1.3 Appearance of the Basic Components

This section describes the various different ways in which a title and its components appear. After the brief theoretical introduction, the following sections will explain the executable program steps. It is important to note that the ways in which the program appears here are not to be equated with the user interface. The graphic DOS interface and the mouse-controlled internet interface in principle contain the same elements. Although the two interfaces are clearly different in appearance, the elements explained here are present in both.

Title card The title card is initially the most important way in which a title appears; in principle it is equivalent to the file card in a filing box. In addition to the title text, different dependent descriptors and references to the title and inherited information from the superior father title can be formatted on the title card. Apart from specific information concerning the title, the title card also provides certain technical information: In the top line, you can see the type of title text and, as required, the number of the title within the current result. In the bottom line, a star shows you that the title has further branches, in other words it has children. An arrow shows whether references to the title are available; a screen symbol indicates that pictures are available. Finally, the number of dependent descriptors and data sheets is stated. The latter is necessary, because the data sheets can be assigned individually by the operator. Thus, for example, not every person must have an address data sheet. In addition, the title card provides the operator with the record number, which does not appear for the normal user.

UP

Data sheets The data sheets are appended individually to a title and serve to present all dependent descriptors and references for which there is no space on the title card. The various different items of information can be distributed freely over the designated data sheets. Each title initially receives one data sheet entitled "Dependent descriptors", which also contains all internal information that is not contained in the data sheets defined by the database administrator.

UP

Title line The title line is a short form of the title card. It always appears when several titles are listed, in other words one line is available for each title. Like the title card, it initially contains the title text and selected dependent descriptors, references and inherited information from the superior father title. The user will mainly come across the title line in the so-called contents list. This is the list of all titles that are dependent on the initial title. In addition, it appears in the list of a result sorted according to title text. In both cases, the list is sorted according to title text, even if the title text is not at the beginning of the title line (this kind of title line is, for example, typical for a list of references, where the author comes before the title text of the book). (see Sorting)

UP

Link or acquired link line The link or acquired link line always appears when a title is to be displayed with another title. As in the title line, it is a matter of presenting a title as part of a line. However, in contrast to the title line, the link or acquired link lines are not dependent on the title, but on the condition of the respective reference. In the example reference already mentioned of Object-Person under the condition Artist, the "Link line Person under Object (Artist-Work)" would show the name of the artist and, for example, the dates of his life. The "Acquired link line Object under Person (Artist-Work)" shows under Person, for example, the name, dating and location of an object.

UP

Printout formatting This format is a third form of presentation of a title. It is used to export results to an external file or to a printer. In the latter case, it is also possible to select another format (title card with data sheets) which is not dependent on the printout formatting (see Export). As in the case of the title and link lines, one line is taken up per title in the printout formatting, the only difference being that its length is unlimited in the printout formatting. The individual titles are separated from each other by the line break. The lines can, for example, be formatted with hyphens. This provides an ideal basis for importation into a spreadsheet. The pre-formatting of HTML pages is also conceivable, for example, in order to show the result produced in a browser. The export format is initially ASCII text. The presence of sensible printout formatting is the responsibility of the various projects. The formatting is often arranged in such a way that exportation to a spreadsheet is made more difficult, since such formatting would facilitate prohibited reproduction.

UP