Abstract
Preface: Formian is the name of a software system that is ideally suited for generation of shapes and forms of all kind. The term ‘Formian’ is meant to imply the ‘language of form’. The software has a convenient algebraic structure and this provides a powerful basis for creation of generic (parametric) formulations that embodies all the necessary geometric details. Formian may be used for ‘configuration processing’ (that is, creation and processing of forms) in any discipline. In particular, Formian has been used extensively for generation and processing of spatial structural forms. The concepts on which Formian is based are evolved during the past 40 years with the concepts being further enriched continuously. This is a feature of algebraic concepts that with application they continue to grow and become more mature. There have been a number of versions of Formian used over the years, but the version that has been employed in the recent years is called Formian-2. A new version of the software is now available which is referred to as Formian-K. This new version is completely rewritten and, while providing many powerful new features, it is quite convenient to use. The material in the present document provides a concise description of the structure of Formian-K. However, regarding the description of the aspects that are similar to Formian-2, reference is often made to Formian-2 literature for detailed explanation.