Getting started with CoGui

In this page we will give a brief introdution into using the CoGui tool. Throughout the document we will use the example "childhood" detailed in the examples section. Please note that this document is intended as a quick overview of the CoGui tool. For further, more in depth explanations, please see the CoGui user guide.

Install CoGui client application

Download page of this web site provides links to CoGui installers.

The installer has been successfully tested. But, for now, you may have problems using an installer for another operating system. It is advisable, in this case, to use the platform-independent ZIP file. Extract it to any folder on your system and run the executable file located in the cogui/bin directory.

feature img
The installers

Create a new projet based on "Chilhood" example

The command "New project" allows you to create an empty project or to create a project already containing some elements that will serve as an example or template.

New project action
New project action
Use File/New project menu command to open the project creation wizard
Sample category
Select the childhood project in the sample category
Project location
Click "Next" button and choose the name and the location of your new project

Browse project tree

After creation the projet tree placed on the left panel is populated. You can browse through the project to get an idea of what sort of funtionality is provided.

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The project tree

Concept type hierarchy

You can search and browse through the concept type hierarchy using the tree-like structure on the right panel.

concept type hierarchy
The concept types

By double clicking on any type or by using menu command you can visualise the concept types in a graphical representation.

concept type hierarchy
How to edit graphically

Of course, the two representations are synchronized and we can edit the graph in one or the other of the two editors.

concept type hierarchy
The graphical representation of the hierarchy

Please note that several tools help to navigate throughout the whole hierarchy.

zoom
Zoom and magnify tools on the local toolbar
zoom
The navigator window useful to navigate through big graphs

The graphs can be rearrange by using different layouts.

Vertical tree layout
Vertical tree layout
Horizontal tree layout
Horizontal tree layout
Force directed layout
Force directed layout (dynamic)

Relation type hierarchy

You can visualize and edit the relation type hierarchy in the same way as for the concepts.

Please note that Conceptual Graphs allow also n-ary relations, not only unary and binary.

Relation type hierarchy
The relation type hierarchy

Individuals

Individuals complete the vocabulary definition.

Please note that the list is automatically populated when new individuals appears in the knowledge base.

individuals
By clicking on the individuals tab you can see the individuals in the domain

Rules

Rules are also visually represented. The visual depiction of the rule makes it particularily useful when modelling complex domains.

rule editor
Open the rule editor from the project tree
rule editor
The rule says: "Every person is his mother's child"

Facts

A set of facts are preloaded in the example. Facts can be visually represented and edited, just like rules.

rule editor
Open the fact editor from the project tree
rule editor
The fact says: "A girl and a child of her family play with the same toy"
debug tool

debug tool
At any stage in your building the knowledge base you can click the control button to verify if your current piece of knowledge is correctly formed.
layout
The graphs can be rearranged dynamically by pressing the layout button on the toolbar.

Create a query

You can now create a query in the project. Queries can be created and edited graphically, just like facts and rules.

new query
Use the "New/Other..." command on the project view.
new query
The new query appears in the project tree.
new query
Select the kind of object to create

You can now start writing your query by adding concepts and relations respectively.

rule editor
Create a new concept with the toolbar
rule editor
Or create a new concept with the contextual menu (Right-Click)
rule editor
A new concept is created
rule editor
Edit the new concept and choose a type
rule editor
Choose the type "Girl"
rule editor
The type of the concept is updated

Another way to create the well-typed concept is to drag the type from the right panel containing the concept hierarchy to the editor containing the query.

rule editor
With the mouse drag from concept type tree panel to the editor
rule editor
The "Girl" concept is added to the query
rule editor
Identically you can use 'drag and drop' with relation
rule editor
The "relativeOf" relation is added to the query

Finally, use the mouse (Left-Click) to connect the relation with the concepts.

Please note that the edges connecting vertices are ordered.

create edges
Drag with the mouse to create the edge
create edges
The query is defined: "a girl and a child who belong to the same family"

Query the knowledge base

You can now start the query wizard.

new query
From the toolbar
new query
Or from the menu
new query
Query wizard - Step 1

Select the facts to query

new query
Query wizard - Step 2

Select the rules to apply

new query
Query wizard - Step 3

Select the solver and finish.

new query
Query wizard - Step 4

Browse throught the results.

projection viewer
That's all folks !