UTA

criteria

A list of criteria. Criteria can be activated or desactivated via the <active> tag (true or false). By default (no <active> tag), criteria are considered as active. Optimization direction for the selected criteria is provided (min or max).

The input value should be a valid XMCDA document whose main tag is <criteria>. It must have the following form:

<criteria>
        <criterion>
                <criterionID>[...]</criterionID>
                <scale>
                        <quantitative>
                                <preferenceDirection>[...]</preferenceDirection>
                        </quantitative>
                </scale>
        </criterion>
</criteria>

alternatives

A list of alternatives. Alternatives can be activated or desactivated via the <active> tag (true or false). By default (no <active> tag), alternatives are considered as active.

The input value should be a valid XMCDA document whose main tag is <alternatives>. It must have the following form:

<alternatives>
        <alternative>
                <alternativeID>[...]</alternativeID>
        </alternative>
</alternatives>

performanceTable

Values of criteria for different alternatives. It must contains IDs of both criteria and alternatives described previously.

The input value should be a valid XMCDA document whose main tag is <performanceTable>. It must have the following form:

<performanceTable>
        <alternativePerformances>
                <alternativeID>[...]</alternativeID>
                <performance>
                        <criterionID>[...]</criterionID>
                        <value>
                        <real>[...]</real>
                </value>
                </performance>
        </alternativePerformances>
</performanceTable>

criteriaSegments

Number of segments in each value function to be constructed by UTA.

The input value should be a valid XMCDA document whose main tag is <criteriaValues>. It must have the following form:

<criteriaValues>
        <criterionValue>
                <criterionID>[...]</criterionID>
                <value>
                        <integer>[...]</integer>
                </value>
        </criterionValue>
</criteriaValues>

alternativesRanks

Ranking (preorder) of alternatives, corresponding to pariwize preference and indifference statements

The input value should be a valid XMCDA document whose main tag is <alternativesValues>. It must have the following form:

<alternativesValues>
        <alternativeValue>
                <alternativeID>[...]</alternativeID>
                <value>
                        <integer>[...]</integer>
                </value>
        </alternativeValue>
</alternativesValues>

methodParameters (optional)

Post-optimality method : choose between “Yes” or “No”.

-Reference: E. Jacquet-Lagreze; J. Siskos. Assessing a set of additive utility functions for multicriteria decision-making: the UTA method.European Journal of Operational Research (June 1982), 10 (2), pg. 151-164.

The input value should be a valid XMCDA document whose main tag is <methodParameters>. It must have the following form:

<methodParameters>
<parameter id="post_optimality" name="Post optimality analysis">
                <value>
        <boolean>%1</boolean>
         </value>
        </parameter>
</methodParameters>

where:

• %1 is a parameter named “Post-optimality analysis:”. It can have the following values:

  • true: Yes
  • false: No

  The default value is false.

valueFunctions

Constructed value functions for the selected criteria.

The returned value is a XMCDA document whose main tag is <criteria>. It has the following form:

<criteria mcdaConcept="criteria">
        <criterion>
                <criterionID>[...]</criterionID>
                <criterionFunction>
                        <points>
                                <point>
                                        <abscissa><real>[...]</real></abscissa>
                                        <ordinate><real>[...]</real></ordinate>
                                </point>
                        </points>
                </criterionFunction>
        </criterion>
</criteria>

messages

A list of messages generated by the algorithm.

The returned value is a XMCDA document whose main tag is <methodMessages>.