Inference Methods MD3
Important hint! lq30mar21. It can be necessary to specify more inference methods in a specific order. Especially this is to create a "Help me solve" construct. In current MD3 a drag action interferes with enabling or disabling the inference method. So before enabling them, drag some in the desired order. Mostly 'Ask user' is needed first. Check that it is on top of the list. Then click another inference method and keep down the mouse button. Drag it right under 'Ask user'. Better do this first, and then specify the inference method according to these pages.
Open the variable properties. In Inspector tab Consultation the available Inference Methods are presented. Some of these are visible depending on the variable type and/or the available KB objects.
- Ask user
- Default, when the variable has a default domain element
- Subtable, only when in some table the variable has a subtable connected.
- Program
- Database, still unimplemented
- Web service, still unimplemented
- Formula, when the variable domain type is Number List or Number Length.
- Logic model
- Frame, still unimplemented??
Ask user
In section Inference Method click Ask user to enable it. Click again to disable.
Default
In section Inference Method click Default to enable it. Click again to disable.
It is visible and selectable when the variable has a default. You can check this in Inspector.
For a Text List or Number List variable open tab Specification. There must be elements in section Detailed domain specs. One can be highlighted: it is the default value. To set or reset, or to choose another element for default, right-click one and select Toggle default.
For a Text Length or Number Length variable open tab Consultation. Type a valid text for Default Value. Empty it to disable.
Subtable see sidebar at the left
Program
A value is retrieved by executing an external program in the operatng system of your computer. A trivial example can be tried in Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows). Open it and type:
echo 33<enter key>
The response is 33 . It is the execution result sent to "standard output". During consultation the "standard output" is redirected to Match Player. Thus a Text variable can be assigned '33' as text. A Number variable can receive it as numerical value. The user has full responsibility that the value "fits" in the variable domain.
In section Inference Method click Program to enable it. Click again to disable. When enabled, type a name of a program to run, possibly with arguments behind it. TO IMPLEMENT