MAGIC: The design and use of an interactive modelling language for mathematical programming

The desirability of computer aids for the building as well as the solving of Mathematical Programming models is argued. A short survey is given of some of the distinct approaches possible in designing matrix generators/languages for such a role. It is then suggested that the approach most suited to general models is to design a language close to widely used mathematical notation. The facilities needed in such a language are discussed and the implementation using the MAGIC (MAtrix Generator Instruction Convertor) language described.