VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool WHY

25 Pages·2013·0.8 MB·English

VISAGE – The Visual
AMPL Genie
Emre Alparslan
Ulrich Derigs
Shehab Marzban
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
VISAGE is a Visual AMPL Editor
enabling modelers to benefit from
advancements of Windows applications
compared to running standard AMPL
under command prompt
VISAGE was first introduced in 2006
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
WHY
 More than 10 years modeling and teaching
experience at WINFORS using standard
AMPL
 Today´s students are not willing to accept to
work with a system using command prompt
and an external editor.
 Today´s students accept windows-based
integrated modeling environment only
 Comparable systems in the market do not
include all the features we would like to have
 Comparable systems in the market are too
expensive
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
Features of
 Integrated Modeling Environment
 Advanced Graphical User Interface
 Easy to Use
 Provides all AMPL functionalities
 Visage.Net supports location
independence by remote access to a
server from anywhere
VISAGE.Net: Advantages
Research (PhD/Master Thesis) work
with large models requiring CPU-
power can be done from any location
using the internet or local network

Student exercises that are not
tractable using “student versions” can
be solved remotely on the Server
while being modeled on a Client
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
Visage Interface
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
Visage Interface
Standard Windows Application Menu through which new
1 projects or existing projects can be opened as well as
compilation or running a file or project can be enforced

Reset AMPL Button causes clearing memory from current
model and the possibility to run a new model or the same in
2
modified form

Here modelers are given the possibility to switch between
3
different VISAGE projects

Through this drop-down menu modelers are able to define
4 which model file, data file and run script to use when the
project is executed
1
2
3
4
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
Visage Interface
Modelers are able to specify which solver (CPLEX,
5
MINOS…) to use when executing the model

Pressing this button will compile the currently activated
6 model file so that any errors can be specified and identified
before executing the project using a solver

Compile Data will force compiling both the data file and the
model file since data declarations (sets and parameters) are
7
in the model file and need to be considered to verify that
the data file is compiled correctly

8 Solve executes the project using activated model and data
files using selected solver and returns optimization results
6 7 8
5
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
Visage Interface
The different program files currently open can be viewed in
9
the “Tab Menu”
This is the editor in which the AMPL code for model, data
10
and run components is written. AMPL keywords, functions,
comments and reserved words are highlighted in respective
colors. Current Line is highlighted in yellow. Templates are
highlighted in green
9
10
VISAGE: A Visual AMPL Tool
Visage Interface
Users can split screen as flexible as they want to view at the
same time the data file and model file (and others). This is
done simply through dragging the object into a new location
11
This option helps in the model development since users can
see the declaration and definition of data components at the
same time
11