After watching the dialog for several steps, the student may choose to skip to the next major activity of the algorithm without the detailed dialog. The Let Go button accomplishes this. For the case shown, the demonstration would begin again at the forward generation procedure. Other major steps in the computation are the recursive procedure and the recovery procedure.

The buttons at the bottom of the dialog allow a switch in the interaction option. The Run/Stop option runs without interruption for a number of steps equal to the value in the cell at the lower right (100). When that number is reached the process displays the demo dialog. In this way the student can observe the process at a variety of points during the solution process.

The Run/no stop option allows the program to run to completion without interruption. While the program is running the progress strip at the bottom of the Excel screen shows information about the solution. The information is updated at the interval specified as the number of states between stops.

The Update Screen checkbox at the bottom of the dialog controls the display during optimization. If it is not checked, the screen is not updated during the process until the end. This is the fast option and should be the choice for large problems. When the box is checked, the changes in the state and decision vectors may be seen as rapidly varying numbers. The number change too rapidly to be observed, but the result is a dynamic display that gives the user some idea about the procedures of the computer program.

The Show Graphics checkbox causes the solution process to generate a graphical display as illustrated below. The figure illustrates the state space for a knapsack problem with a single constraining resource. The model has two state variables, and for the example the maximum values are 10 for both. The strategy used is forward generation and backward recursion.

The display shows the states as colored circles: red for initial states, white for intermediate feasible states, gray for infeasible states, blue for final states and gold for states along the optimal path. The states are located on a grid defined for S1, the first state variable, and S2, the second state variable. Lines connect the states. Not shown on the figure are narrow black lines which show the change of states for a tentative decision. The red lines show the optimum decision leaving each state, the heavy black lines show the optimum path.

The graphical display is a useful tool for learning the DP process. When both the Demo and graphical options are chosen, each step is explained with a text dialog and a graphic presentation. The graphical option is available only for problems with two state variables. The maximum range for each variable must be no more than 20.