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Realize that the following information is a generic description of the user interface. Specific content of a knowledge based system will determine on the determine the specific information it presents. To make a separation between the responsibilities of Quaestor and the developer of the knowledge based system, the Knowledge engineer, think about the following:

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The standard Quaestor GUI layout can be rearranged at any time by selecting the menu options: Window>StandardView>Window configurations. As with the start-up of Quaestor, in general there are two standard views:

As a userUser, thus when working in a project (for every user level);
As a developer, thus when working as Knowledge Engineer in a Knowledge Engineer working in a knowledge base;

2.1 Standard view for an End-user, Domain expert and Knowledge Engineer using a project

For an End-User, a Domain Expert and a Knowledge Engineer in a project file, Window>Standard View>Window configurations>User will result in:

Click here to see large..

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2.2 Standard view for a Knowledge Engineer in a knowledge base

Window>Standard View>Window configurations>Knowledge engineer as an a knowledge engineer in a knowledge base will result in:

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As a Knowledge Engineer you will have two more windows in addition to the Explanation window and the Workbase: Knowledge Browser and Slots & Properties.

The Knowledge Browser is your main access to the knowledge (such as parameters, relations, constraints) in the system (stored in frames).
The Slots & Properties window provides access to specific properties for the knowledge (or frames = parameters, relations, constraints) you are able to select in the Knowledge Browser.

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When a result is achieved. You can go through all input, intermediate and end results in the Workbase by selecting values and (in case of documents) double clicking values. Note that associated programs will start and load the associated files when you double click them. A Back to Quaestor window will appear on top of the started program in order to return to Quaestor.

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As a result (and mentioned in the above standard views), the knowledge engineer required additional windows, such as the Knowledge Browser, Slots & Properties and the Frame Viewer to have additional views on the knowledge base.

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By means of the Knowledge Browser the KE is able to browse through all parameters, relations and constraints (frames). The Frame Viewer and Slots & Properties will follow the selections in the Knowledge Browser and enable you to modify all kind of aspects on the selected frames. Furthermore, the Knowledge Browser will follow your browsing through the Workbase.

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Flash demo of a simple knowledge base with Workbase-Knowledge Browser connection: click here....
Flash demo showing the difference between Workbase-Knowledge Browser connection switched on and off: click here....
Flash demo of a Taxonomy knowledge base with Workbase-Knowledge Browser connection: click here....

Editing knowledge

Editing you use a combination of the Knowledge Browser, Frame Viewer and Slots & Properties.

Note that most of the functionality for the Knowledge Browser is part of the right mouse menu functionality, see also in the following sections.

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Any additional modifications to reference text or attributes and data in the data slot can be done by means of the Frame Viewer and Slots & Properties. Put the focus on a parameter in the Knowledge Browser and make your changes in the Frame Viewer and Slots & Properties.

Adding parameter can be done in two ways:

When a relation is added, the new parameters are added to the knowledge base;
Use the right mouse menu option "New Parameter/Function..." in the Knowledge Browser (or the main menu);

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Implicitly, using the pre-defined syntax (see also QuaestorSyntax):

$ at the end of the name means string type: the parameter is used for text values;
# at the end of the name means TeLiTab type: this is the Quaestor data the Quaestor data structure for a combination of Text, List values and Table values.
% at the end of the name means integer type: See [1].
Normal parameter name is assumed to be of the value type: this can be any real number.

By defining this in the "New Parameter/Function..." window;

In other words, when you add parameters by means of a relation, you can also define the type of the parameter.

Note that due to some choices in design, a string parameter in Quaestor cannot in Quaestor cannot be changed to a value type (so removing the $ will not help...). In that case you have to create a new parameter with the correct type.

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Because we want you to think about this, deleting is normally disabled. You can only enable deleting by selecting the File menu item "Allow deleting frames". Every knowledge base is (re-)protected when you (re)start it in Quaestorin Quaestor.

Organise in classes

Beside a description of all your parameters, relations constraints etc. you are able to group relevant parameters and relations in classes in the class tree. You can create a new class and arrange existing classes in the class tree on the left side of the Knowledge Browser and drag and drop parameters and relations in these classes.
The purpose of classes is to organise your parameters. You do this by selecting any existing class and press the right mouse button.

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Workbase, to provide input during a dialog and navigate through all solutions;
Explanation, to present all reference information (and all other binary data connected to parameter, objects and relations that can be visualized in a web browser);
Knowledge Browser, to add, modify and navigate through all knowledge;
Frame Viewer, to view and change details on parameters, relations and constraints;
Slots & Properties, to view and change properties of parameters, relations and constraints;

In addition to these windows you have windows that are activated by Quaestor when you carry out a specific action, such as the Knowledgebase Clipboard, but for instance also the Web browser to provide additional help for intrinsic Quaestor functions. The additional windows are:

Trace Viewer, specialized window to debug modeling and evaluation of solutions;
Web Browser, to view web pages, pdf documents, text, etc. in a separate window;
Graph, simple viewer for multi-case values;
Knowledgebase Clipboard, to export knowledge from the Knowledge Browser to a separate file, etc.;
Workbase Clipboard, to export results from the Workbase to a separate file, etc.;
Expression Editor, to edit expressions (relations, functions, constraints);
Compose Text, to compose text based on text fragments in the Knowledge Browser or Workbase;

Finally you have special modal windows, for instance required to control Quaestor in combination with other programs. The special modal windows [3] are:

Report, to view reports generated by Quaestor;
Process Manager, to select datasets and tasks and start a analysis, design and engineering process;
Back to Quaestor window, enabling and forcing you to return to Quaestor in the correct way;

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The separation lines in the menu's are represented with "-".