,_O<  Amzi! inc.    40 Samuel Prescott Dr.   >O_,
     ( )                   Stow, MA 01775, USA     ( )
 ~~~~~~~~~--------------------------------------~~~~~~~~~~~
  tel 508/897-7332   amzi@world.std.com   fax 508/897-2784


 Expert Systems in Prolog
 February 28, 1995

     These programs are prototype expert system shells, as described
     in the book _Building Expert Systems in Prolog_ by Dennis
     Merritt, published by Springer-Verlag.  ISBN 0-387-97016-9,
     ISBN 3-540-97016-9.

     As prototypes, the shells are designed to illustrate implementation
     techniques and, although they all work, are not intended to be
     finished products.

     The book is available from Springer-Verlag, through technical
     bookstores, and direct from Amzi! inc.

     The book provides details on the construction of each of the
     programs as well as the types of applications for which they
     are well-suited.


Installation
---------------------------------------------------------------------

     The XSiP files are distributed as a self-extracting .exe.  To
     use it, first create a directory on your hard disk.

     c:>md xsip

     Then change to that directory, and copy the .exe file.

     c:>cd xsip
     c:\xsip> copy a:xsip.exe

     Then execute it.

	  c:\xsip> xsip

     It will create a directory structure with source and executables
     for each of the XSiP programs, plus an additional tax program.


Files & Directories
---------------------------------------------------------------------

     The main directories and files installed are:

     native -   program and sample knowledge base using Prolog's
                native inferencing capabilities.  uses Prolog
                syntax for rule specification.  (Chapter 2,4)

     clam -     EMYCIN-like backward-chaining with uncertainty
                program and sample knowledge base.  uses Prolog
                DCG to define a free-form rule syntax. (Chapter 3,4)

     oops -     OPS-like forward-chaining program with sample
                knowledge base.  uses Prolog operators to implement
                a formal, but intuitive rule syntax.  (Chapter 5)

     foops -    integrates frame-based knowledge representation
                with the OOPS inference engine.  (Chapter 6,7)

     retefoop - implementation of a modified rete-algorithm to
                allow compilation and rapid access of FOOPS knowledge
                bases.  (Chapter 8)

     window -   code implementing an object-oriented, text-mode,
                menu and window user interface.  (Chapter 9)

     taxes -    code implementing a portion of the tax law, with
                descriptive article that first appeared in PCAI magazine.

     rubik -    application for solving Rubik's cube.  (Chapter 12)

     cog30.txt  overview of Cogent Prolog, used for most of the programs
                in the book.
  
     amzi.txt   overview of Amzi! inc. products and services.


General Notes
---------------------------------------------------------------------

     The source code is as close to Edinburgh standard as practical,
     so with little or no modification, all of the programs will
     run on any Edinburgh standard Prolog, as defined by
     Clocksin & Mellish in _Programming in Prolog_.

     In addition to source code, most of the expert system shells
     include a Cogent Prolog executable version as well.  This is the
     .EXE / .XPL pair of files you find in the directory.  The executables
     were generated as 32-bit executables, so they require a 386 or
     better PC to run.

     The executables were generated with the Feb95 release of Cogent
     Prolog 3.0.

     This disk contains some minor bug fixes to the frame implementation
     code.