<star> Tag is used to match wild card * character(s) in <pattern> Tag.
Syntax
<star index = "n"/>
n signifies the position of * within the user input in <pattern> Tag.
Consider the following example −
<category>
<pattern> A * is a *. </pattern>
<template>
When a <star index = "1"/> is not a <star index = "2"/>?
</template>
</category>
If the user enters “A mango is a fruit.” then bot will respond as “When a mango is not a fruit?”
Example
Create star.aiml inside C > ab > bots > test > aiml and star.aiml.csv inside C > ab > bots > test > aimlif directories.
star.aiml
<?xml version = "1.0" encoding = "UTF-8"?>
<aiml version = "1.0.1" encoding = "UTF-8"?>
<category>
<pattern>I LIKE *</pattern>
<template>
I too like <star/>.
</template>
</category>
<category>
<pattern>A * IS A *</pattern>
<template>
How <star index = "1"/> can not be a <star index = "2"/>?
</template>
</category>
</aiml>
star.aiml.csv
0,I LIKE *,*,*,I too like <star/>.,star.aiml 0,A * IS A *,*,*,How <star index = "1"/> can not be a <star index = "2"/>?,star.aiml
Execute the Program
Open the command prompt. Go to C > ab > and type the following command −
java -cp lib/Ab.jar Main bot = test action = chat trace = false
Verify the Result
You will see the following output −
Human: I like mango Robot: I too like mango. Human: A mango is a fruit Robot: How mango can not be a fruit?
<star index = “1”/> is often used as <star />