1. A general purpose interactive rule based system for generating problem solutions in schematic diagram form comprising: a computer processor; a graphics terminal coupled to said processor; means for providing a multi-portion split display on said graphics terminal; a plurality of functions and graphic primitives stored in said computer processor; means for creating a library of icons for an intended application by enabling a methodology designer to: select and arrange said graphic primitives using said graphics terminal, and identify, by way of example, parameters for using each icon in response to prompts initiated by said computer processor; means for generating and storing a specific set of rules pertaining to the use of each icon on the basis of the parameters identified; means for symbolically displaying in one portion of said split display a set of icons from said library; means for displaying in another portion of said split display a set of said functions; and means for enabling a problem solving user to access and select displayed icons and functions, and to build a solution to a problem by using functions to graphically couple icons together on a chart work area portion of said split display in accordance with said rules.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said prompts initiated by said computer processor instruct a methodology designer to define points of connection to each icon.