ljdickey@water.UUCP (Lee Dickey) (04/28/86)
For the third year in a row, we supply you with a complete list of
authors and titles of papers that will be presented at the annual
APL conference. This year, we have added abstracts. Subsequent
messages will have further information. All of the information
has been supplied by the organizers of APL 86.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
m. alfonseca and m. j. tobar
thur stream 3 1500
extending apl to logic programming
abstract: the limitations that make ibm's pc apl slow at logic
programming were analysed. the best option for speeding it up was to give
it an auxiliary processor with suitable logic functions. it can now
compete with prolog. the paper also describes experience in use.
a. m. barnaud, b. mailhol, y. le borgne
mon stream 3 1645
development of a portable software product for library automation
abstract: the paper describes the use of apl alongside assembler and c to
produce a system to meet the needs of french public libraries. it handles
cataloguing, bibliographical enquiries and follow-ups on lending and
acquisition. it runs on ibm mainframes and unix machines.
c. bastian
tue stream 3 0930
the scope of apl in nuclear measurements
abstract: the whole range of data acquisition and analysis in
experimental nuclear physics can be covered with a few apl workspaces.
typical steps in the treatment of statistical data are highlighted and
compared with solutions in other languages. there is advice for aplers
wishing to compete against fortran.
j. philip benkard
wed stream 3 1445
analysis of function application in deep arrays
abstract: the proposed extension suggests that arrays of functions as
well as arrays of data are possible in apl2, although they are more
complex. the paper examines the case of mixed function arrays and draws a
parallel with the sharp concept of function rank.
robert bernecky
thur stream 2 0930
apl: a prototyping language
abstract: a thorough analysis of prototyping and apl's advantages over
other languages for this task. hierarchical and hybrid approaches to
modelling systems of various degrees of complexity are illustrated with
examples to show that apl makes for a pleasant life!
michael j. a. berry and roland h. pesch
mon stream 2 1400
style and literacy in apl
abstract: the shibboleth that apl instruction lines should be short is
amusingly contrasted with the practice of many skilled apl writers. then
it is suggested that the genius of the language calls for line length to
be appropriate for the task in hand and many examples are given of 'four
lines good: two lines better' (or even one line best).
dr james a. brown et al
thur stream 3 1600
logic programming in apl2
abstract: this paper explores the representation of logic using the data
structures of apl2. some lisp and prolog features are translated into apl2
and developed to create a complete prolog-like programming environment,
with an inference engine and a knowledge base. search strategies are also
discussed. (see eusebi: paper number 123).
dr. james a. brown
thur stream 3 1215
writing multi-user applications in apl2
abstract: this paper presents a general scheme for rapid implementation
of multi-user applications showing the special features of apl2 that make
it suitable for this.
richard w. butterworth, robert a. stephan
wed stream 2 1215
delis: a decision support system generator for frequency data
abstract: delis displays frequency data as tables or graphs on many types
of display and output device. it provides query and display functions, a
method of passing queries to be processed and functions for automatic
analysis and response to the queries. the apl is plain vsapl. frequency
data is extracted and passed to the system in apl file format with pl1.
wai-mee ching
wed stream 2 1030
an apl/370 compiler and some performance comparisons with apl interpreter and
fortran
abstract: an experimental 370 compiler works with a subset of apl chosen
for engineers and scientists. the compiled code runs several times faster
than the interpreter and is of about the same quality as is produced from
fortran. the paper explains how the front end analyses the apl dataflow
to produce parse trees, graphs and tables and how such efficient 370 code
is generated.
thomas w. christopher and ralph w. wallace
wed stream 2 1000
compiling optimized array operations at run-time
abstract: some apl interpreters hold arrays as descriptors which point
to a block of memory holding the data sequentially. scalar functions
therefore can be translated into machine code which has fewer loops than
the number of dimensions to the array. this paper describes an analyser
which constructs optimised array operations at run time from the
descriptors of the arrays. the performance and results from experiments
are analysed.
y. s. chua and charles n. winton
thur stream 3 1130
automated application programming environment
abstract: small businesses can justify the low cost of tailor-made
applications in apl if ways can be found to reduce the programming cost
to the user and file interfaces. the paper offers file and screen
utility functions to help solve this problem and illustrates their value
and portability with an example.
adam dakin
mon stream 3 1600
laplan - a corporate planning model for laura ashley
abstract: a really complex business problem was handled by a group of
apl novices and a successful system developed on a microcomputer in a
remarkably short time. the detailed steps are explained. the whole is an
excellent example of the strengths of apl and its value in prototyping.
prof. dr. ing. egon dorrer
tue stream 2 1015
from tensor and suffix notation to apl
abstract: tensor and suffix notation reveals the simplicity and symmetry
of some otherwise complicated and obscure multivariate formulae. matrix
algebra and apl normally would hide the structures of interest but the
paper shows how to represent the notation in apl and the advantages and
disadvantages of apl for this work are made clear.
ed eusebi, dr. james a. brown
thur stream 3 1645
apl2 and ai: a study of search
abstract: to demonstrate the suitability of apl2 for ai some paradigm ai
problems are solved. they show logical inference, state space
representations and other ai methods. a set of functions for searching a
database of rules and facts will be explained and demonstrated.
enhancements to cater for heuristic, bidirectional and parallel search
are shown.
ian feldberg
fri stream 1 1015
text: publication-quality characters come to apl graphics
abstract: text is an apl workspace that creates and manipulates all
kinds of characters on the screen or a plotter. it can be used with
several plotting packages. characters can be scaled, rotated justified
etc. the workspace will be demonstrated.
kenneth j. fordyce, gerald a. sullivan
tue stream 3 1645
extending worksheet modelling software with expert system technology
abstract: this is a description of a tool called automated ledger book,
which is a worksheet model generator with an equation manipulating expert
system and a natural language interface. it can answer 'what if' questions
and give justifications for its responses. the system will be demonstrated.
martin gfeller and monika stengl
wed stream 3 1400
open fullscreen systems
abstract: an open fullscreen system combines two advantages a) presenting
the user with data and prompts a whole screen at a time, b) providing
access to the the power of apl and all the functions in the workspace.
systems can be designed which allow any command to be given whatever the
current state of the system. non-apl users can be given access to some of
the same power through cover functions which become a command language
like keyword apl.
leslie h. goldsmith et al.
fri stream 2 0930
logos: an apl programming environment
abstract: logos provides support to the user, developer and manager of
application systems. it leads to increased programmer productivity and
more robust software by providing a centralised uniform interface. logos
resides in the development workspace and looks like a small holdall
containing a huge variety of tools and facilities shared in a controlled
way with other programmers.
alan graham
wed stream 1 1215
the usage of apl2 - common idioms and problem_solving techniques
abstract: this collection - a must for anyone using an enhanced version
of apl - contains many examples which are shown in several forms from the
fully general to those which rely on the shapes of their arguments. there
is a discussion of techniques and a well annotated list of idioms.
l. h. groner and j. h. cook
tue stream 3 1215
modelling the arithmetic of statistical distributions
abstract: the paper reviews various kinds of extended arithmetic and
their advantages. statistical modelling can be approached as an extended
arithmetic of distributions. an apl prototype leads to a suggestion for
the result of the quad-cr of a primitive function.
stig gustafsson
tue stream 3 1130
quaternions and homogeneous co-ordinates
abstract: real numbers, complex numbers and mathematical vectors are all
special cases in the number scheme of quaternions (which are ordered
quadruples of real numbers). quaternions provide an attractive alternative
to matrix methods for transformations of geometric figures - especially
rotations about arbitrary axes (such as are needed by robots). apl allows
easy implementation of quaternions but a hybrid between quaternions and
homogeneous matrices gives the best speed of transformation.
robert hodgkinson
wed stream 2 1215
apl procedures (user defined operators, functions and token strings)
abstract: the paper describes some central aspects of an apl implementation on a hewlett packard minicomputer. the developm
ent of these ideas leads to
a consistent structure for all procedures, where a procedure is defined as
a structured sequence of apl expressions, eg ambivalent functions, monadic
and dyadic operators. tokenising and detokenising functions and a single
hyperoperator are introduced. the extensions are superimposed on a basic
imprint of sharp apl.
john e. howland
fri stream 1 0930
typesetting apl using a macintosh
abstract: the approach described uses the macintosh and laserwriter to
produce commercial quality printing. the postscript notation used by the
laserwriter is explained and examples of both bit mapped and analytic
characters are given.
stephen b. jaffe
wed stream 1 0930
topics for a second course in apl
abstract: after the introductory course and a little experience, what do
newcomers to apl needQ here is part of a syllabus for the second course.
it helps with multidimensional arrays, the less obvious applications of
grade and scan and the creation of better user interfaces including the
process of closing an open workspace and error trapping. the presentation
will be a sample of the course.
robert jernigan and arie eisner
wed stream 2 1130
a generalised data base interface for apl
abstract: by the provision of a function through which all database calls
are made it becomes possible to link apl with several different
proprietary databases. only subfunctions invisible to the apl programmer
vary according to the database in use. the generalisation that made this
possible is described. the system has been in use for over two years at
johns hopkins university.
h. clark kee, roy l. post
mon stream 3 1400
manufacturing resource planning on a pc local area network
abstract: eight work-years and $150,000 of hardware (12 pcs and a network
with a 137 megabyte file server) make an astonishingly cheap and efficient
modular construction for this system - its specification looks like a job
for a large mainframe. many micros make light work - apl is quite fast
enough - the most heavily loaded unit is the file server. a comprehensive
account full of lessons for people wanting similar cost effective results.
david landaeta
mon stream 2 1600
a notation for manipulating arrays of operations
abstract: how should arrays of operations be incorporated into aplQ this
paper combines and builds on earlier suggestions and proposes to extend
strand notation, to allow 'orders' of operation with ways of stepping
between order levels and to extend the use of jot to allow niladic
operator calls.
d. livingstone
wed stream 2 1600
the integration of relational database algebra into apl
abstract: instead of linking databases to apl (which involves
inconsistencies and loss of generality), this paper proposes that apl is
enhanced by the addition of relational database primitives. a relation
would become a special case of generalised arrays. the paper concludes by
proposing ways to improve machine efficiency in the use of such
extensions.
e. e. mcdonnell
thur stream 2 1645
a perfect square root routine
abstract: this is an example of the use of apl as a prototyping language
to design and test algorithms for use in other languages. here it is used
on the method now incorporated into sharp apl for calculating square
roots. the problems of binary representation and how to minimise the
inaccuracy in the result are explored. some fascinating problems arose
and were resolved in the testing of the method ( WperfectW because the
method is as accurate as the representation allows).
j. e. mcgowan, d. j. parker
wed stream 3 0930
medium term forecasts of half-hourly power demand
abstract: a new forecasting methodology was developed and implemented in
apl to provide these forecasts from records of demand by category, date,
time, outside temperature etc. the system can estimate the effect of
changing one or more of the variables and can display the results
graphically.
terence j. mckee
tue stream 3 1015
apl in quality business management
abstract: the paper amusingly shows how people are accidentally misled
by graphs and statistics and gives advice on how to avoid such pitfalls.
the data may be accurate but care needs to be taken (guidelines provided)
if the decision to take remedial action is to be correctly made.
loren b. mayhew
thur stream 3 1015
increasing productivity with ispf/apl2
abstract: interactive system productivity facility provides a consistent
way for users to edit, browse, create and delete datasets. it deals with
things a screen or 'panel' at a time. the paper explains how to use ispf
from apl2, so giving users the environment they are used to and greatly
shortening the process of providing the user interface. live examples
will be demonstrated.
gert l. moeller
thur stream 2 1500
a logic programming tool for qualitative system design
abstract: this paper describes the boolean geometrical representation of
rules for expert systems. the method is used to simulate the reactions of
complex television and audio products to user commands. ideas for new
features can readily be tried out and designs refined to improve ease of
use and eliminate snags. the techniques have been used to develop bang
and olufsen products.
richard l. naugle
wed stream 3 1130
apl compilation and interpretation by translating to f83vec
abstract: a way of overcoming apl's slowness or excessive memory usage
is to translate the appropriate functions into another language. this
paper considers one such method using a version (f83vec) of reverse polish
forth extended to use the apl character set and demonstrates the
improvement in speed dramatically.
professor otway o'm. pardee
thur stream 3 0930
checkpoint - restart for apl applications
abstract: apl programs can be made proof against crashes arising from
external causes such as communications or equipment failure, if there is
a reliable file system. the method is called 'check point and restart'
and can easily be applied to any apl code and tuned for the best balance
between protection and cost.
roland h. pesch
mon stream 2 1445
empty frames in sharp apl
abstract: the rules for deriving the shape of the result from the shape
of the arguments (and the function to be performed) are not reliable in
the Wempty frameW case when the shape of an argument contains a zero.
some functions return results programmers don't expect and dislike. ways
of overcoming the problem are reviewed and assessed.
jack rudd
thur stream 3 1400
apl graphics representation and analysis of space-based observations
abstract: apl can process three dimensional data and produce views from
space of the earth against a background of stars showing the line between
day and night. shuttle flights and 3d terrain maps are also shown. the
paper describes techniques for deriving 3d models from multiple 2d
satellite observations. examples will be displayed in colour.
claudio sandi
thur stream 2 1600
generalised arrays and shortest path problems
abstract: the paper presents an analysis of the classical Wshortest
pathW problem using three different methods implemented both in vsapl and
apl2. apl2 is shown to provide a substantial improvement in run time for
this type of problem, and particularly for one class of algorithm.
john r. searle
tue stream 3 1600
iota3: the integration of lotus spreadsheets and apl
abstract: the paper describes a software system which integrates lotus
123 and symphony with apl. it allows spreadsheet users access to some of
the power of apl and apl users to hold a spreadsheet as an extension of
the workspace. aplPplus/pc and ibm apl pc experience is described.
karl soop
tue stream 3 1445
bringing graphic dialogues to apl
abstract: this paper proposes a canonical representation for pictorial
data and a picture processor. these make picture processing easy to
incorporate into the interaction between the user and the machine even
for complex graphics. experience with an apl2 prototype is described.
n. d. thomson
tue stream 2 0930
apl2 - a mathematician's delight
abstract: apl has always claimed to be suitable for mathematics and to
help the understanding of mathematical ideas. the apl2 enhancements have
increased the affinities between apl and mathematics in many delightful
ways, some of which are outlined in this paper.
m. udo et al.
fri stream 3 0930
japanese apl language system on ibm multistation 5550
abstract: apl's problems with an extended character set are insignificant
compared with those of languages that need a range of characters that
cannot be represented within a byte per character compared with those of
languages that need a range of characters that cannot be represented
within a byte per character. this paper describes how the 10,000 kanji
characters were incorporated into ibm pc apl. the method could be adapted
for other languages with large character sets.
jim weigang
wed stream 2 0930
machine oriented languages in the apl environment
abstract: to enable apl to compete in efficiency with other languages we
need a way to specify the machine operations in detail. the functions
that use most time can then be optimised. apl itself is not ideal for
this, as the paper explains. it then shows what is needed to make compiled
functions available in a workspace and describes experience with several
methods, including a language specially designed for the job (tabl).
david m. weintraub
thur stream 3 0950
assertive comments in apl programming
abstract: this proposal suggests that instead of describing what code is
intended to do, comments should assert the current state of relevant
variables at critical points in the code. this is shown to match the
design method that many aplers use, which works from desired result to
function.
clark wiedmann
thur stream 3 1215
field results with an apl compiler
abstract: this is a report on users' experience with an apl compiler, as
gained from case studies. it deals with how long it takes to learn to use
the compiler, how much faster processes run, how much extra development
effort it takes, what parts of the workspace should be compiled and how
the cost of compile time compares wtih the savings in run time.
matsuki yoshino
thur stream 2 1015
apl as a prototyping language: case study of compiler development project
abstract: apl's advantages for such work are its conciseness, its
excellent debugging and modelling facilities, the great power of enclosed
arrays and the simple interface between the workspace and outer
environment provided by shared variables. the strategy used is to write
prototype functions in apl and by several steps to convert from high level
apl to low level pascal. the benefits of this approach are evaluated.