Manual:Verbot Editor Using Synonyms

From VerbotWiki

First Things First...

The Synonym Editing Interface allows you to create groups of words or phrases which can be interchanged within an Input.

Before using Synonyms you should already be familiar with the Synonym Editing Interface, and have a synonym file saved.

Using Synonyms within an Input

When the Verbot Scripting Interface loads, it should look like the following screen shot. You'll notice the right side contains a group called "Resource Files". A Resource File is where you will load your previously created synonym file.

To add a Resource File:

1. Click the "Add Files" button 2. Locate the Synonym file you created. The file should have the .vsn extension. 3. Select the Synonym file and click the "Open" button on the dialog box 4. Your synonym file should now be added to the Resource Files field. (see image below)

Add a new Rule

You should be familiar with creating Rules by now. If not, please review: Creating your First Rule.

You should remember that your synonym file "what is" contains the synonyms "What is" and "What's." The name of the synonym is "What is". Before you can use the synonym, you'll need a rule. Below you'll see that a Rule entitled "What is a Verbot?" has been created.

Now that you have created a Rule, you need to add an Input. To use the synonym "What is" within the Input, you have to format it in a special way so that the Verbot Engine "knows" that a synonym exists for "What is".

In order to use a synonym, you will need to write the synonym name--in this case, "what is"-- and enclose it in parenthesis. Here is an example. Click the "Add" button within the Inputs group. When the Input dialog box appears, type in the following Input: "(what is) a Verbot?", then click ok.

As you can see, from the image above, the Output: "A verbal software robot." has been added. You now have one complete Rule ready to test. Make sure you save your KnowledgeBase by clicking "File --> Save." If this is your first time saving, you'll need to name the file. That's it! You're now ready to test your Rule.

To see that it works properly, you should do some testing. To do so, click on "Tools"->"Test KnowledgeBase." You will notice that you get output if you type "What is a Verbot?" or "What's a Verbot?" and that is because you have a synonym that contains them both. Using Synonyms within an Output Much like using Synonyms within Inputs you can use Synonyms within Outputs. The Verbot will pick one of the phrases from that Synonym group and insert it in your output.