Version 2.0

New features of GOAL 2.0

GOAL 2.0 has several new features, including:

Improved Genetic Algorithm

The performance of the genetic algorithm of GOAL has been improved. Constraints are handled better. The initial population is generated randomly, but ensuring that all the candidate solutions fulfill the constraints, which improves greatly the behavior of the algorithm in problems with several constraints The algorithm now allows to "refresh" the population during the execution of the algorithm.

Code editor with syntax highlight

GOAL now includes a code editor which highlights comments and the keywords of VBScript, thus making easier to use it:

Files better structured

The objective function and the constraints are now encapsulated in functions. This helps to develop GOAL files well structured, especially when dealing with long files.

Pre and Post Processing functions

The files now include a pre processing function, which is evaluated at the beginning of the execution, and a post processing function, which is invoked at the end of the execution. This functions have several possible applications, such as providing specially designed user - interfaces for each optimization file, or performing additional calculations with the results of the optimization at the end of the execution.

Run - time access to the parameters of the genetic algorithm

The parameters of the genetic algorithm can be read and modified during the execution of the optimization by using the built - in variables provided by GOAL. This allows to develop complex optimization strategies.

It is also possible to read at run time the results of the optimization, or the statistical data which is being stored in the report of the optimization.

Help file

GOAL now includes a help file with a detailed description of all the commands and possibilities of this software.