The OPTLP Procedure

Overview: OPTLP Procedure

The OPTLP procedure provides four methods of solving linear programs (LPs). A linear program has the following formulation:

where

is the vector of decision variables

is the matrix of constraints

is the vector of objective function coefficients

is the vector of constraints’ right-hand sides (RHS)

is the vector of lower bounds on variables

is the vector of upper bounds on variables

The following LP algorithms are available in the OPTLP procedure:

  • primal simplex algorithm

  • dual simplex algorithm

  • network simplex algorithm

  • interior point algorithm

The primal and dual simplex algorithms implement the two-phase simplex method. In phase I, the algorithm tries to find a feasible solution. If no feasible solution is found, the LP is infeasible; otherwise, the algorithm enters phase II to solve the original LP. The network simplex algorithm extracts a network substructure, solves this using network simplex, and then constructs an advanced basis to feed to either primal or dual simplex. The interior point algorithm implements a primal-dual predictor-corrector interior point algorithm.

PROC OPTLP requires a linear program to be specified using a data table that adheres to the MPS format, a widely accepted format in the optimization community. For details about the MPS format see Chapter 9: The MPS-Format Data Table.

Last updated: June 14, 2018