ILOG CPLEX 11.0 Parameters Reference Manual > > Alphabetic List of Parameters > MIP variable selection strategy

C Name

CPX_PARAM_VARSEL

C++ Name

VarSel

Java Name

VarSel

.NET Name

VarSel

InteractiveOptimizer

mip strategy variableselect

Identifier

2028

Description

Sets the rule for selecting the branching variable at the node which has been selected for branching.

The minimum infeasibility rule chooses the variable with the value closest to an integer but still fractional. The minimum infeasibility rule (-1) may lead more quickly to a first integer feasible solution, but is usually slower overall to reach the optimal integer solution.

The maximum infeasibility rule chooses the variable with the value furtherest from an integer. The maximum infeasibility rule (1 one) forces larger changes earlier in the tree.

Pseudo cost (2) variable selection is derived from pseudo-shadow prices.

Strong branching (3) causes variable selection based on partially solving a number of subproblems with tentative branches to see which branch is the most promising. This strategy can be effective on large, difficult MIP problems.

Pseudo reduced costs (4) are a computationally less-intensive form of pseudo costs.

The default value (0 zero) allows CPLEX to select the best rule based on the problem and its progress.

Values

Value 
Symbol 
Meaning 
-1 
CPX_VARSEL_MININFEAS 
Branch on variable with minimum infeasibility 
CPX_VARSEL_DEFAULT 
Automatic: let CPLEX choose variable to branch on; default 
CPX_VARSEL_MAXINFEAS 
Branch on variable with maximum infeasibility 
CPX_VARSEL_PSEUDO 
Branch based on pseudo costs  
CPX_VARSEL_STRONG 
Strong branching 
CPX_VARSEL_PSEUDOREDUCED  
Branch based on pseudo reduced costs