How To Run a Classification Task

TrainClassififier Tutorial

TrainClassifier tells minorthird to learn a classifier for labeling entire documents (such as email spam) using labeled training data. For this type of experiment, a directory of labeled documents is needed. We will use sample3.train, which is built into the code and requires no additional setup, for the example. To see how to label and load your own data for this task, look at the Labeling and Loading Data Tutorial. The output of this task is a text classifier annotator which can be tested on more labeled documents using TestClassifier or to add labels to documents using ApplyAnnotator.

To run this type of task start with:

java –Xmx500M edu.cmu.minorthird.ui.TrainClassifier

Editing Parameters:

Like all ui tasks, all the parameters for TrainClassifier may be specified in either the gui or by the command line. To use the gui, simple type the –gui on the command line. It is also possible to mix and match where the parameters are specified; for example: one can specify two parameters on the command line and use the gui to select the rest. For this reason, the step by step process for this experiment will first explain how to select a parameter value in the gui and then how to set the same parameter on the command line.

To view a list of parameters and their functions run:

% java –Xmx500M edu.cmu.minorthird.ui.TrainClassifier –help

% java –Xmx500M edu.cmu.minorthird.ui.TrainClassifier –gui

And click on the “Parameters” button next to Help or and click on the “?” button next to each field in the Property Editor to see what it is used for.

If using the gui, click the edit button next to TrainClassifier when a window appears to edit the parameters. A Property Editor window will appear:

Editing Parameters:

1) There are four bunches of parameters that may be altered. A collection of documents (labelsFilename) and a spanType or spanProp are required. All other fields are optional. For more information about any of the fields, click on the ? (Help) next to the field.

1. additionalParameters: contains parameters for specifying learning options, most importantly the learner used. We will use the default learner, NaiveBayes, for this experiment, but feel free to change the learner for future experiments.

1. GUI: Change the learner by selecting a new learner from the pull down menu

2. Command Line: Selecting a different learner (or any other class) on the command line can be tricky. The full class must be specified. To get more information on the class of the learner, look at the javadocs (there is a link to the specific learner class in the javadocs in the help link next to learner.) Most learner may be specified on the command line using this format: -learner “new Recommended.LEARNER_NAME()”. Check javadocs for possible initialization parameters.

2. baseParameters: contains the options for loading the collection of documents.

1. GUI: Enter sample3.train in the labelsFilename textField.

2. Command Line: use the –labels option followed by the repositoryKey or the directory of files to load. In this case specify –labels sample3.train

3. saveParameters: contains one parameter for specifying a file to save the result to. Saving is optional, but useful for using resulting classifier for TestClassifier and ApplyAnnotator experiments.

1. GUI: Type sample3.ann in the saveAs textField

2. Command Line: -saveAs sample3.ann

4. signalParameters: Either spanType or spanProp must be specified as the type to learn. For this experiment we will test spanType fun.

1. GUI: click the “Edit button next to singnalParameters. Select “fun” from the pull down menu next to spanType.

2. Command Line: specify –spanType fun

2) Feel free to try changing any of the other parameters including the ones in advanced options.

a. GUI: Click on the help buttons to get a feeling for what each parameter does and how changing it may affect your results. Once all the parameters are set, click the “OK” button on the PropertyEditor.

b. Command Line: Add other parameters to the command line (use –help option to see other parameter options) If there is an option that can be set in the gui, but there is no specific parameter for setting it in the help parameter definition, the –other option may be used. To see how to use this option, look at the Command Line Other Option Tutorial.htm

3) GUI: Once finished editing parameters, save parameter modification by clicking the “OK” button on the Property Editor.

Show Labeled Data:

2) GUI: Press the Show Labels button if you would like to view the input data for the classification task.

3) Command Line: add –showLabels to command line

Getting and Interpreting Results:

1) Command Line: specify –showResult (this is for seeing the graphical result, if this option is not set, only the output statistics of the task will be seen)

2) Press Start Task under execution controls in the gui or enter on the command line to run the experiment. The task will vary in the amount of time it takes depending on the size of the data set and the classifier. When the task is finished, the error rates will appear in the Error messages and output text area along with the total time it takes to run the experiment. Once the experiment is completed, click the View Results Button in the Execution Controls section to see detailed results in the gui or the window will automatically appear if the –showResult option was chosen on the command line. The resulting classifier will appear.

The features in the extractor may be sorted by name (as shown above), weight, or absolute weight or be viewed in a tree where the root contains the highest value of the leaves below. Features with the largest weights are most highly correlated with have the specified spanType.

3) Press the “Clear Window” button to clear all output from the output and error messages window.