This file describes the input file of the GAA program.
The Definition file is required, the others are optional

1. Definition File

The main input file is the Definition File, which is required for each problem.
The Definition File format is similar to that of Wimdows Ini files.
Definition File extension is ".par"
Following are explanations for the file entries:

[Integers]
Problem Code       A unique ID number of the problem
Population Size    Number of chromosomes (strings) in the population
Number of Genes    Number of genes (variables) in a chromosome
Map Order          Number of mapping dimensions. 
                   0 = gene-value is the parameter-value
                   n = Each gene value is mapped to an n-values vector
Def Order          0 = All genes ranges are equal and are create automatically. 
                   1 = Gene ranges are read from a file
GA Type            1 = Any gene can have any value.  2 = Any gene must have a unique value
MinMax Type        1 = Maximize.   2 = Minimize
Crossover Type     1 = Single point crossover
Mutation Type      1 = Default mutation algorithm
Selection Type     1 = Default selection algorithm
Inversion Type     1 = Default inversion algorithm
Stagnation Limit   n = Number of generations with no change, after which a 'Kick' is executed
Degrade Limit      n = Number of generation of continuous degradation, after which a 'Kick' is executed
Survivors Percent  n = Percent of best individuals that are passed to next generation
Redundancy Factor  n = Not used

[Reals]
Crossover Rate     n = Fraction of individuals that are going through crossover process in mating
Mutation Rate      n = Frequency of mutation
Inversion Rate     n = Frequency of (partial) inversion
Shuffle Rate       n = Mutation rate in a 'Kick'
Inversion Shuffle  n = Inversion rate in a 'Kick'
Kick Distribution  n = Mutation/Inversion ratio in a 'Kick'
Exit Value         n = The objective function value at which the process is ended
Exit Tolerance     n = A tolerance on exit value (aplied with +/- to relax the target value)
Min Value          n = The minimum value of each gene (for Def order = 0)
Max Value          n = The maximum value of each gene (for Def order = 0)
Step Value         n = Defines the resolution of the range (difference between two consecutive values)
Default Value      n = An initial value applied to a gene (not used)
Kin Competition    n = Fitness decreasing factor for identical chromosomes

[Strings]
Title              The name of the problem
Description        A one-line description of the problem
Alleles Map File   Name of a mapping file (for Map Order > 0)
Alleles Def File   Name of the gene ranges file (for Def Order > 0)
Input String #1    Not used
Input String #2    Not used

[Flags]
Status Help        True  = Status bar help-tip enabled
                   False = Status bar help-tip disabled
Text Window        True  = Evolution data continuously displayed in text window
                   False = Text window disable during evolution
Graphic Window     True  = Evolution data continuously displayed in graphic window
                   False = Graphic window disable during evolution
Sound              True  = Sound effects are enabled
                   False = Sound effects are disabled
Logging            True  = Continuous logging data into log window during evolution
                   False = Data logging disabled


Here is a Definition File sample (TspBayg29o.par):

[Integers]
Problem Code=4
Population Size=30
Number of Genes=29
Map Order=2
Def Order=0
GA Type=2
MinMax Type=2
Crossover Type=1
Mutation Type=1
Selection Type=1
Inversion Type=1
Stagnation Limit=5
Degrade Limit=4
Survivors Percent=20
Redundancy Factor=1

[Reals]
Crossover Rate=1
Mutation Rate=0.01
Inversion Rate=0.05
Shuffle Rate=0.5
Inversion Shuffle=0.5
Kick Distribution=0.2
Exit Value=3.4
Exit Tolerance=0.1
Min Value=0
Max Value=28
Step Value=1
Default Value=1
Kin Competition Factor=0.8

[Strings]
Title=Bayg29 TSP Test Problem
Descriptionit=29 Cities in Bavaria, geographical distances (Groetschel,Juenger,Reinelt)
Alleles Map File=TspBayg29.map
Alleles Def File=None
Input String #1=
Input String #2=

[Flags]
Status Help=True
Text Window=False
Graphic Window=True
Sound=False
Logging=False


2. Mapping File

The Mapping File assigns mapped values for each allele
The Mapping File contains a line for each gene, with the following format:
Number of gene,Mapped Value #1,Mapped Value #2,.....,Mapped Value #n
The Mapping File extension is ".map"

Here is a Mapping File sample (TspBayg29.map)

0,0.1150,0.1760
1,0.630,0.1660
2,0.40,0.2090
3,0.750,0.1100
4,0.750,0.2030
5,0.1030,0.2070
6,0.1650,0.650
7,0.1490,0.1630
8,0.790,0.2260
9,0.710,0.1310
10,0.840,0.550
11,0.1170,0.2300
12,0.970,0.1340
13,0.510,0.700
14,0.750,0.900
15,0.1280,0.1200
16,0.230,0.590
17,0.460,0.860
18,0.1040,0.950
19,0.590,0.1390
20,0.830,0.1770
21,0.490,0.500
22,0.1840,0.1240
23,0.1260,0.1500
24,0.1280,0.790
25,0.490,0.2130
26,0.1460,0.1420
27,0.1260,0.1910
28,0.360,0.1980


3. Alleles-Definition File

The Alleles-Definition File assigns range values for each gene (minimum, maximum and step)
The Alleles-Definition File contains a line for each gene, with the following format:
Number of gene,Minimum Value,Maximum Value,Step Value,Default Value,Gene Name
The Alleles-Definition File extension is ".def"