# Using Arrays to Define a Model

The previous section showed how to solve a MIP with just a few variables and
constraints, which are defined individually. For larger problems, it's more
convenient to define the variables and constraints by looping over arrays. The
next example illustrates this.

## Example

In this example we'll solve the following problem.

**Maximize 7*x~1~* + 8*x~2~* + 2*x~3~* + 9*x~4~* + 6*x~5~* subject to the following constraints:**

1. 5 *x~1~* + 7 *x~2~* + 9 *x~3~* + 2 *x~4~* + 1 *x~5~* ≤ 250
2. 18 *x~1~* + 4 *x~2~* - 9 *x~3~* + 10 *x~4~* + 12 *x~5~* ≤ 285
3. 4 *x~1~* + 7 *x~2~* + 3 *x~3~* + 8 *x~4~* + 5 *x~5~* ≤ 211
4. 5 *x~1~* + 13 *x~2~* + 16 *x~3~* + 3 *x~4~* - 7 *x~5~* ≤ 315

where *x~1~* , *x~2~* , ..., *x~5~* are non-negative
integers.

The following sections present programs that solve this problem. The programs
use the same methods as the [previous MIP example](https://developers.google.com/optimization/mip/mip_example), but
in this case apply them to array values in a loop.

## Declare the solver

In any MIP program, you start by importing the linear solver wrapper and
declaring the MIP solver, as shown in the
[previous MIP example](https://developers.google.com/optimization/mip/mip_example#import).

## Create the data

The following code creates arrays containing the data for the example: the
variable coefficients for the constraints and objective function, and bounds for
the constraints.

### Python

```python
def create_data_model():
    """Stores the data for the problem."""
    data = {}
    data["constraint_coeffs"] = [
        [5, 7, 9, 2, 1],
        [18, 4, -9, 10, 12],
        [4, 7, 3, 8, 5],
        [5, 13, 16, 3, -7],
    ]
    data["bounds"] = [250, 285, 211, 315]
    data["obj_coeffs"] = [7, 8, 2, 9, 6]
    data["num_vars"] = 5
    data["num_constraints"] = 4
    return data
```

### C++

```c++
struct DataModel {
  const std::vector<std::vector<double>> constraint_coeffs{
      {5, 7, 9, 2, 1},
      {18, 4, -9, 10, 12},
      {4, 7, 3, 8, 5},
      {5, 13, 16, 3, -7},
  };
  const std::vector<double> bounds{250, 285, 211, 315};
  const std::vector<double> obj_coeffs{7, 8, 2, 9, 6};
  const int num_vars = 5;
  const int num_constraints = 4;
};
```

### Java

```java
static class DataModel {
  public final double[][] constraintCoeffs = {
      {5, 7, 9, 2, 1},
      {18, 4, -9, 10, 12},
      {4, 7, 3, 8, 5},
      {5, 13, 16, 3, -7},
  };
  public final double[] bounds = {250, 285, 211, 315};
  public final double[] objCoeffs = {7, 8, 2, 9, 6};
  public final int numVars = 5;
  public final int numConstraints = 4;
}
```

### C#

```c#
class DataModel
{
    public double[,] ConstraintCoeffs = {
        { 5, 7, 9, 2, 1 },
        { 18, 4, -9, 10, 12 },
        { 4, 7, 3, 8, 5 },
        { 5, 13, 16, 3, -7 },
    };
    public double[] Bounds = { 250, 285, 211, 315 };
    public double[] ObjCoeffs = { 7, 8, 2, 9, 6 };
    public int NumVars = 5;
    public int NumConstraints = 4;
}
```

## Instantiate the data

The following code instantiates the data model.

### Python

```python
data = create_data_model()
```

### C++

```c++
DataModel data;
```

### Java

```java
final DataModel data = new DataModel();
```

### C#

```c#
DataModel data = new DataModel();
```

## Instantiate the solver

The following code instantiates the solver.

### Python

```python
# Create the mip solver with the SCIP backend.
solver = pywraplp.Solver.CreateSolver("SCIP")
if not solver:
    return
```

### C++

```c++
// Create the mip solver with the SCIP backend.
std::unique_ptr<MPSolver> solver(MPSolver::CreateSolver("SCIP"));
if (!solver) {
  LOG(WARNING) << "SCIP solver unavailable.";
  return;
}
```

### Java

```java
// Create the linear solver with the SCIP backend.
MPSolver solver = MPSolver.createSolver("SCIP");
if (solver == null) {
  System.out.println("Could not create solver SCIP");
  return;
}
```

### C#

```c#
// Create the linear solver with the SCIP backend.
Solver solver = Solver.CreateSolver("SCIP");
if (solver is null)
{
    return;
}
```

## Define the variables

The following code defines the variables for the example in a loop. For large
problems, this is easier than defining the variables individually, as in the
[previous example](https://developers.google.com/optimization/mip/mip_example#variables).

### Python

```python
infinity = solver.infinity()
x = {}
for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
    x[j] = solver.IntVar(0, infinity, "x[%i]" % j)
print("Number of variables =", solver.NumVariables())
```

### C++

```c++
const double infinity = solver->infinity();
// x[j] is an array of non-negative, integer variables.
std::vector<const MPVariable*> x(data.num_vars);
for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
  x[j] = solver->MakeIntVar(0.0, infinity, "");
}
LOG(INFO) << "Number of variables = " << solver->NumVariables();
```

### Java

```java
double infinity = java.lang.Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
MPVariable[] x = new MPVariable[data.numVars];
for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
  x[j] = solver.makeIntVar(0.0, infinity, "");
}
System.out.println("Number of variables = " + solver.numVariables());
```

### C#

```c#
Variable[] x = new Variable[data.NumVars];
for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; j++)
{
    x[j] = solver.MakeIntVar(0.0, double.PositiveInfinity, $"x_{j}");
}
Console.WriteLine("Number of variables = " + solver.NumVariables());
```

## Define the constraints

The following code creates the constraints for the example, using the method
`MakeRowConstraint` (or some variant, depending on the coding language). The
first two arguments to the method are the lower and upper bounds for the
constraint. The third argument, a name for the constraint, is optional.

For each constraint, you define the coefficients of the variables using the
method `SetCoefficient`. The method assigns the coefficient of the variable
`x[j]` in constraint `i` to be the `[i][j]` entry of the array
`constraint_coeffs`.

### Python

```python
for i in range(data["num_constraints"]):
    constraint = solver.RowConstraint(0, data["bounds"][i], "")
    for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
        constraint.SetCoefficient(x[j], data["constraint_coeffs"][i][j])
print("Number of constraints =", solver.NumConstraints())
# In Python, you can also set the constraints as follows.
# for i in range(data['num_constraints']):
#  constraint_expr = \
# [data['constraint_coeffs'][i][j] * x[j] for j in range(data['num_vars'])]
#  solver.Add(sum(constraint_expr) <= data['bounds'][i])
```

### C++

```c++
// Create the constraints.
for (int i = 0; i < data.num_constraints; ++i) {
  MPConstraint* constraint = solver->MakeRowConstraint(0, data.bounds[i], "");
  for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
    constraint->SetCoefficient(x[j], data.constraint_coeffs[i][j]);
  }
}
LOG(INFO) << "Number of constraints = " << solver->NumConstraints();
```

### Java

```java
// Create the constraints.
for (int i = 0; i < data.numConstraints; ++i) {
  MPConstraint constraint = solver.makeConstraint(0, data.bounds[i], "");
  for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
    constraint.setCoefficient(x[j], data.constraintCoeffs[i][j]);
  }
}
System.out.println("Number of constraints = " + solver.numConstraints());
```

### C#

```c#
for (int i = 0; i < data.NumConstraints; ++i)
{
    Constraint constraint = solver.MakeConstraint(0, data.Bounds[i], "");
    for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; ++j)
    {
        constraint.SetCoefficient(x[j], data.ConstraintCoeffs[i, j]);
    }
}
Console.WriteLine("Number of constraints = " + solver.NumConstraints());
```

## Define the objective

The following code defines the objective function for the example. The
`SetCoefficient` method assigns the coefficients for the objective, while
`SetMaximization` defines this as a maximization problem.

### Python

```python
objective = solver.Objective()
for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
    objective.SetCoefficient(x[j], data["obj_coeffs"][j])
objective.SetMaximization()
# In Python, you can also set the objective as follows.
# obj_expr = [data['obj_coeffs'][j] * x[j] for j in range(data['num_vars'])]
# solver.Maximize(solver.Sum(obj_expr))
```

### C++

```c++
// Create the objective function.
MPObjective* const objective = solver->MutableObjective();
for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
  objective->SetCoefficient(x[j], data.obj_coeffs[j]);
}
objective->SetMaximization();
```

### Java

```java
MPObjective objective = solver.objective();
for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
  objective.setCoefficient(x[j], data.objCoeffs[j]);
}
objective.setMaximization();
```

### C#

```c#
Objective objective = solver.Objective();
for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; ++j)
{
    objective.SetCoefficient(x[j], data.ObjCoeffs[j]);
}
objective.SetMaximization();
```

## Call the solver

The following code calls the solver.

### Python

```python
print(f"Solving with {solver.SolverVersion()}")
status = solver.Solve()
```

### C++

```c++
const MPSolver::ResultStatus result_status = solver->Solve();
```

### Java

```java
final MPSolver.ResultStatus resultStatus = solver.solve();
```

### C#

```c#
Solver.ResultStatus resultStatus = solver.Solve();
```

## Display the solution

The following code displays the solution.

### Python

```python
if status == pywraplp.Solver.OPTIMAL:
    print("Objective value =", solver.Objective().Value())
    for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
        print(x[j].name(), " = ", x[j].solution_value())
    print()
    print(f"Problem solved in {solver.wall_time():d} milliseconds")
    print(f"Problem solved in {solver.iterations():d} iterations")
    print(f"Problem solved in {solver.nodes():d} branch-and-bound nodes")
else:
    print("The problem does not have an optimal solution.")
```

### C++

```c++
// Check that the problem has an optimal solution.
if (result_status != MPSolver::OPTIMAL) {
  LOG(FATAL) << "The problem does not have an optimal solution.";
}
LOG(INFO) << "Solution:";
LOG(INFO) << "Optimal objective value = " << objective->Value();

for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
  LOG(INFO) << "x[" << j << "] = " << x[j]->solution_value();
}
```

### Java

```java
// Check that the problem has an optimal solution.
if (resultStatus == MPSolver.ResultStatus.OPTIMAL) {
  System.out.println("Objective value = " + objective.value());
  for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
    System.out.println("x[" + j + "] = " + x[j].solutionValue());
  }
  System.out.println();
  System.out.println("Problem solved in " + solver.wallTime() + " milliseconds");
  System.out.println("Problem solved in " + solver.iterations() + " iterations");
  System.out.println("Problem solved in " + solver.nodes() + " branch-and-bound nodes");
} else {
  System.err.println("The problem does not have an optimal solution.");
}
```

### C#

```c#
// Check that the problem has an optimal solution.
if (resultStatus != Solver.ResultStatus.OPTIMAL)
{
    Console.WriteLine("The problem does not have an optimal solution!");
    return;
}

Console.WriteLine("Solution:");
Console.WriteLine("Optimal objective value = " + solver.Objective().Value());

for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; ++j)
{
    Console.WriteLine("x[" + j + "] = " + x[j].SolutionValue());
}
```

Here is the solution to the problem.

```
Number of variables = 5
Number of constraints = 4
Objective value = 260.0
x[0]  =  10.0
x[1]  =  16.0
x[2]  =  4.0
x[3]  =  4.0
x[4]  =  3.0

Problem solved in 29.000000 milliseconds
Problem solved in 315 iterations
Problem solved in 13 branch-and-bound nodes
```

## Complete programs

Here are the complete programs.

### Python

```python
from ortools.linear_solver import pywraplp



def create_data_model():
    """Stores the data for the problem."""
    data = {}
    data["constraint_coeffs"] = [
        [5, 7, 9, 2, 1],
        [18, 4, -9, 10, 12],
        [4, 7, 3, 8, 5],
        [5, 13, 16, 3, -7],
    ]
    data["bounds"] = [250, 285, 211, 315]
    data["obj_coeffs"] = [7, 8, 2, 9, 6]
    data["num_vars"] = 5
    data["num_constraints"] = 4
    return data




def main():
    data = create_data_model()
    # Create the mip solver with the SCIP backend.
    solver = pywraplp.Solver.CreateSolver("SCIP")
    if not solver:
        return

    infinity = solver.infinity()
    x = {}
    for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
        x[j] = solver.IntVar(0, infinity, "x[%i]" % j)
    print("Number of variables =", solver.NumVariables())

    for i in range(data["num_constraints"]):
        constraint = solver.RowConstraint(0, data["bounds"][i], "")
        for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
            constraint.SetCoefficient(x[j], data["constraint_coeffs"][i][j])
    print("Number of constraints =", solver.NumConstraints())
    # In Python, you can also set the constraints as follows.
    # for i in range(data['num_constraints']):
    #  constraint_expr = \
    # [data['constraint_coeffs'][i][j] * x[j] for j in range(data['num_vars'])]
    #  solver.Add(sum(constraint_expr) <= data['bounds'][i])

    objective = solver.Objective()
    for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
        objective.SetCoefficient(x[j], data["obj_coeffs"][j])
    objective.SetMaximization()
    # In Python, you can also set the objective as follows.
    # obj_expr = [data['obj_coeffs'][j] * x[j] for j in range(data['num_vars'])]
    # solver.Maximize(solver.Sum(obj_expr))

    print(f"Solving with {solver.SolverVersion()}")
    status = solver.Solve()

    if status == pywraplp.Solver.OPTIMAL:
        print("Objective value =", solver.Objective().Value())
        for j in range(data["num_vars"]):
            print(x[j].name(), " = ", x[j].solution_value())
        print()
        print(f"Problem solved in {solver.wall_time():d} milliseconds")
        print(f"Problem solved in {solver.iterations():d} iterations")
        print(f"Problem solved in {solver.nodes():d} branch-and-bound nodes")
    else:
        print("The problem does not have an optimal solution.")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()
```

### C++

```c++
#include <memory>
#include <vector>

#include "absl/base/log_severity.h"
#include "absl/log/globals.h"
#include "ortools/base/init_google.h"
#include "ortools/linear_solver/linear_solver.h"

namespace operations_research {
struct DataModel {
  const std::vector<std::vector<double>> constraint_coeffs{
      {5, 7, 9, 2, 1},
      {18, 4, -9, 10, 12},
      {4, 7, 3, 8, 5},
      {5, 13, 16, 3, -7},
  };
  const std::vector<double> bounds{250, 285, 211, 315};
  const std::vector<double> obj_coeffs{7, 8, 2, 9, 6};
  const int num_vars = 5;
  const int num_constraints = 4;
};

void MipVarArray() {
  DataModel data;

  // Create the mip solver with the SCIP backend.
  std::unique_ptr<MPSolver> solver(MPSolver::CreateSolver("SCIP"));
  if (!solver) {
    LOG(WARNING) << "SCIP solver unavailable.";
    return;
  }

  const double infinity = solver->infinity();
  // x[j] is an array of non-negative, integer variables.
  std::vector<const MPVariable*> x(data.num_vars);
  for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
    x[j] = solver->MakeIntVar(0.0, infinity, "");
  }
  LOG(INFO) << "Number of variables = " << solver->NumVariables();

  // Create the constraints.
  for (int i = 0; i < data.num_constraints; ++i) {
    MPConstraint* constraint = solver->MakeRowConstraint(0, data.bounds[i], "");
    for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
      constraint->SetCoefficient(x[j], data.constraint_coeffs[i][j]);
    }
  }
  LOG(INFO) << "Number of constraints = " << solver->NumConstraints();

  // Create the objective function.
  MPObjective* const objective = solver->MutableObjective();
  for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
    objective->SetCoefficient(x[j], data.obj_coeffs[j]);
  }
  objective->SetMaximization();

  const MPSolver::ResultStatus result_status = solver->Solve();

  // Check that the problem has an optimal solution.
  if (result_status != MPSolver::OPTIMAL) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "The problem does not have an optimal solution.";
  }
  LOG(INFO) << "Solution:";
  LOG(INFO) << "Optimal objective value = " << objective->Value();

  for (int j = 0; j < data.num_vars; ++j) {
    LOG(INFO) << "x[" << j << "] = " << x[j]->solution_value();
  }
}
}  // namespace operations_research

int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
  InitGoogle(argv[0], &argc, &argv, true);
  absl::SetStderrThreshold(absl::LogSeverityAtLeast::kInfo);
  operations_research::MipVarArray();
  return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
```

### Java

```java
package com.google.ortools.linearsolver.samples;
import com.google.ortools.Loader;
import com.google.ortools.linearsolver.MPConstraint;
import com.google.ortools.linearsolver.MPObjective;
import com.google.ortools.linearsolver.MPSolver;
import com.google.ortools.linearsolver.MPVariable;

/** MIP example with a variable array. */
public class MipVarArray {
  static class DataModel {
    public final double[][] constraintCoeffs = {
        {5, 7, 9, 2, 1},
        {18, 4, -9, 10, 12},
        {4, 7, 3, 8, 5},
        {5, 13, 16, 3, -7},
    };
    public final double[] bounds = {250, 285, 211, 315};
    public final double[] objCoeffs = {7, 8, 2, 9, 6};
    public final int numVars = 5;
    public final int numConstraints = 4;
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    Loader.loadNativeLibraries();
    final DataModel data = new DataModel();

    // Create the linear solver with the SCIP backend.
    MPSolver solver = MPSolver.createSolver("SCIP");
    if (solver == null) {
      System.out.println("Could not create solver SCIP");
      return;
    }

    double infinity = java.lang.Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
    MPVariable[] x = new MPVariable[data.numVars];
    for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
      x[j] = solver.makeIntVar(0.0, infinity, "");
    }
    System.out.println("Number of variables = " + solver.numVariables());

    // Create the constraints.
    for (int i = 0; i < data.numConstraints; ++i) {
      MPConstraint constraint = solver.makeConstraint(0, data.bounds[i], "");
      for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
        constraint.setCoefficient(x[j], data.constraintCoeffs[i][j]);
      }
    }
    System.out.println("Number of constraints = " + solver.numConstraints());

    MPObjective objective = solver.objective();
    for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
      objective.setCoefficient(x[j], data.objCoeffs[j]);
    }
    objective.setMaximization();

    final MPSolver.ResultStatus resultStatus = solver.solve();

    // Check that the problem has an optimal solution.
    if (resultStatus == MPSolver.ResultStatus.OPTIMAL) {
      System.out.println("Objective value = " + objective.value());
      for (int j = 0; j < data.numVars; ++j) {
        System.out.println("x[" + j + "] = " + x[j].solutionValue());
      }
      System.out.println();
      System.out.println("Problem solved in " + solver.wallTime() + " milliseconds");
      System.out.println("Problem solved in " + solver.iterations() + " iterations");
      System.out.println("Problem solved in " + solver.nodes() + " branch-and-bound nodes");
    } else {
      System.err.println("The problem does not have an optimal solution.");
    }
  }

  private MipVarArray() {}
}
```

### C#

```c#
using System;
using Google.OrTools.LinearSolver;

public class MipVarArray
{
    class DataModel
    {
        public double[,] ConstraintCoeffs = {
            { 5, 7, 9, 2, 1 },
            { 18, 4, -9, 10, 12 },
            { 4, 7, 3, 8, 5 },
            { 5, 13, 16, 3, -7 },
        };
        public double[] Bounds = { 250, 285, 211, 315 };
        public double[] ObjCoeffs = { 7, 8, 2, 9, 6 };
        public int NumVars = 5;
        public int NumConstraints = 4;
    }
    public static void Main()
    {
        DataModel data = new DataModel();

        // Create the linear solver with the SCIP backend.
        Solver solver = Solver.CreateSolver("SCIP");
        if (solver is null)
        {
            return;
        }

        Variable[] x = new Variable[data.NumVars];
        for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; j++)
        {
            x[j] = solver.MakeIntVar(0.0, double.PositiveInfinity, $"x_{j}");
        }
        Console.WriteLine("Number of variables = " + solver.NumVariables());

        for (int i = 0; i < data.NumConstraints; ++i)
        {
            Constraint constraint = solver.MakeConstraint(0, data.Bounds[i], "");
            for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; ++j)
            {
                constraint.SetCoefficient(x[j], data.ConstraintCoeffs[i, j]);
            }
        }
        Console.WriteLine("Number of constraints = " + solver.NumConstraints());

        Objective objective = solver.Objective();
        for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; ++j)
        {
            objective.SetCoefficient(x[j], data.ObjCoeffs[j]);
        }
        objective.SetMaximization();

        Solver.ResultStatus resultStatus = solver.Solve();

        // Check that the problem has an optimal solution.
        if (resultStatus != Solver.ResultStatus.OPTIMAL)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("The problem does not have an optimal solution!");
            return;
        }

        Console.WriteLine("Solution:");
        Console.WriteLine("Optimal objective value = " + solver.Objective().Value());

        for (int j = 0; j < data.NumVars; ++j)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("x[" + j + "] = " + x[j].SolutionValue());
        }

        Console.WriteLine("\nAdvanced usage:");
        Console.WriteLine("Problem solved in " + solver.WallTime() + " milliseconds");
        Console.WriteLine("Problem solved in " + solver.Iterations() + " iterations");
        Console.WriteLine("Problem solved in " + solver.Nodes() + " branch-and-bound nodes");
    }
}
```