## Able Filter Editor Tutorial

This tutorial explains how to use the Able Filter Editor by creating agents to approve mortgages using either neural network or rule-based application techniques.

First, start the Able Agent Editor with the appropriate method for your environment. In Windows or OS/2, go to the /able/bin directory and type

           runnit

On UNIX platforms, go to the /able/bin directory and type

           runnit.sh

After the Able Agent Editor main window appears, you may choose to read through the entire tutorial or select just one lesson at a time from the contents frame.

## Using the Able Agent Editor

In this lesson, you are shown how to create, change, connect, inspect, and move the beans that make up an agent. You may wish to review the component descriptions of the Able Agent Editor before proceeding.

### Constructing a new agent

To construct a new agent, go to the File pulldown menu and select New... A cascade menu will appear with a list of available AbleAgents. Select the type of agent you want to instantiate and one will be created and set as the base container agent for further editing and customization.

### Adding beans to an agent

To add an Able bean component to an agent, turn to the desired page on the icon palette and then click on the Able bean icon. The Able beans are divided into several catagories, including Data, Learning, Rules, Agents, and Misc.

To identify each component, just place and pause the cursor over the icon. Popup help text will show the underlying name of the Able bean. When you click on the icon, an instance of the Able bean will be created and added to the Able Agent. The icon will appear in the Agent canvas. At this point you can configure the Able bean, or create buffer, property, or event connections to the Agent or other Able beans in the agent.

### Editing an agent's properties

To change the state or configuration of an agent you can select an action from the context or popup menu by right clicking over the agent icon or white space if the agent is the container agent, or you can use the agent customizer by choosing the Properties... item from the context menu.

### Initializing a bean

You can change the state or configuration of a AbleBean that is contained in an AbleAgent by clicking the right mouse button over the AbleBean icon in the canvas pane. This will bring up the context or popup menu. To open the customizer, choose the Properties... item from the context menu. While in the Properties customizer, some beans provide buttons to initialize, generate, or otherwise configure themselves which can change the bean's state. A bean that is not initialized will appeared to be greyed-out or disabled on the editor canvas.

### User-defined Functions

AbleAgents manage a list of named user-defined functions that can serve as sensors and effectors. They provide an easy way for AbleBeans to invoke methods on adaptor beans and to access external application data and actions. To define a user function, open the context menu on the Agent (right click on white space in the Canvas pane) and select User functions...

A dialog box will appear with a list of the currently defined functions in a list box. You can edit existing definitions, or add and remove them from the list.

### Saving an agent

Set the agent name by right clicking with the mouse anyplace on the canvas, and selecting Properties... from the context menu. Enter the name, and press OK. Save an agent by selecting Save or Save as from the File pull-down menu. All beans contained in the agent as well as any open inspectors will be written to the serialized file with the name property provided.

### Creating beans

There are several methods available for creating AbleBeans. To create a single bean such as an Import bean place the pointer on and click the left mouse button. When you release the mouse button, the bean is created and placed on the canvas.

Another method is to copy an existing bean. First, select a bean already on the canvas by placing the pointer over it and clicking the left mouse button. Next, select the Copy choice from the Edit pull-down menu, and then select Paste from the Edit pull-down menu. Copy and Paste are also available from the context menu.

### Using context menus

Each bean has an associated pop-up or context menu that is available by clicking the right mouse button on any of the object icons.

### Moving beans

To move a bean, position the pointer on the desired object. Press the right mouse button, and hold it down while you move the mouse to drag the object to its new location in the Able Editor canvas. Release the right mouse button when the object is in its desired new location.

### Connecting beans

There are three types of connections supported in Able: buffer or data connections, property connections, and event connections. Each connect in the same manner. The view determines which connection is visually displayed.

To connect two AbleBeans, right click on the source bean to bring up the context menu, move the cursor over the Connect... item (a cascade menu with appear) and select the desired type of connection. A rubberband line will appear from the source AbleBean. Move the mouse over the desired target or destination AbleBean and click the left mouse button again. A connection will be drawn between the two beans. If it is not visible, change the View selection to the type of connection created.

### Removing bean connections

To remove connections from a bean, open its customizer by selecting Properties... from the context menu. Select the Connections tab which displays a list of each of the connection types. Select the connections to be removed and press the Remove button.

### Editing bean properties

After an AbleBean is created, there may be properties needed to complete its definition. The attributes themselves depend on the type of bean. For example, an Import bean needs an attribute specified to locate and define the format of the data to be imported. Move the mouse to the bean. Click the right mouse button to show the pop-up or context menu. Select Properties... to display an appropriate bean-specific customizer. Change properties as desired. Click on the OK push button to return to the workplace.

### Setting user preferences

The Able Editor allow you to customize settings so that you can change defaults to suit yourself. You do this with the Preferences dialog. To change or view your current choices, select File from the menu bar, and then Preferences... from the pull-down menu. Last modified: Mon Jul 26 09:37:15 CDT 1999