Expertsystemen

 

xxllnc Expertsystemen Runner

If you have created a model, you can publish it, but it is also possible to test and debug the model locally. This is where the xxllnc Expertsystemen Runner comes in. This means the author can develop and test her application without the aid of the xxllnc Expertsystemen Web server and without an Internet connection (except in case any externally hosted data such as web services are used).

How to start the Runner?

In the normal situation - and when your model has been saved - you run your model from within xxllnc Expertsystemen, by either:

  1. Pressing [F9];
  2. Choosing Project > Run in the menu bar, or;
  3. Hitting the run button in the toolbar (see screenshot).
hitting the run button
hitting the run button

The Runner will start try to open the last case it can find. This has the effect that if you have the option to save cases set to “on”, you will always open the last case you were working in, leaving all the data you have entered last time intact.

If you make changes to the model, the Runner will not directly be changed too. You must save your model, and press reload (at the bottom right). The Runner will update the current case to the new model, meaning that it will try to keep all entered information and stay on the current position.

The runner
The runner

The xxllnc Expertsystemen Runner has several menu’s on the top of the screen. The File menu gives access to case management, settings, log (optional), data inspector (see debugging), data sources and a test suite. The case menu gives the same options as the ‘big’ buttons in the Runner. Except reset. Reset deletes the current case, so you can start with a fresh new case if you press start. There is a possibility (depending on registration) you see the option Environment. Here you can set the current environment. The help menu shows this help, and in about you can see which version of the Runner you have, which should be the same version as your Studio.

Case management

Normally the runner is called from the Studio and it will start a new case if there is no case-file, or will start with the latest case-file. You do not need to manage the case files. But, if there is no case running, you can make a new case by selecting New case, or you can select a model and a case with Select case.

Prefill

In order to test your models with fields that need a correct input to work you can use the prefill option under the case tab. This will insert a predetermined value in your input boxes and makes sure that all of them are valid. When selecting prefill again you will turn it off and it will stop prefilling the input boxes.

Data sources

The data sources window is exactly the same as the one in the Studio. It works with the same file (datasources.xml in your working folder).

Differences with the Web server

The inner workings of the xxllnc Expertsystemen Runner differs from that of the xxllnc Expertsystemen Web server in that is isn’t run in a browser. The window looks exactly like the author defined it in the Studio, while in the xxllnc Expertsystemen Web server it comes with a presentation layer that determines the layout and behaviour.