Release notes for RacerPro:
Version 1.9.2, Build 20071024 - current BETA version
This is the first publicly available BETA release. A brief list of improvements and new features introduced since the last release version 1.9.0 are listed below. Further information is provided in the Release Notes document which accompanies the software and is also published here.
- Improved performance for certain knowledge bases, e.g. SNOMED, LUBM
- Several enhancements and optimizations of the inference enginge
- Overall speed improvements for Tbox and Abox reasoning
- Abduction support
- Event recognition support
- Access to Triple Store in secondary memory and querying the Triple Store
- Better support for RDF (new features implemented, e.g., correct handling of blank nodes)
- Better support for OWL (e.g., anonymous individuals, XSD data types, etc.)
- Extensions to DIG 1.1 and DIG 2.0 partial support of new proposals (e.g., for concrete domain handling)
- many extensions to nRQL (e.g., aggregate queries, functional termination safe expressions in MiniLisp, combined Abox/Tbox queries, query answer file output, RCC substrate for OWL, etc.)
- Shortcut for XML namespace prefixes "#!": you no longer have to enter "http://...#cat" but can use "#!cat" instead
- Improvements regarding internationalization
- Bug fixes
- Increased compatibility with Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard"
- Native support for Intel CPU based Macintosh computers
- 64bit versions of RacerPro now available for wider range of platforms, e.g. Linux, Sun Solaris on Sparc architecture and on Mac OS X PowerPC based systems
Changes that apply to RacerPorter mainly:
- RacerPorter is now ready for larger knowledge bases, e.g. OpenCyc.owl
- Multi-Session awareness
- Asynchronous (non-blocking) interaction patterns
- New "History Navigator" (similar as found in web browsers)
- Uniform flow of information between different Tabs by means of a clipboard metaphor
- Improved shell (command and argument completion, shell history)
- Improved focus and update control as needed for navigation in and visualization of large knowledge bases
- New "Search" field to select objects by name
- Transparent communication logging
- RacerPorter offers a list of default profiles to allow best behavior of the user interface according to the expected size of knowledge bases.
- Support for starting, stopping and specifying startup options for RacerPro servers
- Per default, RacerPorter now tries to locate the RacerPro executable, launch and connect to it. Thus, the windows installer will start RacerPorter (instead of RacerPro) after successful installation.
- Improved "Connection Profile" management
- RacerPorter is delivered as "universal binary" to run natively on both PowerPC and Intel based Macintosh computers.
Version 1.9.0, Build 20051205 - latest "final" release version
The rule language support introduced with this release bases on the SWRL syntax. However, RacerPro does not fully support SWRL in all aspects of A-Box reasoning. Rather a rule language with a so-called "autoepistemic semantics" is supported.
- Bug fixes and performance enhancements in the RacerPro kernel
- SWRL syntax based rule language
- New Emacs-style editor within RacerPorter with direct link to RacerPro for evaluation of expressions and files
- File transmission now possible from RacerPorter to RacerPro
- Import of OWL files significantly faster
- nRQL enhancements
- Server-based time measurements made possible
Please proceed to the following section which covers hints and usage tips for the previous version. The information given there is still true for this current release.
Version 1.9.0, Build 20051205 - current release version
The rule language support introduced with this release bases on the SWRL syntax. However, RacerPro does not fully support SWRL in all aspects of A-Box reasoning. Rather a rule language with a so-called "autoepistemic semantics" is supported.
- Bug fixes and performance enhancements in the RacerPro kernel
- SWRL syntax based rule language
- New Emacs-style editor within RacerPorter with direct link to RacerPro for evaluation of expressions and files
- File transmission now possible from RacerPorter to RacerPro
- Import of OWL files significantly faster
- nRQL enhancements
- Server-based time measurements made possible
Please proceed to the following section which covers hints and usage tips for the previous version. The information given there is still true for this current release.
Version 1.8.1, Build 20050629
- Bug fixes and performance enhancements in the RacerPro kernel
- Problem with temporary files solved
- Issue with nominals solved
- File handling problem fixed (applies to ACL version only)
- Problem while printing debug information fixed (LW version only)
- Minor nRQL problems solved
- Minor bug fixes in RacerPorter
Version 1.8.0, Build 20050605
This information is also part of the ReadMe document available on your personal download page, on the Mac OS X disk image next to the installer package, is presented by the installer applications during installation, and is included in the dokumentation folder after installation as well.
- Installer version vs. single-file executable
- Command line options esp. for Windows version
- Logging and Dump system state to logfile on error
- Network ports
- RacerPorter
- File type associations
- Note on OWL knowledge bases loaded via DIG vs. loaded directly
- Example files provided with Installer versions
Installer version vs. single-file executable
RacerPro is being delivered using a certain deployment system (ACL). You'll also recognize "ACL" noted next to the build code given for the programs on your personal download page. If you download the installer from our website you'll use the ACL-based version of RacerPro kernel. However, Racer was formerly available using another deployment system (LW) which works slightly different than ACL. E.g. it allows one-file executables. We decided to also make the LW-based RacerPro kernel executable available to you: please look for a ZIP-compressed executable at the lower end of your personal download page. Because this program comes without installer and support files you have to do the installation process yourself. If you are in doubt which version to use, try the installer version.
Command line options esp. for Windows version
The ACL-based RacerPro for the Windows platform has several command line options which work slightly different than documented in the manuals. E.g. you can invoke help by starting RacerPro +p -- -help and for using RacerPro in a batch file (without console) you can use RacerPro +c -- -f [input.racer] -q [query.racer] -o [output.racer];. To make RacerPro a more convenient processor for use within batch files or from the command line the Windows installer also adds the installation directory to the PATH system environment variable.
Logging and Dump system state to logfile on error
There is a new debug option enabled in this release which will write some internal status information into a file. The contents of the file may help the developers supporting you if you report a problem. To switch the debug option on RacerPro is started as follows: ./RacerPro -log "[path-to-logfile]" -debug; or under Windows RacerPro.exe -- -log "[path-to-logfile]" -debug. If you do not provide a filename for the logfile then, the output is written into "racer.log" next to the RacerPro executable.
Network ports
RacerPro opens TCP ports 8080 and 8088 to communicate with remote clients like RacerPorter or Protégé. If the preset port numbers interfere with other services on your machine or network, please consult the manuals how to change the setting with the help of command line options.
RacerPorter
This release of RacerPro also includes RacerPorter for the first time. RacerPorter is a new part of the RacerPro system and works as a stand-alone application. If your application is covered by a Network or Site license you may use RacerPorter on a computer separate from the RacerPro kernel. Hence the intended client system might be of a different platform than the server system. Because the RacerPro download package only contains the executables for one platform you may miss the RacerPorter for the desired client platform. Please contact us to learn how to obtain an additional RacerPorter for Windows, Linux x86 or Mac OS X.
We apologize for not providing a manual for RacerPorter along with this initial release, but you'll find some hints on using RacerPorter right after starting the application below the welcome messages.
File type associations
This version of RacerPro as well as RacerPorter includes associations with the file types .racer and .owl on the Windows and Mac OS X platforms and the installer packages include information about the file types and icons. However, the opening of files in RacerPorter is not yet fully supported and tested in all conceivable circumstances. The best way to open files is to load them with the functionality directly provided in the user interface of RacerPorter. Double-clicking .racer and .owl files from the Explorer or the Finder sometimes results in unexpected behaviour of RacerPorter.
Note on OWL knowledge bases loaded via DIG vs. loaded directly
Third party tools which utilize the DIG interface (e.g., Protégé) might use a Java-based converter from OWL to DIG. The converter approximates OWL by translating it to DIG but the semantics may be changed. If the same OWL knowledge base is loaded directly into RacerPro, the semantics of OWL are obeyed (indeed, with very few restrictions). This difference in loading a knowledge base may cause differing answers when queries are compared.
Example files provided with Installer versions
The installer packages for Windows and Mac OS X also include a folder of example files which will help following the explanations in the user guide.