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Premium Solver is dramatically enhanced in Version 8.0, with support for Excel 2007 and worksheets up to 16 thousand columns and 1 million rows, simulation optimization with Risk Solver, new semi-continuous decision variables, an improved outline-based Solver Parameters dialog, function-based models and Interactive Optimization, and our new Object-Oriented API for high-level control of the Solver in VBA.

For full details, click the "Premium Capabilities" links on the right.  But the best way to decide whether Premium Solver is for you is to try it out!  If you register below (it's easy and free), you can:

Fully Compatible

The Premium Solver is 100% upwardly compatible with the standard Solver. It appears when you select the Tools Premium Solver... menu choice; you'll see a familiar Solver Parameters and Solver Options dialog with many new features.  Your existing models can be solved with no changes, faster and more easily than before -- even if you use the new Evolutionary Solver!  And your VBA code that uses the standard Solver will work as-is with the Premium Solver.

Above is an example of the display for a simple Product Mix optimization model, included with the product.  (Click on the worksheet for a full-size image.)  If you've used the standard Excel Solver, this dialog will be immediately familiar.  New elements in the Solver Parameters dialog include the Solver Engine dropdown list, and the Variables button that allows you to enter multiple blocks of decision variable cells.

Greater Speed and Capacity

You'll be able to solve general nonlinear problems with twice the number of decision variables and constraints -- and the more common linear and integer problems with ten times the number of variables (up to 2,000 variables) and 1,000 constraints. Just as important, larger problems which took minutes to solve with the standard Solver will often run from three to ten times faster. Speed gains are often spectacular on linear problems with integer constraints.

Solve New Kinds of Problems

The hybrid Evolutionary Solver in the Premium Solver -- a unique combination of genetic algorithms and classical nonlinear optimization methods -- enables you to optimize models with any Excel functions -- even user-written functions.  The Solver outperforms other spreadsheet optimizers based on genetic algorithms, yet it is easier to use and fully compatible with existing models created with the standard Excel Solver.  Just select this Solver from the Solver Engines dropdown list and click the Solve button!

Full Support for Excel 2007

The Premium Solver V8.0 includes includes full support for Excel 2007 -- the biggest Excel upgrade in at least 10 years, with everything from a new "ribbon" based user interface to huge worksheets with 16,384 columns and 1,048,576 rows – far beyond the 256 column and 65,536 row limits in previous Excel releases. This makes it much easier to lay out your models on a worksheet, without having to split up large tables of information.

Viewing Multiple Solutions

The Premium Solver V8.0 deliver multiple solutions, not just a single best solution, for integer programming and global optimization problems. The best integer solutions (“incumbents”) for MIP problems, locally optimal solutions for global optimization problems, or best final population members for non-smooth problems solved with the Evolutionary Solver can be viewed in a worksheet report, or easily accessed in your VBA code via the new object-oriented API.

Fast Problem Setup

Larger models which are linear problems often spend most of their time in problem setup, then reach a solution quickly. The Premium Solver will give you an immediate speedup -- often completing problem setup in half the time. But with a little work in designing your model to use certain common functions (like SUM and SUMPRODUCT) recognized by Fast Problem Setup, the Premium Solver can give you a really awesome speedup -- as much as 100 times faster!

Download a Free Trial Right Now

Why wait?  To try out the Premium Solver, you can download and run the PSPSetup program that installs the full Premium Solver Platform (a superset of the Premium Solver) with a free 15-day trial license.  You can use every feature of the software, solve real problems, examine the full User Guide and Help, and get expert technical support -- all without any obligation.

Just enter your name and email address, and optionally your company and phone, pick the closest "User Type," and click the Register for Download button.  You can download immediately after registering, or return later anytime -- just login with your email address.