An "Intelligent" Help Module which acts as a user-friendly interface for a simulation package for construction materials handling systems has been developed. This module is designed to enable a wider spectrum of the construction industry community to benefit from the power of simulation models. It provides a Help system which is robust, friendly and tuned to fulfill the practical needs of the industry. The module employs three different approaches to programming namely, hypertext, frame-based representation under Knowledge-Pro and event-driven programming under Visual Basic. Under the Windows programming environment which allows multi-tasking, the modules can be integrated and run simultaneously. The concept of this Help system is presented and illustrated via a prototype help package. The developed Help module also prepares the groundwork for further developments as its shell framework can be filled and expanded according to the needs of the users.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £60 +P&P)