Letters to the editor: An interpretive input routine for linear programming

In this descriptive article an input code is presented which greatly simplifies data input to any linear programming solution routine, for subsequent use either as a predagogical device or for solving rather small LP problems. This latter (limited) use derives not at all from inherent limitations in the code itself, but from an efficiency evaluation: large LP problems would doubtless benefit from an input system more suited for bulk data handling than the input code described. From a user's standpoint, input appears almost exactly as a textbook presentation of the LP problem (limited only by a keypunch's inability to write subscripts, etc.). The input interpreter scans columnwise, thus no fixed format data preparation is required. The user may also, under very general requirements only, liberally use editorial comments throughout the input deck as an aid in identification, e.g., of row constraints. The article includes examples of input, output from a solution routine presently in use, and a skeleton flowchart of the input interpreter.