Optimization Solver

Current Status

Investigate cases where the objective function contains one or more zero coefficients. If a decision variable has a zero coefficient it will not affect the outcome of the optimization at all since its value does not contribute to the objective; however, if they are left in the model and the solver is executed it will create a constraint matrix with an empty column. This will stop the execution due to singularity (not good).

Possible solutions:

• Leave it as is, and let the model fail as "solution not found"
• Remove those non-contributing variables from the model, and continue the execution.

Download and Test

Interested in testing it? Please download it from here. Right now, there is only a Linux binary available, but a Windows binary is planned.

To install, follow these steps (in English build):

• Download the latest solver.uno.zip, but don't unzip it.
• Open Calc, go to Tools - Package Manager.
• Select "My Packages", and click "Add".
• Locate that solver.uno.zip file you have downloaded, and hit OK to load it.
• Once Calc finishes registering the component, close all OO.o windows, and restart Calc. You should then see a floating toolbar with the word "Solver" on it.

Future Plan

Some babbling thoughts... (subject to change without further notice)

Short Term

• More testing of LP algorithm.
• Disable cell update during the run (is it possible?)
• Excel Solver model loading support
• Options dialog
• Penalty method for non-linear model.

Long Term

• Genetic algorithm for non-linear model.
• Interior point method for faster and more efficient and scalable linear solution.
• Build system based on autoconf for easier compilation from source.
• Integration into the core.