Features of Assistum Knowledge Editor
The Knowledge Editor enables you to create, customise and modify your own knowledge bases, building your strategic knowledge assets. It comes in three editions - see products. You use the Knowledge Viewer to consult the knowledge bases.
For each feature of the Knowledge Editor described below, the version number when it was first introduced is given. Those features that are only available in the Professional or Enterprise Editions are marked "P/E only".
A demonstration version of the Knowledge Editor is available to download.
Nodes (V1.0)
A "node" is an issue that is relevant to the decision. A node consists of a name and a question (and some information about the relevance of the issue). It also contains a set of possible answers to the question.
Nodes - different sources (V2.2 - P/E only)
The usual way of getting information is to question the user. (This is the only way with the Standard Knowledge Editor). But with the Professional and Enterprise Editions you can consult another knowledge base (nesting) or consult an Excel spreadsheet.
Nested Knowledge Base (V2.2 - P/E only)
If some nodes require answers that are the properties of nodes in another knowledge base, the nodes can be linked. It is possible to link to several nodes in the same knowledge base or to nest the knowledge bases several layers deep.
Link to Excel (V2.2 - P/E only)
If some nodes require answers that are quantitative and factual and do not need to be the subject of a discussion, they can be linked to an MS Excel spreadsheet and automatically input when the knowledge base is run.
You can design knowledge bases with nodes that look for the latest data held in the bottom row of an MS Excel spreadsheet. This means that you can have a semi-automated knowledge base that looks up some answers in the associated Excel spreadsheet and re-computes its conclusions.
You can add a link or path to any file on the network or any webpage on the Internet or your Intranet.
This will appear when using the Viewer as a "More Info" button. Clicking on it will open the relevant document or application. It could be a webpage, Word document, videoclip or even another Assistum knowledge base that may give some more insights about this factor.
Linking nodes (V1.0)
You can link nodes to show which factors impact what by clicking on the dependant node and dragging the dotted red line to the node that impacts it.
You can put weights on the links to reflect the importance of the relationships.
The position of the sliders on the scale should represent your judgement of what the answer should be in the absence of any other information for each of the three possibilities.
Generally, Assistum will balance the weight of evidence from the various nodes impacting a dependent node and come up with a balanced conclusion. However, it may be that one node, if definitely true, should override all other considerations. For example, legality or safety. To get the override effect, you click on the "always" box.
Editing (V1.0)
You can cut or copy and paste a node, or a selection of nodes and links within a knowledge base or between knowledge bases.
Moving nodes anywhere (V2.2)
You can move nodes horizontally between columns as well as vertically.
Group Formatting (V2.2)
You can select a number of nodes (using the Microsoft standard of Ctrl) and then format them with font type or colour all at the same time.
Disabled nodes (V2.2)
You can disable a node so that it (and all its links) disappear. This is useful in spacing out nodes on the network so that there is no ambiguity about which nodes are linked to which.
Node style (V3.1)
You can pick up the style of a node (either the font and colour of the node name and text, and/or the actual set of answers) and apply this style to other nodes saving a lot of time.
If you have Microsoft Word installed, you can spellcheck your knowledge base.
Colour (V2.2)
You can choose the colour of the background, the nodes, the node highlights, the links and the positive and negative link colours.
Properties (V2.2)
You can add your own graphic device (bitmap, gif etc.) so that it appears in the splash screen when the knowledge base is opened.
You can also add information about the knowledge base which will be displayed under Help, About when the knowledge base is opened in the Viewer.
You can also password protect the knowledge base either for users of the Viewer and/or users of the Editor.
Assistum has an automated publishing capability to floppy disk, folder or web server.
If you publish to a floppy disk or folder, you will publish a set-up file, which when run, will create an Assistum Viewer and knowledge base and place it in the Program Files of the user's PC.
If you publish to a web server, you will create a Java viewer for the knowledge base that can be run over the Internet by anyone with a browser and access to that page.
