  We describe a system for specifying the effects of actions. Unlike those
commonly used in AI planning, our system uses an action description language
that allows one to specify the effects of actions using domain rules, which are
state constraints that can entail new action effects from old ones.
Declaratively, an action domain in our language corresponds to a nonmonotonic
causal theory in the situation calculus. Procedurally, such an action domain is
compiled into a set of logical theories, one for each action in the domain,
from which fully instantiated successor state-like axioms and STRIPS-like
systems are then generated. We expect the system to be a useful tool for
knowledge engineers writing action specifications for classical AI planning
systems, GOLOG systems, and other systems where formal specifications of
actions are needed.
