Software Engine is available for Java applications.

Press Release Summary:



ILOG CPLEX 7.5 gives developers simplicity and portability of programming in Java while making available CPLEX solving power, which can deliver answers to complex optimization problems. It provides a way for planning and scheduling applications to migrate to Java to support collaboration, web services and trading exchange strategies. Interface is Java version of ILOG Concert Technology(TM) and contains Java objects for variables, constraints and models.




Original Press Release:



ILOG CPLEX, Most Widely Used Optimization Software Engine, Now Available for Java Applications



ILOG® (NASDAQ: ILOG; Nouveau Marche France; SICOVAM: 006673) today announced ILOG CPLEX® 7.5, a new release of the industry's most widely used optimization software engine, now available for Java applications. ILOG CPLEX 7.5 gives developers the simplicity and portability of programming in Java while making available CPLEX solving power, which can deliver answers to complex optimization problems with billions of potential solutions within seconds. Created in response to increasing requests, the new release addresses an emerging class of
web applications that must perform complex decision making for tasks like self-service, online advice and collaboration.

Companies worldwide use optimization software to determine the best way to plan for and deploy resources, such as people, vehicles or goods. ILOG CPLEX 7.5 is expected to give thousands of optimization application developers in a wide range of industries an easier way to create these applications in Java. Meanwhile, the new release can be an optimization introduction for Java developers who can use it to build these applications
in the language they are familiar with, thereby expanding the market for optimization. It's also expected that this new release will help bring new markets to the Java Community.

The new ILOG release joins previously introduced Java optimization offerings from ILOG, which is pioneering this new product segment.

Many ILOG e-business and supply chain software customers have requested a Java version of ILOG CPLEX because they either are working in Java today, or are moving to it soon because many of today's enterprise web applications are also based in Java. It also supports multiple platform environments at lower cost. ILOG
also believes the new release will help these customers begin exploring the potential for optimization-based web services, such as trading exchange sourcing.

"We feel Java positions us well for the next web phase of our product," said Stas Zelivinski, Chief Technology Officer of Adaptive Trade, which based its Adaptive Enterprise Optimization (AEO) product on ILOG CPLEX. "With the new Java-enabled ILOG CPLEX, we appear to have the best of both worlds -- performance without sacrificing our Java product strategy."

Java and Optimization Customers: No Trade Offs

Enhancements to the Java platform in recent years have made it possible to support high-end enterprise technology like optimization. Meanwhile, many optimization application developers are migrating to Java for its ease of use.

"In building a new driver management system for Yellow Freight, we needed a robust optimization software tool. Java is our preferred development environment because it's an easy language to use," said Hugo Simao, operations research project developer with CASTLE Laboratory at Princeton University. "Fortunately, with the new ILOG CPLEX, we don't have to make any trade-offs. It's the best optimization tool on the market, and now it's available in Java."

A New Tool for Collaborative Supply Chains

In the supply chain management realm, ILOG Optimization engines already power seven of the top 10 supply chain management solutions from companies like i2 Technologies, Manugistics, Oracle and SAP. ILOG CPLEX 7.5 provides an easy way for planning and scheduling applications to migrate to Java to support
collaboration, web services and trading exchange strategies. ILOG CPLEX 7.5 is also aimed at telecommunications network capacity planning and transportation logistics applications, as well as any traditional optimization application that needs to connect to a Java platform.

ILOG Concert Technology is Bridge to Java, Cooperative Solving

ILOG CPLEX 7.5 includes a Java programming interface for the robust CPLEX solvers. This new interface is a
Java version of ILOG Concert Technology(TM) and contains Java objects for variables, constraints, and models.
ILOG Concert Technology makes the optimization modeling process intuitive for Java developers.

Other key features of the product are:

* Cooperative solving. ILOG Concert Technology provides a way for users to take advantage of the power of mathematical programming and constraint programming. ILOG CPLEX and the recently introduced ILOG JSolver(TM) can be combined to create hybrid solution approaches, extending the domain of each solving engine.

* Algorithm control. This feature gives users the ability to configure and customize CPLEX solving algorithms for special problems they may face. Users can link their special routines written in Java with the CPLEX engine.

Extends ILOG's Java Offerings

ILOG CPLEX 7.5 is the latest member of the ILOG Optimization Suite(TM) to be available for Java applications, an initiative that began in April when ILOG unveiled ILOG OPL Studio 35(TM), a rapid prototyping tool and interactive development environment. In June, ILOG rolled out the most advanced, Java-based engine for
online configuration of products and services, ILOG JConfigurator(TM), while ILOG JSolver, a constraint programming-based optimization engine written in Java, was announced on October 3.

All Topics