Want to get more from Excel, Solver and Analytics?
Attend a LIVE WEBINAR about Analytic Solver with a real expert, Dr. Sima Maleki.
  1. In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Options.
  2. In the Solver Options dialog box, on the All Methods tab, choose one or more of the following options:

Constraint precision

  • In the Constraint Precision box, type the degree of precision that you want. For a constraint to be considered satisfied, the relationship between the Cell Reference and the Constraint value cannot be violated by more than this amount.  The smaller the number, the higher the precision

Use Automatic Scaling

  • Select the Use Automatic Scaling check box to specify that Solver should internally rescale the values of variables, constraints and the objective to similar magnitudes, to reduce the impact of extremely large or small values on the accuracy of the solution process. This box is selected by default.

Show Iteration Results

Solving with Integer Constraints

  • Select the Ignore Integer Constraints check box to cause all integer, binary and alldifferent constraints to be ignored when you next click Solve. This is called solving the relaxation of the integer programming problem.
  • In the Integer Optimality % box, type the maximum percentage difference Solver should accept between the objective value of the best integer solution found and the best known bound on the true optimal objective value before stopping.

NOTES

The Integer Optimality % is sometimes called the (relative) “MIP gap”. The default value is 1%; set this to 0% to ensure that a proven optimal solution is found.

Solving Limits

  1. In the Max Time (Seconds) box, type the number of seconds that you want to allow Solver to run.
  2. In the Iterations box, type the maximum number of iterations that you want to allow Solver to perform.

The following limits apply only to problems that include integer restrictions on variables, or problems that use the Evolutionary Solving Method:

      3.     In the Max Subproblems box, type the maximum number of subproblems that you want to allow.

      4.     In the Max Feasible Solutions box, type the maximum number of feasible solutions that you want to allow. For problems with integer restrictions, this is the maximum number of integer feasible solutions.

NOTES

If the solution process reaches the maximum time, number of iterations, maximum subproblems, or maximum feasible solutions before Solver finds an optimal solution, Solver displays the Show Trial Solution dialog box. See Show Solver trial solutions.

3.     Click OK.

4.     In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click Solve or Close.

NOTE   You can click the Help button in the dialog box to get more information about other options.