In free format, fields in data records other than the first record have no predefined positions. They can be written anywhere except column 1, with each field separated from the next by one or more blanks (a tab cannot be used as a field separator). However, the fields must appear in the same sequence as in the fixed format. The following file, example_free.mps, is an example. It describes the same problem as in Example 17.2.
* THIS IS AN EXAMPLE FOR FREE MPS FORMAT.
NAME PROD_MIX FREE
ROWS
N PROFIT
L STAMP
L ASSEMB
L FINISH
COLUMNS
DESK STAMP 3.00000 ASSEMB 10.00000
DESK FINISH 10.00000 PROFIT -95.00000
CHAIR STAMP 1.50000 ASSEMB 6.00000
CHAIR FINISH 8.00000 PROFIT -41.00000
CABINET STAMP 2.00000 ASSEMB 8.00000
CABINET FINISH 8.00000 PROFIT -84.00000
BOOKCSE STAMP 2.00000 ASSEMB 7.00000
BOOKCSE FINISH 7.00000 PROFIT -76.00000
RHS
TIME STAMP 800.00000 ASSEMB 1200.0000
TIME FINISH 800.00000
RANGES
T1 ASSEMB 900.00000
BOUNDS
UP BND CHAIR 75.00000
LO BND BOOKCSE 50.00000
ENDATA