The IDEAS database is a collection of easy-to-use software modules that will help you analyze and solve a large number of basic decision models.  The models are presented in a form that allows quick and straightforward problem entry and software execution, and once you understand what each model does, it should be a breeze to use the database to experiment, formulate, and solve examples that will help you in your decision-making.

Accessing IDEAS from a university computer

IDEAS is available in any of the ITS labs on campus, and from the dormitory machines. After you log in, go to Start »» Programs »» Math Applications »» MATLAB .  Be patient!  MATLAB can take some time to fire up.  When the prompt appears, type "ideas" and IDEAS will start.

Loading and using IDEAS for local use

This will allow you to use a limited version of IDEAS on your computer.  You must have your own version of MATLAB version 5.0 or higher loaded on your PC.  (IDEAS will not run on workstation versions of MATLAB.)   The university provides MATLAB to students and faculty at no charge.  You can download your copy of MATLAB by going to the university's software site for mathematics

 https://software.unc.edu/available.php#Mathematics

and following the instructions for downloading MATLAB.  Then choose from the following versions of IDEAS that you want running on your machine.

The steps for STOR072:

1. Open this ZIP File, and copy the "or_ideas" directory as a subdirectory of your "D:\" directory.  (If you need to use the package from another directory, you must change the directory names in the "or_ideas\ideas.m" file to point to the right directory and save_directory.) 
2. Start MATLAB, cd to the D:\or_ideas directory, and type "ideas".  Then click on the OR072 course button.
   

The steps for STOR215:

1. Open this ZIP File, and copy the "or_ideas" directory as a subdirectory of your "D:\" directory.  (If you need to use the package from another directory, you must change the directory names in the "or_ideas\ideas.m" file to point to the right directory and save_directory.) 
2. Start MATLAB, cd to the D:\or_ideas directory, and type "ideas".  Then click on the OR215 or Experiment with Models course button.
   

The steps for STOR415:

1. Open one of the following ZIP files and copy the "or_ideas" directory as a subdirectory of your "D:\" directory.  (If you need to use the package from another directory, you must change the directory names in the "or_ideas\ideas.m" file to point to the right directory and save_directory.) 
1. if you have MATLAB Version 7.0 or earlier, use this ZIP File
2. if you have MATLAB Version 7.2 or later, use this ZIP File
2. Double click on this .zip file to save the files into the  D:\or_ideas  subdirectory.
Start MATLAB, cd to the D:\or_ideas directory, and type "ideas".  Then click on the OR181 course button.

The steps for STOR614:

1. Open this ZIP File, and copy the "or_ideas" directory as a subdirectory of your "D:\" directory.  (If you need to use the package from another directory, you must change the directory names in the "or_ideas\ideas.m" file to point to the right directory and save_directory.) 


2. Start MATLAB, cd to the D:\or_ideas directory, and type "ideas".  Then click on the OR614 course button.
   

1. Extract the associated maximgui directory from this ZIP file into your computer.
   
2. Start MATLAB, cd to this directory, and type "start_maxim".

Using IDEAS

This should be entirely straightforward.  Once you go to your course and choose the appropriate application, boxes should appear which tell you exactly what to fill in to define your model.  After you fill in the required numbers and choices, choose from the Techniques menu to have the computer experiment with, display, or solve the model.  The Help menu item will give you instructions as to how to manipulate the model.

Loading and saving files

When you choose Get Problem from File, you can choose to get the problem from the A: drive, Home Directory, or from Examples.  The Examples directory gives you example, classroom, and homework problems. If you have constructed earlier problems, you can save/access them either through your AFS Home Directory or from the floppy A: drive.

When you are finished constructing a model, you can save it either into your Home Directory or into the A: drive, by choosing the File and Save menu items.

Obtaining data from IDEAS tableaus for other purposes

The data available on an IDEAS template is in the form of MATLAB global variables that can be used in other MATLAB applications.  Generally, the names of the variables, and their relative position, is given by the following chart:

These can be accessed by typing on the MATLAB command line

    global A b c z row_label col_label

and then these values can then be manipulated and changed by standard MATLAB commands.

BEWARE:  Changing these variables will change the data in the template itself, so you should rename these objects if you want to preserve the template information.  In particular, changing the sizes of any arrays will cause errors when using the templates.

Also note that  row_label and col_label are string arrays, and so are stored as cell arrays (row_label{3}, etc.)