Converting an Excel Model to RASON - Automatic

This is a walkthrough of how to convert your currently existing Excel model to a RASON model using the Analytic Solver. We will quickly review both the RASON IDE and RASON.com options.

To get started, you should have the most recent version of the Analytic Solver COM add-in installed for use in Windows Desktop Excel, a valid license to use the Analytic Solver and a model ready to go. For this example, we will be using our own ProductMix example model that ships with our software. Feel free to use your own model when following these steps. Note that your model must be solvable with the PSI Interpreter.

STEP ONE: The simple start

Open the Excel workbook that contains your model and navigate to the worksheet where the model is stored. Go to the Analytic Solver tab within Excel.:

STEP TWO: The conversion

In the ribbon, left click Create App to show the drop-down menu. Select either RASON IDE (for local testing) or RASON.com (for web testing on our RASON server).

--CASE 1 - RASON IDE--

Post conversion, you should get a new window that looks similar to this:

Note: If you run this model, it will use your local engine files to solve the model. This is good for testing a model that will be run on a locally networked RASON server using our Solver SDK.

--CASE 2 - RASON.com--

Post conversion, you should get a new window that looks similar to this:

This model is executed on Frontline Systems' RASON Server. This is good for testing a model that will be run via a web service, whether it be our RASON server or your own RASON server using our Solver SDK.

Note: To run the model here you will want to POST first, followed by GET "solvetype" (this is a dropdown that lets you pick which type of model you will be solving, for this example you will want to select Optimize from the dropdown). For this example, click the "GET result" button after a few seconds to display the final values in the lower window.