The CMS-HELP expert system

An expert system known as CMS-HELP has been developed to serve as an on-line consultant to users of the VM/CMS opening system. It assists computer users (novice or experienced), who attempt to use unfamiliar system facilities, by giving prompt advice of a sequence of commands to accomplish a desired user task. The domain for CMS-HELP is the collection of CMS command modules and EXEC's at IBM Research. This set of command facilities is treated as data by the expert system. The source of knowledge is mainly provided by the command descriptions and system consultants, who are expert users of these commands. This expert system exemplifies data/knowledge engineering to develop an intelligent agent capable of providing on-line consultation. Thereby, the system serves important functions to both the developers and the users of CMS commands: it makes the programs more usable and understandable and it makes the users more productive and receptive. Thus, the system brings data/knowledge and its users closer together.