About this Browser

This PowerLoom® browser consists of three window panels as shown below. This document also contains hints for new users. For a quick start, begin by selecting module AIRCRAFT-KB, entering AIRCRAFT in the type in box and selecting "Find". (Or select this link: AIRCRAFT).
If AIRCRAFT-KB is not available in the module menu, the KB has not yet been loaded into the PowerLoom instance serving Ontosaurus.

Toolbar

Reference
window

Content
window

The Toolbar consists of buttons to perform various operations described below. The Reference and Content windows are designed to display contents of ontology. Links in both windows display their contents in the content window. This facilitates exploring various links associated with a word or concept in the reference window without the need to continuously go back and forth.

Toolbar

Module: Allows you to select a PowerLoom Module for interpreting the name in the input field.

Show: Displays an overview of the selected module. This will include a section on undefined concepts and relations as well as a list of top level concepts in the module. This page is displayed in the reference window.

HoldWindow: Moves the contents of the content (right) window into the reference (left) window.


concept, relation, or instance. Selects the type of object entered in the type-in box.

Type in Box: Input for entering the name of an object for browsing.

Find: Displays the object specified by the type menu and the type in box. This page is displayed in the reference window.

Match Allows the choice of matching style. The available styles are "Exactly", "Case Insensitive" and "Substring" (eventually also "Wildcard" and "Regular Expression").

To begin exploring select an appropriate module, then select one of concept, relation, or instance. Finally enter a symbol in the input area of the toolbar and press Find to initiate a request to the server.

Meaning of Icons

Icon Meaning Active?
Print this message. Active
Information about the given topic or page section. Active
Bring up the PowerLoom Reference Manual. Active
Show the PowerLoom home page. Active
Mark a single-valued relation. Information
Mark a multiple-valued relation. Information
, Marks read-only single and multiple-valued relations. Information
Marks a direct instance of a concept. Information
Marks an indirect instance of a concept. Information
? Marks an undefined concept or relation. Information

Other Browser Conventions

Types and role fillers in roman (normal) typeface are asserted by the user. Types and role fillers in italics are derived (inferred) by PowerLoom. Types in bold face cannot be retracted. "Direct Types" are the most specific PowerLoom types for an instance. "Asserted Types" are the result of user assertions.

Hints

Make sure the "Match" control is set to "Substring" so that you don't need an exact match of names. You can find the top level concepts in a particular module by selecting that module and pushing the "Show" button. You can also start a search from the top of the hierarchy by choosing "PL-KERNEL-KB" and looking for the concept THING.
Enjoy.
Tom Russ


Please send comments and suggestions to Tom Russ.

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Last modified: Feb 11, 2010