Expertsystemen

 

Finder

In this screenshot a reference to ^{main.personal_details.name} is added to the conclusion by looking it up and selecting it with the Finder.

Selecting another item in your decision tree
Selecting another item in your decision tree

With [F6] or via the top menu under Search > Finder you can invoke the Finder. It provides an overview of the items available in the model, and will stay visible without blocking the other screens. Finder is divided in two tabs: ‘Data’ and ‘Functions and actions’. The Data tab divides the dialog into four columns. First graphs, then nodes, then data. The rightmost column is a view of the current graph. You can select graphs, nodes and data on first three panels, or navigate using this graph view. Double-clicking an item will add the appropriate reference on the field you are editing, e.g. a formula or a text field.

If the Finder can do something useful for the field you are editing, the Finder’s bar will turn green.

Even if you do not have the Finder visible, it tries to help. If you start typing in a field, the Studio will show the most probable value. Normally pressing enter will complete the reference, use [Ctrl+Enter] if you are in the source, or the advanced view in a calculation. You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard, or [Ctrl+Up] and [Ctrl+Down] if you need to use [Ctrl+Enter] to select another option. For example, in a formula it says ‘delete’. The Finder finds two options to complete the function: deleterow and deleterows. If you press the ‘down’ button, it will select deleterows. So you can select the right option without having to type the complete function(or action)-name. The same works for data.

Code completion in a formula
Code completion in a formula

In the above example the Formula dialog tells the user what would happen upon pressing Enter. This information is shown right below the input field. Everywhere where this functionality is provided, there will be a text telling you what ‘code-completion’ is doing for you.

The behaviour of Finder: showing the functions, showing actions, will depend on where the Finder is used. If you are editing a text field of a question, you cannot select functions. If you open an action, the Finder will let you select an action, but not a function.