Innovative Genetic Algorithm Optimization
Evolver is the genetic algorithm optimization add-in for Microsoft Excel. Evolver uses innovative genetic algorithm (GA) technology to quickly solve optimization problems in finance, distribution, scheduling, resource allocation, manufacturing, budgeting, engineering, and more. Virtually any type of problem that can be modeled in Excel can be solved by Evolver, including previously unsolvable, complex nonlinear problems. Evolver’s genetic algorithms arrive at the best overall “global” solution to a problem—solutions traditional solvers typically miss.

All-new Evolver^™ 5.0
Evolver 5.0 has been re-engineered from the ground up in a stunning new version. A streamlined interface, full support for cell ranges, enhanced monitoring of optimization progress, a faster engine and more make Evolver “a truly innovative program” according to BYTE magazine.

Evolver Industries and Applications
Evolver is used to solve optimization problems in a wide range of industries, from finance to airlines to manufacturing.

Excel Ease of Use
Evolver is a true add-in to Microsoft Excel, integrating completely with your spreadsheet. Define your models, adjust your settings, run optimizations, monitor progress, and generate reports – while never leaving Excel. Streamlined dialog boxes mean fewer open windows to navigate.

Why Evolver?
Standard optimization programs such as Excel’s Solver are good at finding the best “local” solution, or combination of values to maximize or minimize the outcome of a straightforward spreadsheet model given certain constraints. They find a solution which seems to be producing favorable results and continue to work on that basis, without trying new solutions. This is known as “hill climbing.” However, these programs are not set up to handle more complicated, nonlinear problems where the best local solution may not be the best absolute answer. Evolver, using innovative “mutations” and combinations of solutions, or “organisms,” is well-suited to finding the best overall answer by exploring the entire universe of possible answers.

Optimization 1-2-3
Using Evolver involves three simple steps:

1. Set Up Your Model.
The Evolver Model window provides one-stop setup for all optimization problems. Here you specify the target cell, identify cells to adjust, and define constraints. Adjustable cells and constraints support cell ranges for easy setup and changes, while target cells can be maximized, minimized, or approach a specific goal.

Defining Ranges and Stopping Conditions
When defining adjustable cells, you can specify the maximum and minimum boundaries of ranges of cells directly in Excel, greatly simplifying setup and making changes easy. For example, you can tell Evolver to adjust cells B1:B5, with a minimum value for each in A1:A5, and a maximum value for each in C1:C5. Multiple groups of cells may be specified, with multiple ranges in each group.

You must also define constraints in your model. For example, there may be limited resources which must be modeled. When defining constraints (hard or soft), you can also specify minimums and maximums with cell ranges.

Finally, set stopping conditions for your optimization, telling Evolver when to stop the optimization.

Solving Methods
Evolver uses six different solving methods that you can specify to find the optimal combination of adjustable cells. Different methods are used to solve different types of problems. The six methods are:

Recipe - a set of variables which can change independently.

Grouping - a collection of elements to be placed into groups.

Order - an ordered list of elements.

Budget - recipe algorithm, but total is kept constant.

Project - order algorithm, but some elements precede others.

Schedule - group algorithm, but assign elements to blocks of time while meeting constraints.

Evolver also allows a great degree of control over how it performs the optimization itself. You can set optimization parameters, runtime settings, control macros and more in the Evolver Settings dialog.

2. Run the Optimization.
Click the Start icon to start the optimization. Evolver will start generating trial solutions in an effort to achieve the target set in Step 1. The summary Evolver Progress window appears, showing optimization status and best answer achieved thus far. This window lets you pause, stop, and run the optimization using playback controls. You can also monitor progress in detail with the Evolver Watcher. Tabbed reports show real-time updates on best answers achieved, all solutions tried, the diversity of solutions being tried, and more.

How Evolver Works
During an optimization, Evolver generates a number of trial solutions and uses genetic algorithms to continually improve results of each trial. Each possible solution becomes an independent "organism" that can "breed" with other organisms. The spreadsheet model acts as an environment for the organisms, determining which are "fit" enough to survive based on their results. Here is a brief description of the process:

Randomly generate many organisms (possible solutions), and calculate the result each organism produces. This entire "population" of organisms is ranked from best to worst.

Select good organisms and swap their variables ("genes") using "crossover" and "mutation" to produce "offspring". If offspring do not produce a good result, two more parents are selected.

If the offspring organism is good, it is re-inserted into the population.

As Evolver repeats steps 2 and 3, the population "evolves" increasingly optimal solutions.

Get Results Fast
Evolver uses genetic operators to generate trial solutions that move toward an optimal solution as quickly as possible. Genetic algorithms search the entire solution space, finding the global solution and zeroing in on it.

3. View Optimization Results.
After optimization, Evolver can display the results of the original, best, and last solution on your entire model, updating it with each scenario in a single click. This makes it easy to decide the best course of action. You can also generate reports directly in Excel for an optimization summary, log of all simulations, and log of progress steps.

Two Editions to Meet Your Needs
Evolver is available in Professional and Industrial editions. The Professional edition allows up to 250 adjustable variables per model, while the Industrial edition allows unlimited variables. Use Evolver Industrial for your largest models where you can control hundreds or thousands of adjustable cells.

Part of the DecisionTools Suite
Evolver is available by itself or as part of the DecisionTools Suite, Palisade’s complete risk and decision analysis toolkit. The DecisionTools Suite includes @RISK for risk analysis using Monte Carlo simulation, NeuralTools for prediction using neural networks, StatTools for statistical analysis, PrecisionTree for decision trees, TopRank for what-if analysis, and more. Evolver is fully compatible with all DecisionTools programs and can be combined with them for greater insight and analysis. For example:

Evolver then NeuralTools
Combine Evolver with NeuralTools to optimize complex problems with live neural network prediction. Set Evolver’s target goal as the live predictive output for NeuralTools, and the cells for Evolver to adjust as the new inputs for NeuralTools. Then watch Evolver and NeuralTools work together to predict the optimal solution.

Stand-alone Licenses

Stand-alone licenses are intended for use by one person on one computer.

They may not be run from a server. Every stand-alone license comes with its own serial number and activation ID which unlocks the software for perpetual use. Software activation can be done with a single click over the Internet or manually via e-mail. Stand-alone licenses may be transferred from one computer to another once every 90 days, but may never be used one more than one computer at a time.

Concurrent Network Licenses

Concurrent network licenses are intended to serve multiple users from a network server. The software is installed on a single server, but may also be installed on an unlimited number of client computers. The restriction is placed on the number of users who can access the software at the same time, i.e., concurrently. Concurrent network licenses are a very cost-effective way to serve many people who need to use the software occasionally and “log off” when finished.

Concurrent network licenses utilize FLEXnet technology and come with one serial number and activation ID, regardless of the number of users. Software activation is only required for the server license, not the client installations. Activation can be done with a single click over the Internet or manually via e-mail. The same installer may be used on all client computers, so scripting is very straightforward. In addition, concurrent network licenses support Terminal Services and Citrix environments. The server license may be transferred from one server to another once every 90 days, but may never be used on more than one server at a time.

Concurrent network licenses also allow “borrowing,” or temporarily taking one license off the network server and putting it on the client computer. This lets someone use the software even if their computer is disconnected from the server (e.g., taking a laptop on a trip). When a license is borrowed, an expiration date must be set by the user. At expiration, the license is automatically returned to the server license pool and ceases to function on the disconnected client.

Enterprise Activation Server

Enterprise Activation Server licenses use FLEXnet technology to allow you to grant and manage stand-alone licenses of Palisade software from your own server instead of the Palisade license server.

Rather than requiring every stand-alone user to contact the Palisade license server to activate their software, each user would instead contact your own server once to activate. A single activation ID may be used for all license installations. You can expand the number of users on the license by purchasing additional users for the same server without having to use a new activation ID. If users wish to transfer licenses from one computer to another, the deactivation and reactivation of licenses can be managed on your local server as well. Enterprise Activation Servers are a great option for companies with strict firewall or security protocols, and make license management easy. Simply check your server to see how many installations you’ve used, and who has them.

Corporate Licenses

Palisade corporate licenses are purchasing options that enable you to get the most software for your money, deployed in the most efficient manner possible. Using the concurrent network or Enterprise Activation methods (though may be customized however you wish) and are structured according to your organizational needs and volume.

Investing in a Palisade corporate license is the most cost-effective path to better decisions enterprise-wide. By switching from haphazardly purchasing individual copies to adopting a corporate license, many companies have found that the return on their software investment dramatically improved. Not only was their investment outlay reduced compared to buying individual copies, but widespread access to the software encouraged better decision-making throughout the organization.

There are two kinds of corporate licenses:

Site Licenses – Provide software access to everyone at a particular physical location.

Enterprise Licenses – Provide access to the software throughout an organization or division regardless.