I am moving my summer GAMS classes to an online offering. This is due to the ongoing COVID issues and the likelihood that they will still be major obstacles as of late July. I will be using ZOOM to deliver the class and distributing materials so that all overheads and class examples that are used in the zoom presentation are also available to each of the students in the form of a PDF or GMS files. I will also record the ZOOM sessions that I give and will make them available through the cloud for I believe as long as 30 days after the class is over.
Schedule
To accommodate the online presentation and people’s varying time zones including a number in Europe I have shortened the class day and extended the number of days on which there will be classes by one day. In particular the
• Basic class will go July 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 8 AM until about 1 PM US Mountain (Denver) time.
• Advanced class will go July 29, 30, 31 and August 3 again from 8 AM until about 1 PM US Mountain (Denver) time.
• Combined class will go from July 27 - 31 and then on August 3.
full schedules on GAMS courses pages https://www.gams.com/courses/
I also will make available and optional discussion time both scheduled and negotiated before and after class to accommodate people in different time zones.
What is the class focus
Unlike most of the other classes offered through the GAMS Webpage based list of courses, these classes do not focus on computable general equilibrium applications but rather on general GAMS applications with more of a focus in the optimization arena. Optimization examples will be the main ones used. Additionally there will be a short introduction to CGE. Furthermore a number of topics will be treated which are modeling method independent.
What you will get
When you take the class on number of things will be sent or made available to you. These include
• Training on the topics above
• A Personalized pdf of all overheads that will be used in the class.
• A Zip file that contains all class examples, and reference documents
• 30 day access to ZOOM recordings (this is the duration for which ZOOM stores materials)
• ZOOM base discussions during class presentations and questions as they arise in the hands on exercises.
• Optional beginning and end of day question/discussion sessions
• Treatment of topics as listed in the schedule that is available on the GAMS web page under courses
• Ability to request as many as two personalized zoom sessions with the instructor of duration one half hour. These will be arranged at a mutually agreeable time during the time interval between July 27 and August 4.
• Be virtually exposed to others attending the class learning about their impact analysis usage
• Interact with the instructor who is a very experienced impact analysis modeler
• Be trained in the use of software and receive copies for your use of
GAMSCHK
analyzes GAMS models and assists in their use
GAMS-IDE PC editing, execution and debugging environment
• Receive manuals on GAMS usage, and class notes including
A Guide to Algebraic Modeling Using GAMS by McCarl and Spreen – a book on agricultural modeling using GAMS
McCarl’s GAMSCHK writeup
McCarl’s Expanded GAMS User Guide
The latest GAMS and MIRO release
Topics
Highlights of the major topics coverage in the course include
• For those in need material starting from a zero level of knowledge of GAMS but then moving into much more advanced material.
• The basic course starts with this zero knowledge assumption and works its way up through conditionals, spreadsheets and MIRO.
• The advanced course starts with conditional spreadsheets and MIRO then works its way up through conditional compilation, advanced bases, scaling and a number of other topics.
• Basic course coverage includes
o A Fundamental Introduction To GAMS
o Looking at a GAMS Generated Model to Make Sure it Appears Right
o Accessing GAMS Documentation
o Exploiting the Power of Integrated Algebraic Modeling
o Modeling a Firm’s Decision Making Setting
o Basics of Using Conditionals and Post Solution Report Writing
o Good Modeling Practices
o Finding Out Why and Fixing Models That Do Not Work Right
o Incorporating Multiple Locations and Transportation
o Forming and Solving Nlps In GAMS
o Using GAMS STUDIO
o Using GAMS Conditionals and Tuples to Control Algebra
o Doing A Comparative Analysis
o Basic Introduction to CGE Modeling
o Output Improvement And Management
o Links To Spreadsheet Both For Obtaining Data And Reporting Results
o Using GAMS MIRO for Model Deployment
o A Freebie If You Choose To Stay – Pre-Solution Checking Of Models
• Advanced Course Coverage includes
o Using GAMS STUDIO
o Using GAMS Conditionals and Tuples to Control Algebra
o Doing A Comparative Analysis
o Basic Introduction to CGE Modeling
o Output Improvement and Management
o Links to Spreadsheets for Obtaining Data and Reporting Results
o Using GAMS MIRO for Model Deployment
o Pre-Solution Checking of Models
o Small to Large Model Development
o Doing Calculations and Using Macros
o Conditional Compilation
o Post Solution Debugging of Models that Obtain Nonsensical Solutions
o Scaling Models Within GAMS
o Finding and Fixing Execution Errors
o Fixing Unbounded and Infeasible Models
o Finding and Fixing Causes of Slow Model Execution and/or Excessive Memory Use
o Improving Efficiency by Saving Model Status and Restarting from Saved Status
o Using Advanced Bases and Starting Points
o Using and Exploiting GAMS Solvers
• The combined course unifies both lists above