Newsgroups: comp.ai.genetic
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!oitnews.harvard.edu!purdue!lerc.nasa.gov!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!news.mathworks.com!newshost.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!umn.edu!news
From: "James Albert Larson" <larso171@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: GA's for Excel
To: jlis@idirect.com
Message-ID: <93226.larso171@maroon.tc.umn.edu>
X-Minuet-Version: Minuet1.0_Beta_16
Sender: news@news.cis.umn.edu (Usenet News Administration)
Nntp-Posting-Host: dialup-5-144.gw.umn.edu
X-Popmail-Charset: English
Organization: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 1995 05:21:23 GMT
Lines: 40


>I'm searching for a useful GA add-in for excel for use in investment
>applications.  I'm aware that Evolver exists but have not used it. If
>anyone can provide opinions on Evolver or suggest other less expensive
>programs, I'd appreciate it.

Ward Systems has GeneHunter, an Excel 5 Add-in and Developer's Library.  
Also includes a DLL of GA functions that may be called from programming 
languages such as Visual Basic or C.  Includes neural network and stock 
picking example programs.  Call for free Consumer's Guide and free demo 
disk (301) 662-7950.

$369.

I don't know anything about it, except that its new -- Ward Systems hasn't 
marketed a GA program before the last couple of months.

I've heard very good comments about Evolver.

As for something lower cost, there is GAWindows from BioComp -- GAWindows 
is a DLL of GA functions for MS Windows 3.0 and 3.1.  In addition to the 
functions, you receive a complementary demo program, with source code, in 
Microsoft Visual Basic, that shows yhou how to easily use the GAWindows 
library.

$99.  Biocomp Systems, 1-800-716-6770

It doesn't say anything about Excel, but being that it can be called from 
Visual Basic and is a DLL, it shouldn't be hard...?

I'm not familiar with it either.  

I think I've seen some others, shareware or low cost, for Excel or for 
Visual Basic on the AIExpert forum of Compuserve, maybe the FAQ for this 
group too.  

Good luck.

Jim Larson

