What determines AI state?

[Q]

Does anybody know how the AI state, that is used in the AI Construction Vehicles Data File (e.g. Exploration, Infrastructure, Prepare for Attact, Attact, Secure Holdings after Attact ....) are determined? Is it possible to check the AI state of an computer empire after I switched it to human control. I find it very difficult to evaluate any modifications in the AI Construction Vehicles Data File if you don't know in which state the AI is. My Last attempt to modify this file made the computer empire of about 20 colonies to contruct only one single item at a time. Not exactly what I had in mind.
Thank you very much for any help.