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Hi Sandy,<br>
<br>
For online use, both dictionaries and documents should probably be
stored in a database. Advanced searching and version control are much
easier with a database.<br>
<br>
SWML (or some other markup) is valuable for transferring data from one
system to another, regardless of how each program stores the data
internally.<br>
<br>
While the markup languages may be large, they are easy to use.
Compressed or binary formats can become troublesome. The original
SignWriter files are compressed binary files and very difficult to
use. <br>
<br>
Sandy Fleming wrote:<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:1180860571.7559.24.camel@localhost.localdomain"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I have a problem with SWML, which is that it doesn't describe sign
structure at all. It acts as a container for SignWriting rather than a
description of the structure of SignWriting signs (or "characters" as I
tend to call entire written signs these days).
</pre>
</blockquote>
Sign structure... Interesting topic, but I don't see the value for the
writing system I'm working with, whether it uses drag & drop or
keyboarding. I see SignWriting as symbols in space.<br>
<br>
I don't totally understand what you mean by sign structure. It sounds
like analysis.<br>
<br>
I am interested in your project. And if I can include any additional
information in the markup languages, I'd be happy to discuss.
Importing and exporting between programs is important.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:1180860571.7559.24.camel@localhost.localdomain"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">For a keyboarding program, for example, the software needs to know which
channel of communication (face, active hand, passive hand &c) it's
typing in: the keyboard doesn't have enough keys to type every symbol so
the program needs this structural context.
</pre>
</blockquote>
Did you ever learn SignWriter keyboarding? Have you taken a look at
the keyboard design Val created for the IMWA? It provides access to
the entire symbol set using a keyboard. Instead of channels it uses a
cursor. The cursor is centered around the last symbol typed. You can
rotate the cursor around the selected symbol. Some characters have
specific cursor placement, such as these heads.<br>
<br>
<br>
<img src="cid:part1.04070305.02000804@signpuddle.net" border="1"><br>
<br>
Typing the first head would place the cursor above. Typing the second
would place the cursor below.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
-Steve<br>
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