ILOG CPLEX accepts commands in several different formats. You can type either the full command name, or any shortened version that uniquely identifies that name. For example, enter help after the CPLEX> prompt, as shown:

CPLEX> help

You will see a list of the ILOG CPLEX commands on the screen.

Since all commands start with a unique letter, you could also enter just the single letter h.

CPLEX> h

ILOG CPLEX does not distinguish between upper and lower case letters, so you could enter h, H, help, or HELP. All of these variations invoke the help command. The same rules apply to all ILOG CPLEX commands. You need only type enough letters of the command to distinguish it from all other commands, and it does not matter whether you type upper and lower case letters. Throughout this manual, we use lower case letters.

After you type the help command, a list of available commands with their descriptions appears on the screen, like this:

add add constraints to problem baropt solve using barrier algorithm change change the problem display display problem, solution, or parameter settings enter enter a new problem help provide information on CPLEX commands mipopt solve a mixed integer program netopt solve the problem using network method optimize solve the problem primopt solve using the primal method quit leave CPLEX read read problem or basis information from a file set set parameters tranopt solve using the dual method write write problem or solution info. to a file xecute execute a command from the operating system Enter enough characters to uniquely identify commands & options. Commands can be entered partially (CPLEX will prompt you for further information) or as a whole.

To find out more about a specific command, type help followed by the name of that command. For example, to learn more about the primopt command type:

help primopt

Typing the full name is unnecessary. Alternatively, you can try:

h p

The following message appears to tell you more about the use and syntax of the primopt command:

The PRIMOPT command solves the current problem using a primal simplex method or crosses over to a basic solution if a barrier solution exists. Syntax: PRIMOPT A problem must exist in memory (from using either the ENTER or READ command) in order to use the PRIMOPT command. Sensitivity information (dual price and reduced-cost information) as well as other detailed information about the solution can be viewed using the DISPLAY command, after a solution is generated.

The syntax for the help command is:

help command name