GANetXLEvolutionary Optimisation
for Microsoft Excel
GANetXLEvolutionary Optimisation
for Microsoft Excel
J.Bicik, M.S.Morley, E.C.Keedwell & D.A.Savić
23 February 2007 2/17
Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline General description Structure & features of the application Definition of the optimisation problem Live demonstration Software & hardware requirements Getting GANetXL Future work
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DescriptionDescription A user friendly add-in which integrates
into Microsoft Excel
Uses evolutionary algorithms to solve complex optimisation problems
Interacts with Excel using COM interface
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Existing ToolsExisting Tools Evolver 4.0 (Palisade) Premium Solver Platform (Frontline
Systems Inc.) OptWorks Excel (Pi Blue) GeneHunter (Ward Systems) Generator (NewLight Industries, Ltd.) xl bit (XLPert Enterprise) GenSheet (Inductive Solutions, Inc.)
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MotivationMotivation The commercial software does not
support multi-objective (MO) optimisation Use of existing GA library
– Flexibility– Extensibility
To let students get in touch with GAs Simple use Save money on buying software licenses
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HistoryHistory GA Excel add-in (2003) by F. Zheng
– written in Pascal– Single Objective Genetic Algorithms
GenetXL (2004)– written in C++– GA Library in Pascal– SOGA + MOGA (NSGA-II)
GANetXL (2007)– written purely in C++
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Structure of GANetXLStructure of GANetXL
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List of FeaturesList of Features Single and multiple-objective
optimisation techniques Support for integration with simulation
packages Suspend, resume Multiple-objective results browser Batch runs User defined constraints & penalty
multipliers
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Features - ContinuedFeatures - Continued Automatic saving of population Backups of intermediate population Visualisation of results and progress Built-in help User manual
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Defining the Problem Defining the Problem Decision variables – Genes
altered by GA within theirranges (x1,x2,x3,x4)must occupy continuous range
Objective function(s)used to evaluate thefitness of solutions (formula in C6)
Constraintsused to limit values ofobjective function(s)(formula in C8)
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Practical ExamplesPractical Examples1. Single-objective
– optimisation of an advertising campaing
2. Multiple-objective– optimisation of an advertising campaing
3. Link with simulation software– optimisation of the “NY tunnels” problem
4. Benchmark– Zitzler test T1
5. Another multiple-objective example– demonstration of population backups
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Supported PlatformsSupported Platforms Microsoft Windows
– Vista (not tested but should work)– XP– 2000
Microsoft Excel– 2010– 2007– 2003– XP– 2000
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New features of Excel 2007New features of Excel 2007 Supports multi-core CPUs The max. number of columns:
– extended from 256 to 16,384
The max. number of rows:– extended from 65,536 to 1,048,576
Total amount of PC memory that Excel can use:– extended from 1GB to maximum allowed by
Windows
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LicensingLicensing Licenses are bound to specific computer
Serial number– contains expiration date– valid for limited number of days– chromosome size, population size– objectives count, generations count
Registration +HW Identifier
Serial Number
RegistrationDetails
Serial No.
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Getting GANetXLGetting GANetXLDownload GANetXL from following site:
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/cws/ganetxl
To obtain a license please follow the installation instructions:
http://centres.exeter.ac.uk/cws/technology/ganetxl-addin/ganetxl-
installation
Support, reporting bugs and problems:
Josef Bicik ([email protected])
23 February 2007 16/17
Future WorkFuture Work Add more multiple-objective algorithms
– MO Simulated Annealing– ε-NSGA II
Make the application multi-threaded Visualisation of more than 2 objectives Do more testing of the application
Any other ideas?
Thank you for your attention!
Questions & Discussion
Thank you for your attention!
Questions & Discussion
23 February 2007 18/17
LinksLinks Evolver 4.0 (Palisade)
http://www.palisade-europe.com/evolver/ Premium Solver Platform (Frontline Systems Inc. )
http://www.solver.com/xlsplatform.htm OptWorks Excel (Pi Blue)
http://www.piblue.com/products/optworks_ex.html GeneHunter (Ward Systems)
http://www.wardsystems.com/products.asp?p=genehunter Generator (NewLight Industries, Ltd.)
http://www.nli-ltd.com/products/genetic_algorithms/generator.htm xl bit (XLPert Enterprise )
http://www.xlpert.com/wxl%20bit.htm#gg1 GenSheet (Inductive Solutions, Inc.)
http://www.inductive.com/softgen.htm GA Optimization for MS Excel (freeware)
http://www.alexschreyer.net/projects/xloptim/index.php