1Blurb:: 2Set the factor by which a search pattern can be expanded 3Description:: 4In general, pattern search methods can expand and contract their step 5lengths. SCOLIB pattern search methods contract the step length by 6the value \c contraction_factor, and they expand the step length by 7the value (1/contraction_factor). The \c expand_after_success control 8specifies how many successful objective function improvements must 9occur with a specific step length prior to expansion of the step 10length, whereas the \c no_expansion flag instructs the algorithm to 11forgo pattern expansion altogether. 12 13Topics:: 14Examples:: 15Theory:: 16Faq:: 17See_Also:: 18