A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel

Viet-Man Le; Trang Tran; Alexander Felfernig

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-67148-8_12

A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel

Viet-Man Le^*, Trang Tran, Alexander Felfernig

^*Corresponding author for this work

Institute of Software Technology (7160)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › peer-review

Abstract

Feature model-based configuration involves selecting desired features from a collection of features (called a feature model) that satisfy pre-defined constraints. Configurator development can be performed by different stakeholders with distinct skills and interests, who could also be non-IT domain experts with limited technical understanding and programming experience. In this context, a simple configuration framework is required to facilitate non-IT stakeholders’ participation in configurator development processes. In this paper, we develop a so-called tool Fm2ExConf that enables stakeholders to represent configuration knowledge as an executable representation in Microsoft Excel. Our tool supports the conversion of a feature model into an Excel-based configurator, which is performed in two steps. In the first step, the tool checks the consistency and anomalies of a feature model. If the feature model is consistent, then it is converted into a corresponding Excel-based configurator. Otherwise, the tool provides corrective explanations that help stakeholders to resolve anomalies before performing the conversion. Besides, in the second step, another type of explanation (which is included in the Excel-based configurator) is provided to help non-IT stakeholders to fix inconsistencies in the configuration phase.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Intelligent Systems in Industrial Applications
Subtitle of host publication	International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 2020)
Editors	Martin Stettinger, Gerhard Leitner, Alexander Felfernig, Zbigniew W. Ras
Publisher	Springer, Cham
Pages	153-168
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-030-67148-8
ISBN (Print)	978-3-030-67147-1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67148-8_12
Publication status	Published - 4 Feb 2021
Event	25th International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems - TU Graz, Virtuell, Austria Duration: 23 Sept 2020 → 25 Sept 2020

Publication series

Name	Studies in Computational Intelligence
Volume	949
ISSN (Print)	1860-949X
ISSN (Electronic)	1860-9503

Conference

Conference	25th International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems
Abbreviated title	ISMIS 2020
Country/Territory	Austria
City	Virtuell
Period	23/09/20 → 25/09/20

Keywords

Feature models
Knowledge-based configuration
Knowledge acquisition
Configurator
Microsoft Excel
Automated analyses
Anomalies
Explanations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Artificial Intelligence

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-67148-8_12

Cite this

Le, V-M., Tran, T., & Felfernig, A. (2021). A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel. In M. Stettinger, G. Leitner, A. Felfernig, & Z. W. Ras (Eds.), Intelligent Systems in Industrial Applications : International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 2020) (pp. 153-168). (Studies in Computational Intelligence; Vol. 949). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67148-8_12

A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel. / Le, Viet-Man ; Tran, Trang ; Felfernig, Alexander.
Intelligent Systems in Industrial Applications : International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 2020). ed. / Martin Stettinger; Gerhard Leitner; Alexander Felfernig; Zbigniew W. Ras. Springer, Cham, 2021. p. 153-168 (Studies in Computational Intelligence; Vol. 949).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › peer-review

Le, V-M , Tran, T & Felfernig, A 2021, A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel. in M Stettinger, G Leitner, A Felfernig & ZW Ras (eds), Intelligent Systems in Industrial Applications : International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 2020). Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol. 949, Springer, Cham, pp. 153-168, 25th International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems, Virtuell, Austria, 23/09/20. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67148-8_12

Le V-M , Tran T , Felfernig A. A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel. In Stettinger M, Leitner G, Felfernig A, Ras ZW, editors, Intelligent Systems in Industrial Applications : International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 2020). Springer, Cham. 2021. p. 153-168. (Studies in Computational Intelligence). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-67148-8_12

Le, Viet-Man ; Tran, Trang ; Felfernig, Alexander. / A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel. Intelligent Systems in Industrial Applications : International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 2020). editor / Martin Stettinger ; Gerhard Leitner ; Alexander Felfernig ; Zbigniew W. Ras. Springer, Cham, 2021. pp. 153-168 (Studies in Computational Intelligence).

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A Conversion of Feature Models into an Executable Representation in Microsoft Excel

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Keywords

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