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 16.2.

* 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