Synopses & Reviews
How to use expert systems to design front ends for existing software, including such popular programs as Lotus 1-2-3 and dBASE. This unique guide shows you how to construct elegant user interfaces independent of the underlying software, make an intelligent front end that permits creation of data validation routines at the entry point for spreadsheets (which is all but impossible without expert systems technology), and write a natural-language front end that enables the user to interact with a spreadsheet well above the call level. Contains example screens, case studies, and complete rule listings.
Table of Contents
Basics of Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems.
Expert Systems Design Issues.
Problem Selection and Definition.
Interface Design: The Old and the New.
Guided Data Entry Strategies and Techniques.
Data Validation Techniques.
A Small Spreadsheet Example.
Other Spreadsheet Interface Methods.
A Small Database Example.
Case Study: Time and Billing.
Extending Intelligent Interfaces: Hypertext.
Extending Intelligent Interfaces: Hot Graphics.
Intelligent Back Ends.
Appendices: Induction of Rules from Spreadsheets and Databases; Using Other Expert System Shells; Sample Spreadsheet.
Glossary.
Index.