Arden Syntax:Implementation Guide:Syntax Description

Fundamentals

Medical knowledge in Arden Syntax is arranged within Medical Logic Modules (MLMs) where each MLM represents sufficient knowledge to make a single decision. Each such an MLM is well organized and structured into categories and slots with specific content.

maintenance:
  title:       ;;
  mlmname:     ;;
  arden:       ;;
  version:     ;;
  institution: ;;
  author:      ;;
  specialist:  ;;
  date:        ;;
  validation:  ;;
library:
  purpose:     ;;
  explanation: ;;
  keywords:    ;;
  citations:   ;;
  links:       ;;
knowledge:
  type:        ;;
  data:        ;;
  priority:    ;;
  evoke:       ;;
  logic:       ;;
  action:      ;;
  urgency:     ;;
resources:
  default:     ;;
  language:    ;;
end:

An MLM is composed of slots grouped into 4 required categories: maintenance, library, knowledge, and resources. A category starts with its name followed immediately by a colon (e.g., maintenance:) and the categories must appear in the correct order. Within each category is a set of slots which also must appear in the correct order.