Automatical Parameter Test

To test the influence of numerical parameters explicitely given to an algorithm to the quality of its output, LiSA can vary these parameters automatically and collect the results in a table.

Basic Handling

Your external algorithm has to be integrated into LiSA . It will occur automatically in the menue Extras | Parameter Test. As soon as LiSA has a feasible schedule, choose your algorithm in this menue. A window will open which differs from the normal algorithm window by the fact that for each numerical parameter the following fields are present:
variable/fixed
Choosing variable will instruct LiSA to vary this parameter an run the algorithm repeatedly.
from, to
Define an lower and upper limit for the parameter to test.
Factor/Addend
When "Factor" is choosen, the test values form a geometric succession, otherwise an arithmetic one.
The factor/addend you can enter afterwards influences how often the algorithm will be carried out.
You may not vary string parameter. Make sure to remember the path and name of the output file. When you press Start , LiSA launches an external program which will return a table in a file. This file cannot be handled by LiSA, but the syntax is self-explaining and you can view the results with any text editor.

Optional: direct call of external test program

If you cannot include an algorithm into LiSA (for instance because it is not a scheduling algorithm and the LiSA main file cannot provide the input), you can still use the automatic parameter test by calling the test modul explicitly. Make shure that your algorithm uses the <CONTROL_PARAMETERS> object. The call of the test modul is 
gen_ptst  CONTROL_FILE OUTPUT_FILE
The format of these files becomes clear with the following two examples: 

<FIX_PARAMETERS>
long STEPS
string METHOD
</FIX_PARAMETERS>

<VAR_PARAMETERS>
long WIDTH
double INTENSITY
</VAR_PARAMETERS>

<PROBLEMTYPE>
Lisa_ProblemType= { O /  / SumCi }
</PROBLEMTYPE>

<CONTROLPARAMETERS>
long   STEPS 5000
string METHOD My_New_Method
long   WIDTH_INIT 1
long   WIDTH_MAX 4
double WIDTH_INCR 1
string WIDTH_FA ADDEND
double INTENSITY_INIT 2
double INTENSITY_MAX  8
double INTENSITY_INCR 2
string INTENSITY_FA FACTOR
string CONFIG_HOME /home/me/.lisa
string LISA_HOME /usr/local/LiSA
string FILE /home/me/.lisa/proc/mytest_out.lsa
string CALL /home/me/programs/my_alg
string DESCRIPTION Results_of_neighbor_Parametertest
<\CONTROLPARAMETERS>

<VALUES>
...
</VALUES>
 
<SCHEDULE>
...
</SCHEDULE>
And now to something completely different (output file): 
<PROBLEMTYPE>
Lisa_ProblemType= { O /  / SumCi }
</PROBLEMTYPE>
 
<VALUES>
...
</VALUES>
 
<FIX_PARAMETERS>
long STEPS 5000
string METHOD My_New_Method
</FIX_PARAMETERS>

<CONTROLPARAMETERS>
string TAB_NAME TABELLE=
string COL_NAME WIDTH=
string ROW_NAME INTENSITY=
long NB_COL 4
long NB_ROW 3
</CONTROLPARAMETERS>

<DATA>
WIDTH= {
1 2 3 4 
}

INTENSITY= {
2 4 8 
}

TABELLE= {
 { 5952 5890 5795 6908 }
 { 6029 5872 5923 6813 }
 { 5929 6057 5926 6891 }
}
</DATA>

<REMARKS>
Best Objective = 5795
by the follow parameters:
WITDH = 3
INTENSITY = 2
</REMARKS>

<SCHEDULE>
...
</SCHEDULE>
Table of Contents
10.02.2000 TAU