A Prototype Assistance Manager for the Simulation Model Development Environment

The Assistance Manager, one of the tools of the Simulation Model Development Environment (SMDE), is required to provide effective and efficient transfer of assistance information to an SMDE user. This paper describes a prototype of the SMDE Assistance Manager. Objectives are set forth and a design is established and implemented on a SUN 3/160C workstation. The prototype is evaluated with respect to the design objectives and is shown to provide a highly flexible interface between the user and the database of assistance information. Results indicate that the prototype Assistance Manager incorporates the characteristics considered desirable in on-line assistance systems and serves as a basis for future enhancement and development.