IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio - Features and Benefits

IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio supports rapid development and deployment of analytical decision support applications based on optimization technology with debugging, testing, tuning and application generation capabilities

Click to enlargeIBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio provides the fastest way to build efficient optimization models and state-of-the-art applications for the full range of planning and scheduling problems. The Optimization Programming Language (OPL) provides a natural representation of optimization models, requiring far less effort than general-purpose programming languages. The Integrated Development Environment (IDE) makes it easy to evaluate different modeling approaches and to integrate external data. With its built-in development tools, it supports the entire model development process.

In addition to accessing the IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizers for mathematical programming and constraint programming through the OPL language and IDE, IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio also provides access through the ILOG Concert Technology API in C++, Java, or Microsoft .NET, or through the CPLEX Callable Library. Alternatively, IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise embeds and integrates the modules of IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio to generate state-of-the-art enterprise decision support applications with what-if scenario comparison capabilities and tabular and graphic data views.

Solving
IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio provides complete access to powerful mathematical programming solvers and constraint programming solvers. Use robust, high performance algorithms to solve very large, real-world optimization problems with the speed required for today's interactive applications. Diagnose and fix infeasible models. Automatically tune performance while precisely controlling the solve process through parameter settings.

Mathematical Programming
Solve linear programming, mixed integer linear programming, quadratic programming, and mixed integer quadratic programming with IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizers.
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Constraint Programming
Solve constraint programming for detailed scheduling and other hard combinatorial problems with IBM ILOG CPLEX CP Optimizer.
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Modeling
Create optimization models and extend optimization algorithms using the OPL modeling language, the ILOG Concert APIs, or numerous other interfaces and connectors. Represent mathematical programming and constraint programming models in a natural, descriptive language using OPL. Exploit advanced data types designed for the special needs of optimization and scheduling problems. Use model/data separation to develop highly scalable applications. Learn more

Developing
Develop, debug, test, and tune analytical decision support applications based on mathematical optimization and constraint programming. Utilize major relational database products and spreadsheets for data sources. Track progress during the solve process. Use profiler to understand use of memory and time by different phases of execution.
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Deploying
Deploy analytical decision support applications based on mathematical optimization and constraint programming. Automatically generate applications based on the structure of the underlying mathematical model. Configure tabular and graphical views of data and solutions. Engage business users through early prototypes.
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• Take maximum advantage of IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer and IBM ILOG CPLEX CP Optimizer. IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio takes maximum advantage of IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer— the world's leading optimization engine— and IBM ILOG CPLEX CP Optimizer to provide the fastest possible execution times, along with the best in modeling precision and optimization accuracy. The tight integration enables complete and easy access to IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer and IBM ILOG CPLEX CP Optimizer algorithm control parameters and post- solution information and analysis.

• Rapidly develop optimization-based decision support applications
  IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio is at the core of applications developed with IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizers and IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise , supporting all aspects of optimization model-based application development.

The IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio delivers the tools to create both well-tested and finely tuned optimization models and interactive analytical decision-support applications. Advanced features help users develop complete optimization applications—without requiring detailed knowledge of computer programming.

• IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio combines and simplifies IBM’s product offerings for optimization application development, solving, and deployment. It offers in a single package, all the functionality that was previously available among an array of product and component configurations, making all tools and technologies available during prototyping and development.

• Natural representation of optimization problems
  Compared to conventional programming languages, Optimization Programming Language (OPL) represents optimization problems descriptively, simplifying model development. OPL provides a rich toolkit to address a variety of problem types, allowing comparisons of alternative and hybrid solution methodologies.

• Support for two optimization technologies
  The IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio is designed to support IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer —the world's leading mathematical programming optimization engine, as well as IBM ILOG CPLEX CP Optimizer, our state-of-the-art constraint programming engine for solving sequencing, resource allocation and timetabling problems that are difficult or impossible to solve with mathematical programming techniques. IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio allows users to develop single models in either technology or multi-model solutions that use either or both technologies. Interval-based scheduling support is available. It is based on the "model and run" concept: Robust search algorithms and automatic search parameter settings allow users to concentrate on modeling without being worried about the search itself.

• A full-featured scripting language
  OPL Script is a full-featured JavaScript language for data pre-processing, solution post-processing, and algorithmic flow control. OPL Script also makes it easy to solve complex problems by combining or sequencing related models.

• Integrated application programming interfaces (APIs)
  Models created by IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio can be easily integrated into external applications written in Java, C++ or .NET, without having to rewrite the model in other programming languages.

• Connections to spreadsheets and relational databases
  IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio can import data and export solutions to databases or spreadsheets. A clean separation of the model from the data makes it easy to switch between test data files and production data sources.

• An interactive development environment
  The IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio integrated development environment (IDE) supports model development, data and parameter combinations testing, and results reviews. The implementation of IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio's "Run Configuration" concept allows users to evaluate different modeling approaches to a problem with the same data, and/or different data sets with a given model, and to experiment with different algorithmic control parameter settings that combine models, data and parameter settings into run configurations.

• Conflict detection/display and recommended conflict resolution
  Detect and display conflicting constraints in infeasible models using CPLEX Optimizer’s conflict refiner. Relax constraints based on user defined priorities.

• Execution tracing and profiling
  Full access to CPLEX Optimizer and CP Optimizer log files enables tracking the solve progress. Use profiler to understand use of memory and time by different phases of the execution process.

• Automatic performance tuning
  Use the IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer tuning tool to automatically tune engine performance on mathematical programming models.

• Automatic application generation
  IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio and IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise have made it possible to automatically generate an IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise application from the structure of an OPL model. A simple wizard-guided step provides the initial application. OPL data structures are automatically mapped to data tables in IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise, decision variables and solution metrics are mapped to solution views, and objective functions are mapped to IBM ILOG ODM Enterprise's interactive business goals. Constraints marked as relaxable in the OPL model are exposed to the end user by name and priority, allowing relaxations and trade-offs based on business importance.

• Latest version
  IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio 12.4 offers improved access to predictive analytics tools with the connector to IBM SPSS Modeler. The connector enables CPLEX Optimization Studio to read data directly from SPSS Modeler streams and to visualize SPSS streams in CPLEX Optimization Studio's integrated development environment. This makes an integrated modeling environment for prescriptive and predictive analytics available to professionals using multiple advanced techniques. The CPLEX Optimizers offer significant performance gains both for mathematical- and constraint-programming. Additional enhancements include computation of dual values for second-order cone constraints in quadratic models, used especially in finance applications, and deterministic parallel search for constraint programming models, used especially in detailed scheduling. A new component, IBM ILOG CPLEX Enterprise Server, provides the capability to deploy OPL projects in enterprise environments using a client-server architecture, separating the computationally intensive algorithms of the CPLEX Optimizers onto dedicated hardware to alleviate the burden on more routine data handling and user interface tasks on database servers and desktop clients.

• Operating systems supported
  AIX, Linux, Sun Solaris, Windows

Connectors
Discover other development tools and connectors that integrate with IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer.
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• IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio Spec Sheet (221KB)
• IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimizer Spec Sheet (604KB)
• IBM ILOG CPLEX CP Optimizer Spec Sheet (221KB)

Learn more about important concepts and features of IBM ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio that enable you to work with it effectively and efficiently.
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