Compatibility VS2008 and IMSL7

[CHARAF-EDDINE_A_]

Hello everybody,

I'm using intel visual fortran implemented in the visual studio software VS2008 (specifications' details are joined below). My problem is that I need some mathematical functions which are not supported by the MKL library. So I would like to have access to IMSL library.

My questions are:

1. Is VS2008 compatible with IMSL7 library?

2. If YES, how can I upload it and install it? Is it free of charge?

3. If NOT, what shall I do? Do I have to upgrade VS version?

I can provide, if necessary, my login ID or my serial code.

Thank you by advance.

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Microsoft Visual Studio 2008

Version 9.0.21022.8 RTM

Microsoft .NET Framework

Version 3.5 SP1

Installed Edition: IDE Standard

Intel(R) Visual Fortran Compiler Integration     Package ID: w_cprof_p_11.1.072

Intel(R) Visual Fortran Compiler Integration for Microsoft Visual Studio* 2008, 11.1.3471.2008, Copyright (C) 2002-2010 Intel Corporation

*******************************************************************************

[Steven_L_Intel1]

Ah, I just got this same question forwarded to me by email, and I responded, but I didn't have all the context.

IMSL doesn't care about VS version. Which version of Intel Visual Fortran do you have? The current version (15.0 or Parallel Studio XE 2015) doesn't support VS2008. The product includes a Fortran-only support environment based on VS2010.

[mecej4]

IMSL is not free. A license needs to be purchased from Intel, Roguewave or a reseller.

IMSL7 from Roguewave was, by and large, compatible with IFort 11.1.072, but the version  of IMSL that Intel sold with that compiler version was IMSL6. The current version of IMSL from Intel is 7.01, that from Roguewave is 7.1. Neither of these current versions may work with your older compiler, because the module files may not be 100 percent compatible across versions.

The Visual Studio version you have is quite old, as well. Therefore, there may be problems if you use current IMSL libraries that depend on MS C runtime and support libraries that are more recent than those included with VS2008.

Which IMSL routine did you have in mind when you said that there was no MKL equivalent?

[CHARAF-EDDINE_A_]

Thank you Steve for your quick response!

I think that we have an old version of visual studio including the compiler (we've got it in 2010). Here is the specifications :

********************

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Version 9.0.21022.8 RTM
Microsoft .NET Framework
Version 3.5 SP1

Installed Edition: IDE Standard

Intel(R) Visual Fortran Compiler Integration     Package ID: w_cprof_p_11.1.072
Intel(R) Visual Fortran Compiler Integration for Microsoft Visual Studio* 2008, 11.1.3471.2008, Copyright (C) 2002-2010 Intel Corporation
* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

********************

What should I do?

[CHARAF-EDDINE_A_]

Thanks mecej4, I really appreciate your help.

I am looking to use NNLPF routine in order to solve an optimization problem with NON LINEAR CONSTRAINT. That was a question that I have posted a week ago, and you suggested using the NLPQLP developed by Pr. Schittowski.

I think that NNLPF is an equivalent function. This is why I want to use IMSL7.

Don't hesitate to give me your suggestions.

[Steven_L_Intel1]

You didn't say what Visual Fortran version you have. As mecej4 says, IMSL is not free. You can add it to your current Intel Visual Fortran (compiler version 14.0 or later). The US prices are shown here.

[CHARAF-EDDINE_A_]

I'm sorry, I taught the version is described in the specifications of visual studio.

I've already checked my compiler, its version is 11.1.

"Intel(R) Visual Fortran Compiler Professional for applications running on IA-32, Version 11.1"

If I understand your comments, I should upgrade both visual studio software and the IVF compiler in order to use IMSL7. Am I correct? Aren't there other alternatives?

[Steven_L_Intel1]

For the Fortran version you have, I'm sorry to say we don't provide IMSL as an add-on. You would need to upgrade to a current product and add IMSL (or buy the "Composer Edition with IMSL" bundle we sell.  For renewal (upgrade) options, see https://registrationcenter.intel.com/RegCenter/Serialnumberlookup.aspx

[CHARAF-EDDINE_A_]

Okay. I have although some questions:

1. I have noticed that the Composer Edition (integrated to Intel® Parallel Studio XE 2015) has many non included options such as "Intel® Inspector XE memory and thread debugging". In your opinion, does the Composer Edition have at least options that I have in my old version? To give you an idea of my needs, I use IVF to develop some scientific programs based on home made routines functions from MKL library. The code is compiled into ddl (and executable).

2. I think that we are no more able to renew our software. If it is the case, should we choose this option : Intel® Parallel Studio XE Composer Edition for Fortran with Rogue Wave IMSL 7.0 for Windows* - Named-user Commercial [Electronic Delivery]

Thank you so much!

[Steven_L_Intel1]

1. The Composer edition is essentially what you have now - Fortran compiler and MKL. You will have the same capabilities (with a much more recent compiler and MKL with more features.)

2. Yes, that would be exactly what you are looking for.

[mecej4]

Fortrino,

It may be useful for you to glance over a similar thread posted in this forum a few months ago: https://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/topic/277817. That poster (Huang) started out by applying NNLPF to a few test problems, and then wrote about difficulties that were encountered when he tried NNLPF on his real objective, which involved optimizing a nonlinear function of many variables, some of which were boolean and some of the constraints were pseudo-boolean. NNLPF is not designed for such problems, and performed poorly on the problem. 

IMSL is a fine library. If you anticipate using some of the many routines in it in your work over the next few years, purchasing it would be a good investment. If, on the other hand, you are contemplating buying IMSL solely to solve an optimization problem, perhaps you should check that NNLPF (or one of the other optimization packages in IMSL) is suited to your application.

If you have a mathematical description of the problem, you can post it here and receive some feedback.

[mecej4]

Please see if the packages ENLSIP and NLSCON at https://www8.cs.umu.se/~perl/software/ will suit your needs. The documentation and the source codes are available there. If, at the constrained optimum, the sum of the squares that is your objective function is small, ENLSIP should work well, and is a better match for your requirements than NNLPF.