dm-l November 2005

dm-l@uleth.ca

8 participants
7 discussions

open source XML-editor?
by Benjamin Burkard 25 Nov '05

25 Nov '05

Hi everybody, I am looking for an open source XML-editor that hides the fact from the user that XML is actually being used. One more criterion is that it should be written in Java. Does anyone know of a tool like that? To give some background on the project I am working on: I am building a system which shall allow for collaboratively working on Medieval Charters via a simple web browser. Working on the charters does not only include creating transcriptions of the images of the charters (with a divided screen where the image is in the upper and the text field in the lower part of the browser), but the system also aims at allowing the tagging of the text with semantic markup. Just to give one example: Printed charter editions normally present normalized versions of the text that facilitate a content-orientated, fast reading. For some groups of researchers, however, the focus in dealing with charters is not on their readability. For linguists, for example, an edition should be as close as possible to the original source. To exemplify this, the prototype offers an option to resolve abbreviations, while at the same time another text layer is preserved containing the exact spelling of the original. Other elements include persons, places, certain structural parts of the charter such as the "inscriptio", "intitulatio" etc... What I am trying to do is to hide the fact that XML is being used from the user to make it more comfortable to use for historians. I am not quite sure yet about how I am going to do it, but so far to me the best way seems to be using icons that have the name of the tag inside and either point to the right for a start tag or to the left for an end tag (the commercial editor XMetaL uses a similar syntax in one of its views). If the mouse points to either the start or the endtag the corresponding tag should change the color so that it's easier to find. Aside from that to the right of the textfield the corresponding attributes should be shown and made editable. If anyone knows better ways or existing open source solutions I would be very happy to hear about it! As a second step of development it is planned to implement a versioning system that is able to show the differences between two XML-files - again without the user knowing that XML is being used. Again, if anyone knows existing solutions to this problem I would be glad to know! If anybody is attempting to reach a similar goal I would be happy to collaborate! Thank you for any advice, comments, offers to collaborate! Ben Burkard - University of Cologne, Germany

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RE: [dm-l] re: Relational database and TEI
by Da Rold, Dr. O. 23 Nov '05

23 Nov '05

Thank you Peter, This is very useful indeed, and yes, I did have a look at eXist, but not sure I'd be prepared to use this software for the project without specific technical support. However, I should have perhaps explained that after numerous discussions with colleagues, trials and advice from our computing centre here in Leicester, the decision was taken to catalogue our manuscripts creating a data-capture database. We need to be able to publish our data soon, ideally June 2006, it is not a single publication at the end of the project. We are relying on our computer centre, which suggested managing our data from Microsoft Access on my desk machine, but then publish it for Web access on the university SQL server. I am some how hesitant about using Access as it does not seem to have any flexibility in exporting the data, a part from SQL and XML. FileMaker Pro 8 seems to have more flexibility at this hand exporting in PDF, SQL, XML and excel. A similar method was used by the PASE project, I think. I am digressing here, anyway, we would still want to export the data in XML and clearly there are standards which may not be ignored. Thus my question relating to a possible correlation between TEI and relational databases. I look forward to the West Midland Catalogue. All the best, Orietta ________________________________ From: dm-l-bounces(a)uleth.ca [mailto:dm-l-bounces@uleth.ca] On Behalf Of Peter Robinson Sent: 22 November 2005 15:33 To: dm-l(a)uleth.ca Subject: [dm-l] re: Relational database and TEI In fact, this is not quite what Scriptorium does. Scriptorium was actually originally built as a relational database, using Access indeed, and I believe that this is still what it is, at base. The Scriptorium people were indeed heavily involved in the drafting of the XML manuscript descriptoin guidelines which first became the MASTER system, and now underlie the TEI guidelines. It was one of their aims to be able to export data from their database into Master/TEI XML, and possibly to import from Master/TEI into the database, but I am not sure how far they got with this. In any case, one should distinguish their arrangement from that now used by quite a few database systems now available (mostly proprietary and very very expensive), which can read XML schemas, configure a database accordingly, and then automatically import data direct from the XML into the database. One such system, which seems very powerful, is free, and has been used with some success by some people at least, is eXist (http://exist.sourceforge.net/): very powerful, very configurable. I don't know of an implementation of EXIST for Master/TEI encoded manuscript descriptions but this would surely be possible. One system which was built specifically for MASTER records was the PHELIX system, built at Oxford for the MASTER project. This had some very neat features indeed -- where is it now? And, of course, I have to mention the Anastasia implementations of XML-encoded manuscript descriptions. The original MASTER catalogue is not now functioning. But there is a quite wonderful early print book (not manuscript! -- but the encodings work just fine, it seems) database of books printed in or about Japan c.1550-1650 at http://133.12.23.145:8080/html/. This features, among many amazing things, some very clever cross-language searching -- choose 'place name' in the search menu and look for 'Kyoto' and it will find you Kyoto in Japanese! It also has many images, and lots of other fine things. If you are looking for an XML online catalogue of manuscripts: Wendy Scase's West Midland Manuscripts project is also coming your way, again, done with Anastasia. This is http://www.sd-editions.com/AnaServer?MWM+0+start.anv. This website is currently being updated and should look much nicer in a few days. But what is here, gives some idea of what can be done all the best Peter ***original message Dear all, Does anybody know about electronic manuscript projects which are using/have used relational databases following the TEI guidelines for 'Manuscript description'? Scriptorium seems to have done it, any other similar project? If so, do you know of any related publication? I'd be very grateful for any advice, pitfall etc. Best wishes, Orietta Dr Orietta Da Rold Research Fellow English Department University of Leicester University Road LE1 7RH Tel. +44 (0)116 252 2778 e-mail: odr1 at le.ac.uk <http://listserv.uleth.ca/mailman/listinfo/dm-l> The Production and Use of English Manuscripts http://www.le.ac.uk/ee/em1060to1220/index.htm <http://www.le.ac.uk/ee/em1060to1220/index.htm>

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MANU?
by Dot Porter 23 Nov '05

23 Nov '05

Hi All, I've just been pointed to Manu (Manuscript Archival and Publication System - http://manu.sourceforge.net/), a system for publishing text and image side-by-side using the Fedora Repository System. Is anyone on the list familiar with this? It was posted on SourceForge in July, so it may be too early to ask for opinions. Dot -- *************************************** Dot Porter, Program Coordinator Collaboratory for Research in Computing for Humanities University of Kentucky 351 William T. Young Library Lexington, KY 40506 dporter(a)uky.edu 859-257-9549 ***************************************

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re: Relational database and TEI
by Peter Robinson 22 Nov '05

22 Nov '05

In fact, this is not quite what Scriptorium does. Scriptorium was actually originally built as a relational database, using Access indeed, and I believe that this is still what it is, at base. The Scriptorium people were indeed heavily involved in the drafting of the XML manuscript descriptoin guidelines which first became the MASTER system, and now underlie the TEI guidelines. It was one of their aims to be able to export data from their database into Master/ TEI XML, and possibly to import from Master/TEI into the database, but I am not sure how far they got with this. In any case, one should distinguish their arrangement from that now used by quite a few database systems now available (mostly proprietary and very very expensive), which can read XML schemas, configure a database accordingly, and then automatically import data direct from the XML into the database. One such system, which seems very powerful, is free, and has been used with some success by some people at least, is eXist (http:// exist.sourceforge.net/): very powerful, very configurable. I don't know of an implementation of EXIST for Master/TEI encoded manuscript descriptions but this would surely be possible. One system which was built specifically for MASTER records was the PHELIX system, built at Oxford for the MASTER project. This had some very neat features indeed -- where is it now? And, of course, I have to mention the Anastasia implementations of XML-encoded manuscript descriptions. The original MASTER catalogue is not now functioning. But there is a quite wonderful early print book (not manuscript! -- but the encodings work just fine, it seems) database of books printed in or about Japan c.1550-1650 at http:// 133.12.23.145:8080/html/. This features, among many amazing things, some very clever cross-language searching -- choose 'place name' in the search menu and look for 'Kyoto' and it will find you Kyoto in Japanese! It also has many images, and lots of other fine things. If you are looking for an XML online catalogue of manuscripts: Wendy Scase's West Midland Manuscripts project is also coming your way, again, done with Anastasia. This is http://www.sd-editions.com/ AnaServer?MWM+0+start.anv. This website is currently being updated and should look much nicer in a few days. But what is here, gives some idea of what can be done all the best Peter ***original message Dear all, Does anybody know about electronic manuscript projects which are using/have used relational databases following the TEI guidelines for 'Manuscript description'? Scriptorium seems to have done it, any other similar project? If so, do you know of any related publication? I'd be very grateful for any advice, pitfall etc. Best wishes, Orietta Dr Orietta Da Rold Research Fellow English Department University of Leicester University Road LE1 7RH Tel. +44 (0)116 252 2778 e-mail: odr1 at le.ac.uk The Production and Use of English Manuscripts http://www.le.ac.uk/ee/em1060to1220/index.htm

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Relational database and TEI
by Da Rold, Dr. O. 22 Nov '05

22 Nov '05

Dear all, Does anybody know about electronic manuscript projects which are using/have used relational databases following the TEI guidelines for 'Manuscript description'? Scriptorium seems to have done it, any other similar project? If so, do you know of any related publication? I'd be very grateful for any advice, pitfall etc. Best wishes, Orietta Dr Orietta Da Rold Research Fellow English Department University of Leicester University Road LE1 7RH Tel. +44 (0)116 252 2778 e-mail: odr1(a)le.ac.uk The Production and Use of English Manuscripts http://www.le.ac.uk/ee/em1060to1220/index.htm

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Position in Medieval/Renaissance Studies at VT
by Dot Porter 17 Nov '05

17 Nov '05

OK, not strictly digital, but this position may be of interest to some on the list: http://www.idst.vt.edu/Med-Ren%20Announcement.htm The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies (IDST) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University seeks an interdisciplinary humanities scholar at the assistant professor level beginning fall 2006. Applicants should demonstrate solid grounding in a specific humanities discipline as defined by the National Endowment of the Humanities, yet be willing to contribute to innovative interdisciplinary scholarship and the wider mission of IDST. Applicants should be able to teach Medieval/Renaissance Studies courses and coordinate the department?s Medieval/Renaissance Studies minor; they should also possess cross-cultural education and interest in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or the Americas. The Department has strong ties with other arts and humanities departments on campus, and the successful candidate will be encouraged to construct cross-departmental ties with those relevant to their research and teaching interests. Course load: two courses per semester. Though I'm not employed at Tech, I grew up in Blacksburg and will vouch for the area as a great place to live. -- *************************************** Dot Porter, Program Coordinator Collaboratory for Research in Computing for Humanities University of Kentucky 351 William T. Young Library Lexington, KY 40506 dporter(a)uky.edu 859-257-9549 ***************************************

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Editing Workshop at U Tennessee
by Daniel O'Donnell 15 Nov '05

15 Nov '05

(with apologies for cross-posting) A two-day workshop on editing Medieval texts will be held at the Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on Friday and Saturday, February 3-4, 2006. Scholars and students at any rank who are interested in learning more about textual criticism and the work of editing are invited to attend. In individual ninety-minute sessions, eight scholars will present their works in progress; they will discuss the text and its context, explain the form of their edition, and share their ideas on any aspect of the theory and practice of editing. Information on the schedule and a registration form are now available online at http://web.utk.edu/~rliuzza/workshop/workshop.html Further resources and information will be posted to this site as they become available. thank you, Roy M. Liuzza Department of English University of Tennessee 301 McClung Tower Knoxville, TN 37996-0430 rliuzza(a)utk.edu

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dm-l November 2005