[B/D] allows the storage of linear relationships, which we call Assignments. These do not carry beliefs per se, but play a key role in creating elements from the linear relationships so stored. Typical assignments consist of a linear combination of elements and components and may include a constant part. Often we define assignments to have one or more indices which might vary.
The ascf and ascl operators can be used to inspect the coefficients of the components of assignments. These operators take into account any varying indices.
The ASSIGN: command is used to define the linear relationships, and the XASSIGN: command is used to delete them. The assignments are useful (1) for the generation and regeneration of beliefs from specified linear combinations, (2) for the efficient storage of many linear combinations by virtue of their ability to handle functional beliefs and so forth. The LOOK: (a) command can be used to inspect some or all of the assignments defined.