Installation :

The current version of Det still has no install support. Simply unzip the downloaded archive into any directory you like.

To see quickly that can the Det do for you, run RunMe!.bat batch file. This launches pre-builded very simple expert system to determine the geometric figures. Play with this a little, mistaking in answers on purpose. The set of dichotomic keys for this system is stored in Fig.pas. The images, invoked from the Fig.pas, are also included.

The other included key (Lichenes.key) determines lichens.

The program that you see in the screen shoot is stored in Det.exe. The best way is to start it with a .ts file with the compiled rules as its first argument. Otherwise, the standard Windows file open dialog activates an you can choose this file from disk.

The executor, Det.exe has limiting simple user interface. Simply read a question below the images and answering press the corresponding button. If any text or image is too large to display, a scroll bars are available. You can also click the right mouse button on an image for an additional context sensitive menu. The status bar displays number of loaded rules/loaded keys, number of possible conclusions left and the name of current key. The "Connect" button looks for Internet page in the name of the current key. If one is found, Det launches the default Internet browser asking to show this page. If the E-mail address is found instead, Det launches the default mail client.

The new "keys" can be created and edited by any plain text editor. However for serious work we suggest to use a specialised text editor for C++ with syntax highlighting. Despite the keys are not written in C++, such editors correctly highlights text between apostrophes (as text constants) and also numbers. This makes the "keys" much easier to grasp. Simply give your new key files extension ".cpp" and syntax highlighting usually works more or less fine. I recommend CodeMagic. It will not take a long time for you to understand it and easily integrate the expert system compiler into this system. You can also try SuperIde that supports special syntax highlighting for Det keys.

After you write your own keys, you must first compile them with the provided rule compiler. Det now has only one compiler, Esk that at present is protected mode 16 bit application. The compilers has the following invoking syntax:
esk Key_text_file [Output_file] [Listing_file]

The Key_text_file contains the texts of one or several keys to compile. It describes the dichotomic trees. The questions can contain the references to the image files. If you don't understand the syntax from the example included, contact me for more information. This file extension must be also given and can be any (.key is recommended).

The optional Output_file file later is used as an argument for Det.exe. The default name is the same as Key_text_file name with extension .ts.

The Listing_file contains additional information useful to analyse the structure of the builded expert system.

The bath file Compile_Figs.bat the example on geometric figures and the Compile_Lichenes.bat compiles the example on lichens.

We suggest you to visit the Det page time to time and download the newest version.

P.S. If your plans are so serious that you need the Det source code, please write me an application and send by E-mail. We need to know detailed information about you, your company or scientific institution and in which area are you going to use Det . We will reply in one or two weeks.

All best wishes.

Det development group.

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