sides", relations (<=, =, >=) and "right hand sides" automatically. NOTE: This can only be done once, since your constraint formulas are modified in the process! Converting Macros: If you have written 1-2-3 macros that include commands such as {SOLVER-DEFINE} to control the 1-2-3 Release 5 Solver, you'll find that the new Solver supports the same commands, with a few changes in the arguments. The new Solver also sports a complete programmable interface for LotusScript, which will be the preferred approach for implementing new applications. NOTE: The macro commands are best used as a transition aid -- you are strongly encouraged to convert your applications to LotusScript. ** Known Problems in this Version ** There are two known problems in the Solver version included on the Lotus 1-2-3 and SmartSuite CD-ROMs. Both of these problems affect only advanced use of the Solver through LotusScript: 1. The SolverChange() function - Form 2 - which is used to change a block of decision variables programmatically from Lotus- Script, does not work as expected and is incorrectly described in the Solver Help file. You can work around this problem by using SolverDelete() - Form 2 followed by SolverAdd() - Form 2 instead of SolverChange() - Form 2. 2. If you (1) call SolverAdd() - Form 2 to add a block of decision variables, (2) call SolverAdd() - Form 2 a second time to add another block, then (3) call SolverDelete() - Form 2 to delete the first block, you will not get the correct result (i.e. the first block deleted and the second block remaining). You should never need to do this in your LotusScript code, but there is no simple workaround if you do. ** Downloading Updates ** If you encounter problems, such as the permissions issue described under "Network Installation" or the two "Known Problems" mentioned above, you can download a free, updated version of SOLVE123.EXE from the Frontline Systems' World Wide Web site. To do this: 1. Visit Frontline Systems' home page http://www.frontsys.com. 2. Click on "SIGN UP for our Private Web for Solver Users" and fill out the registration form (this is free). 3. Your sign up should be confirmed immediately, and the home page of the Private Web should appear. 4. Before downloading the update, you're encouraged to take a look at the messages posted in the discussion forum for the latest news. You can also post your own messages. 5. Click on the "Download" link and follow the instructions to download the latest version of SOLVE123.EXE. Note that downloading and installing a new SOLVE123.EXE will have no effect on your trial usage of the Solver -- you will continue with the same number of "solves" remaining as you had before. If you download and install a new version of SOLVE123.EXE after purchasing a permanent license, you permanent license will remain in effect.