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

23 February 2007 3/17

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

23 February 2007 4/17

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.)

23 February 2007 5/17

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

23 February 2007 6/17

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++

23 February 2007 7/17

Structure of GANetXLStructure of GANetXL

23 February 2007 8/17

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

23 February 2007 9/17

Features - ContinuedFeatures - Continued Automatic saving of population Backups of intermediate population Visualisation of results and progress Built-in help User manual

23 February 2007 10/17

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)

23 February 2007 11/17

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

23 February 2007 12/17

Supported PlatformsSupported Platforms Microsoft Windows

– Vista (not tested but should work)– XP– 2000

Microsoft Excel– 2010– 2007– 2003– XP– 2000

23 February 2007 13/17

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

23 February 2007 14/17

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.

23 February 2007 15/17

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 (j.bicik@exeter.ac.uk)

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