Quick Start¶

This library extends AMPL with over 300 functions chosen from the GNU Scientific Library, including scientific, statistical, and utility functions of many kinds. Once installed and declared, these functions may be applied to any arguments anywhere in an AMPL model or script.

When applied to variables in objectives or constraints, these functions are included in AMPL’s nonlinear expression representations, and are accessible to solvers. Thus solvers that rely on function evaluations can optimize over expressions that use this library. This feature is most useful for applying local nonlinear solvers — such as CONOPT, Knitro, LOQO, MINOS, SNOPT — to continuous functions of one variable. Many of the library’s continuous functions also provide the 1st and 2nd derivative evaluations that some solvers require.

For over 30 probability distributions, the library provides random variates, probability densities, and cumulative distributions and their inverses. Functions to compute means, variances, correlations, and other statistical functions are also provided. A sort function can be used to rearrange the values in an indexed AMPL parameter or variable.

Downloading and installing the library¶

The function library is packaged in a single file named amplgsl.dll. This file is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS from portal.ampl.com in My Downloads.

To install, use one of the above links to download the appropriate tgz or zip file, and copy that file to the same folder or directory as your AMPL executable (ampl or ampl.exe). Then extract amplgsl.dll by double-clicking the downloaded file’s icon on Windows and macOS systems, or by invoking

gzip -dc amplgsl.linux-intel64.tgz | tar xf -

in a Linux command window.

Using the functions in AMPL¶

Once in each session that uses the extended function library, the library file must be loaded with the command

load amplgsl.dll;

Subsequently, before a particular function is used, it must be declared to the current model with a command of the form

function gsl_ _funcname_ ;

where _funcname_ is replaced by any of the names in the library listing. As an example, the following model, based on the Hock-Schittkowski test set, uses a unit Gaussian cumulative distribution function from the extended library:

function gsl_cdf_ugaussian_P;

param l {1..4};
param u {1..4};
var x {j in 1..4} >= l[j], <= u[j] := 1;

param a = 0.1;
param b = 1000;
param d = 1;
param n = 4;

minimize obj:
  ( a*n - (b*(exp(x[1])-1) - x[3])*x[4]/(exp(x[1]) - 1 + x[4]) )/x[1] ;

subject to constr1:
    x[3] = 2*gsl_cdf_ugaussian_P(-x[2]);

subject to constr2:
    x[4] = gsl_cdf_ugaussian_P(-x[2] + d*sqrt(n)) +
           gsl_cdf_ugaussian_P(-x[2] - d*sqrt(n));

With the appropriate data file,

param:    l       u :=
  0.0001   100
  0        100
  0          2
  0          2 ;

the problem can be solved like this:

ampl: model hs069.mod;
ampl: data hs069.dat;
ampl: load amplgsl.dll;

ampl: option solver knitro;
ampl: solve;
Knitro 12.4.0: Locally optimal or satisfactory solution.
objective -956.7128869; feasibility error 5.49e-09
10 iterations; 11 function evaluations

ampl: display x;
1  0.0293714
2  1.19025
3  0.233947
4  0.791668

As a convenience, function statements for all members of the Extended Function Library are provided as part of the library distribution, in a file named gsl.ampl. Thus the single command include gsl.ampl; makes all of the library functions available for use in an AMPL session.

Documentation and licensing¶

Complete documentation for this library is provided in AMPL Bindings for the GNU Scientific Library. It includes a listing of all functions and their definitions, further instructions for use, and complete license details.

This free-standing library is provided under the GNU General Public License (GPL). In general terms, the GNU GPL does not restrict the use of this library for internal purposes within any organization (whether a company, university, or government agency). However if this library is included within a “release” of software to the public, then you may be required to offer that release under the GPL. See the extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions about the GNU Licenses for more information about these provisions.

For uses that may require functions covered by more permissive open-source licenses, or functions from commercial libraries, please contact us at support@ampl.com for assistance with alternatives.

AMPL Bindings for the GNU Scientific Library

Reference