Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically locating sources of semantic error in a multi-agent system based on setup connection tree information, and informing the appropriate agents so that they can avoid using the faulty resources in the future. The setup connection tree model is established based on patterns of agent actions for expressing the logical relationship between available resources in the disjunctive normal form (d.n.f.). A table is used to record different sets of resources for use in the resource selection process. Thus, faulty resources can be located by means of induction. A global database is also maintained for updating information on semantic errors in the system.