Expert System Builder

SECTION 2 - Populating the Knowledge Base
This section discusses the development of the knowledge base using the ESB Knowledge Acquistion Program (ESBKA). If you have thought your questions through carefully then this step is relatively straightforward. A number of aspects have already been touched upon in the preceding section.

Getting Started with ESBKA
The question file (*.qst) created in the preceding section first needs to be loaded into the ESB Knowledge Acquistion Program. Select the 'Load Questions' button and locate the file you created. Initially the system will contain no records (possible solutions) and so you need to add them (in our case it's cat, dog rabbit etc...). This is covered below.

Adding Records (Possible Solutions)
Returning to our example of the 'Pet Shop Pet Selector' we have already decided that our possible solutions are the following:

Cat
Dog
Rabbit
Hamster, Gerbil or Mouse
GoldFish
Budgie
Tropical Fish

Select the 'New Record' button. You will be presented with the following dialog. Type the name of the record we want to create (in our case DOG) and select OK.

You will now be presented with the first question. Remember you are answering the question as the domain expert (or KE) as discussed in Question Types above.

These are the settings that the KE makes (for Q1) for a dog in our system.

For a DOG the KE would makes settings as left. This means that if a user answered [A] then the probability of DOG being the solution is increased by the maximum. If the user answered [E] then probability of DOG being the solution is decreased by the maximum. Answers [B] and [D] change the probability by varying degrees. [C] is neutral.

Answer the remaining questions in the system for the record DOG.

When complete create the next record (ie CAT) and repeat the process. Save the system as you progress by pressing the 'Save Records' button.

Describing Records
The description that you provide for a record in the system is the URL to which the user of the system is directed when that record is selected in the User Interface Program.

Modifying Records
There will be occasions (especially when testing) that you need to modify the settings for a particular record so that the system gives the correct result (you can consider this as fine tuning the system). In order to modify a record you first need to load it into ESBKA. From the 'Record Name' drop down list select the record you wish to modify and press 'Load Record'. You can now modify the setting as desired. Remember to save your changes when complete.

Adding Duplicate Records (Possible Solutions)
Sometimes you will want the system to make the same recommendation but via a different set of response from the user (i.e. via a different path through the questions). This is achieved by creating a new record in the system (ie DOG 2) and linking it to the same description (see Describing Records below)

Modifying the Question Set (after adding records)
There may be occasions when you realise that the current question set needs to be modified. The problem is that records (solutions) already in the system will have no 'knowledge' of the new question. In order to add a new question, to an existing system, open the file in ESBQE and navigate to the position in the question file that you wish to insert the new question (using the 'Prev' and 'Next' buttons).

From the 'Edit Menu' select 'Insert Question'. Be sure to use this method even if you want to add a question at the end of the existing question set. The ESBQE program presents the following warning, press Yes and complete the new question.

IMPORTANT: For records entered into the system prior to the new question being added you need to reload those records (in ESBKA) and provide settings for the new question.

SECTION 3 - Testing the System
This section is yet to be completed.

Please Note
There is a lot of help material relating to ESB4. More importantly I don't have time to answer everyones questions. Hopefully this tutorial will help. If you mail me with a question that's answered in the help (or here) you'll be ignored (apologies).

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