Category : Miscellaneous Language Source Code
Archive   : ESIE.ZIP
Filename : USER

ESIE


The Expert System Inference Engine


User Manual

















Lightwave Consultants August 1985
P.O. Box 290539
Tampa, FL 33617







Copyright 1985, All Rights Reserved.

The ESIE distribution diskette, of which this manual is one
file, may be freely copied and distributed. Printed copies
of this manual may also be made and distributed, as long as
each one is accompanied by a copy of the ESIE distribution
diskette.


Page 2


Table of Contents


Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

What is Shareware? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

What is Artificial Intelligence? . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What is ESIE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Starting ESIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

The ESIE Top Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Paying For and Obtaining the Next Version of ESIE . . . . 9




































Page 3


Introduction


This manual is intended for the end user of a knowledge base
(KB) created by a knowledge engineer (KE). The end user need
have no familiarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) or
expert systems in order to use and benefit from ESIE.

ESIE (pronounced "easy") is the acronym for Expert System
Inference Engine. ESIE is an "expert system shell."

Your computer, or data processing (DP), department should
have made sure you received the diskette you need in order to
run ESIE. ESIE may not be distributed in any form unless it
is a faithful duplication of the distrubution diskette.
Therefore, you may have some extra files on the diskette -
don't worry about it.

Your DP department should have checked with you to make sure
you have the computer equipment necessary to run ESIE, or
they should have installed the equipment, or ESIE, or both.

For those of you who may by interested in the history of
Artificial Intelligence, please print and read the file
HISTORY, which gives a short history of Artificial
Intelligence. If you are interested in learning a bit about
AI, print and read the file TUTOR. If you want to "do" some
AI, then print and read the file MANUAL, which describes how
to use ESIE.

I assume that you have no experience in AI whatsoever, but I
further assume that you have done some work, or at least some
reading, in the operation of your computer. Neither this
manual, nor any file distributed with ESIE, will try to
educate you concerning your equipment. However, operation of
ESIE is very straightforward and you need only know the
rudimentaries (i.e. how to turn your computer on) to use the
ESIE system.

In any case, welcome to ESIE. ESIE is my own work and I take
full responsibility for its abilities and its shortcomings.
However, I take no responsibilty for the knowledge base being
distributed with ESIE.









Page 4


What Is Shareware?


Shareware is a software distribution concept. In shareware,
it is believed: that people will pay for something they find
useful, that most software costs too much, that copy
protection schemes can sometimes be frustrating even to the
most honest user, and that software users want to support
software authors while not necessarily supporting the
software middle men.

Shareware is a marketing concept. The term was probably
originally coined by Bob Wallace of Quicksoft, Inc. Mr.
Wallace wrote PC-Write (c), a shareware full-feature text
editor. I personally like PC-Write and prefer it as my own
editor. I believe you will find PC-Write useful and to that
end I will send you a copy of it if you "pay" for ESIE at the
$145 level. Many of the Shareware ideas in ESIE come
directly from PC-Write(c) and I offer my public thanks.

ESIE is distributed under the Shareware concept. You receive
the software first, from whatever source that may be, and pay
only what you think the software is worth. You are free, and
encouraged, to share copies of the distribution diskette with
others.

ESIE is marketed under the shareware concept. I prefer to
think of ESIE as living software: software that continues to
develop and get better, more powerful. I believe ESIE is a
useful tool as it is, but can be improved. However, support
for living software must come from somebody. Even we
software authors and AI researchers can't live on discovery
and love alone. In shareware this support comes from you -
the user.

If you feel that ESIE is useful to you, send what your
conscience dictates. ESIE is paid for on the honor system.
However, if you send at least $75 you will receive the most
recent version of ESIE, free. If you send at least $145 you
will receive: the most recent version of ESIE, fully
commented source code for ESIE (ESIE was written in Pascal),
my sincere thanks for your support, a copy of PC-Write (c) -
a shareware full-feature text editor fully compatible with
ESIE, and access to a help line, all free.

Your comments towards ESIE are solicited even if you do not
desire support. For this, please print and fill out the file
FORM and send it in. Mail and money for ESIE can be sent to:
Lightwave Consultants; P.O. Box 290539; Tampa, FL 33617.



Page 5


What is Artificial Intelligence?


There is an excellent question. Even those of us working in
the field have a tough time coming up with a definition for
AI. The topic often receives some rather hairy debate when
brought up.

In general, however, Artificial Intelligence is any activity
that a computer does that is human-like. For example,
machine vision is considered AI, and even though we normally
do not associate the act of viewing objects with the
intelligence required to process that mental image, humans do
use a lot of mental energy to process what we are seeing.






































Page 6


What Is ESIE?


ESIE is the acronym for Expert System Inference Engine, and
that is exactly what it is. ESIE loads in a knowledge base,
and builds inferences out of the rules contained therein, to
act like an advisor. It is an Artificial Intelligence expert
system shell. An infinite multitude of knowledge bases can
be used by ESIE.

What is an expert system shell (ESS)? ESSs are used to take
the rules coded in the knowledge base and use these rules in
a consulting session with a person. The person using the ESS
with the KB to help him reach a decision is called the user
(that's you). The coding of the rules into the KB is done by
someone called the knowledge engineer.

The normal gamut of expert systems (ES) can be built for and
used by ESIE. Tools such as computer system configurators,
medical experts, oil and gas exploration, etc, can all be
done in ESIE.

The acronym was also selected because ESIE is easy to use.
ESIE has been fully tested and checked out, and since it was
written in Pascal, it should hold you in good stead.

ESIE is very inexpensive and rivals many ESSs in power and it
beats nearly all in speed. Also, for markets, ESIE is
uniquely fitted. Knowledge based inference engines have a
rather small market at present, but that soon may change. I
hope the advent of low cost and readily available software
might help the spread and acceptance of AI.




















Page 7


Starting ESIE


Getting ESIE fired up will probably be one of the easiest
things you do today. The only two files you need in the
computer to use ESIE are the ESIE.COM file and the file where
the KB is. Of course, you may have as many files out there
as you wish. ESIE will run in any drive and directory,
including hard disks, as long as the ESIE.COM and KB files
are present.

When you have at least the above two files where you want
them, simply type in ESIE at the DOS prompt. The ESIE
introductory screen will appear. It contains information
about the Shareware concept and some benefits you will get if
you pay for your copy of ESIE.

At the top of the introductory screen is a prompt asking you
to supply the file name where the knowledge base may be
found. Type in the name of the file given you by the DP
department. If that file exists, then ESIE will attempt to
load it. If the file does not exist, then ESIE will ask you
if you want to try again. A "Y" or a "N" will answer this
prompt.

Assuming that the file exists, ESIE will attempt to load. If
no loading errors are found, then ESIE will take you to the
top level. If there are errors in loading the KB, then ESIE
will list where it found the errors and return you to DOS.

ESIE loads files faster than most, if not all, other ESS, but
be patient if you are loading a very large KB, especially
from floppy diskette.



















Page 8


The ESIE Top Level


You will know when you have reached the top level by the
distinctive ESIE prompt. It looks like this: "==>". At the
top level you have four different command options: TRACE ON,
TRACE OFF, GO, and EXIT. You only need concern yourself with
the GO and EXIT commands. While you can turn trace on, it
will slow down execution.

As you type commands in, remember that ESIE is case
insensitive. Caps look just the same as smalls to ESIE.
This is also true when you answer questions put to you by
ESIE. You can even mix case if you like, as ESIE is case
insensitive everywhere. I like this feature.

If you do turn trace on, you can turn the trace back off
again by entering the TRACE OFF command.

The GO command is the command to tell ESIE to begin a
consultation with the KB that was loaded before. ESIE will
continue with this consultation until it is complete or until
an error is found in the logic of the KB. You may not turn
trace on or off once a consultation has begun. If you type
in TRACE ON, TRACE OFF, GO or EXIT in response to a question,
then ESIE will treat that as the response to the question.

Once ESIE has completed the consultation, or found an error
in the logic of the KB, it will return you to the top level
for additional commands.

Use the EXIT command in order to leave ESIE and return to
DOS. After a consultation is complete, you have the option
of entering ANY of the four commands, including GO, again.


















Page 9


Paying For and Obtaining the Next Version of ESIE


Now comes the part we all hate to discuss. What is ESIE
going to cost? Well, that is totally up to you and your DP
department. There is a possibility that your DP department
has already paid for ESIE and therefore has access to all the
support you might need. If they have not, or you would like
support for yourself, (including a help line), feel free to
pay for your copy of ESIE.

I happen to be one of those people that believe that most
people are honest and will pay for something they find
useful. I also believe that most software costs too much,
and that all AI software costs way too much. I dislike copy
protection schemes and there are none in ESIE. And I believe
that you will want to see ESIE grow and be supported.

If you send at least $75 you will receive the most recent
version of ESIE, free. If you send at least $145 you will
receive: the most recent version of ESIE, fully commented
source code for ESIE (ESIE was written in Pascal), my sincere
thanks for your support, a copy of PC-Write (c) - a shareware
full-feature text editor fully compatible with ESIE, and
access to a help line, all free.

Regardless of how you feel towards ESIE, I ask that you print
and fill out the file FORM so that I may keep improving ESIE.

I think of ESIE as living software: software that continues
to develop and get better, more powerful. I believe ESIE is
a useful tool as it is, but can be improved. However,
support for living software must come from somebody. Even we
software authors and AI researchers can't live on discovery
and love alone. In shareware this support comes from you -
the user.

Mail and money for ESIE can be sent to: Lightwave Consultants;
P.O. Box 290539; Tampa, FL 33617.