Formation Knowledge Based Layout of Classi ed Telephone Directories

Pindar Set Limited the UK company that originates the Yellow Pages for British Telecom munications plc has developed a business strategy based upon a generic knowledge based batch layout software suite for use by publishers internationally Pindar s clients pub lishers such as BT increasingly insist on faster and more exible responses to requests for changes in the way their books are laid out and hence the way they look to their customers the companies advertising in the Yellow Pages In order to maintain its com petitive advantage Pindar formed a strategic alliance with AIAI at the University of Edinburgh to produce its next generation directory layout solution Formation Formation is a knowledge based layout system for classi ed telephone directories It comprises a graphical user interface to a batch layout system and a style de nition system with a library of layout strategies and methods The system is based on the specialised language LSSL a fully featured programming language which has been developed at AIAI for use in knowledge based layout systems Although Formation was required to produce classi ed telephone directories it was intended to be a much more general system AIAI has designed a general purpose frame work which supports the expression of knowledge about layout requirements in a natural and modular manner This allows detailed knowledge about the layout of the pages of a book to be considered at a higher level the book s style Through the Formation user interface it is quick and easy to recon gure a style The knowledge based system has been in trial use with Pindar since January During this time Pindar has been able to demonstrate the exibility of the system to its clients The approach taken that is the design and implementation of a suitable language in which expert knowledge about document layout can be expressed has been well validated Formation currently runs under Windows on PCs and will be in full production use for BT s Yellow Page directories from September