[sw-l] Sign Puddle: single language version of PUDL's dictionary

Thu Jul 22 18:57:48 UTC 2004

Hi Stefan,

Sign Puddle will work offline.  You could easily use it in the classroom.
That is one of the reasons I wanted to make Sign Puddle available.

I think it would be great if you added Sign Puddle to your website. If you
know basic HTML, you can customize the code and replace the English and ASL
with German and DGS.  You could also remove the upload and create pages so
that the dictionary would be view only.

The install instructions need work.  And thanks to Dan Parvaz they are
easier, but he also pointed out something I was missing.

So the install instructions are:
1) Install Apache with PHP support.
2) Install the GD Graphics package if you want to be able to create signs
with point and click.
3) Paste the Sign Puddle code.

I wish I could spend more time on this, but PUDL will be closing down the
end of next month.  I hope something of PUDL survives.  I need to make a few
more updates to the Sign Puddle code and then it belongs to the community.

Val has offered to host the ASL dictionary and she will also offer the code
for download.  Stuart knows about the software packages so he can help with
installation.  If anyone else wants to get involved, please do.

I hope one day soon, it will be possible to automatically generate a gif
image directory from a SWML file.  When that is possible, Sign Puddle will
be much more valuable.  As it stands not, building a Sign Puddle dictionary
is time intensive.

-Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
[mailto:owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu]On Behalf Of Stefan
Woehrmann
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 3:23 AM
To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
Subject: AW: [sw-l] Sign Puddle: single language version of PUDL's
dictionary

Hello Stephen,

I am afraid that I could not estimate at first glance what an enormous
potential could be hidden in your offer ... for educational purpose

Reading the messages from Stuart and Rebecca I felt nervous -- wow - perhaps
this could work ...

Since I am afraid of new software- developments - especially if I feel lost
with installation routines ...
please allow my additional question -

I can imagine right now two important reasons to get familiar with your new
Program.

1) I would like to use the Program in my classroom. I would like to be able
to use the "Translate" option - This way I could type sentences - instead of
words and demonstrate the different aspects of grammar in Spoken German and
DGS.
I could run a vocabulary test without any problem!!

My students would be able to look up the meaning of words - if they find the
signs for these terms in SL.

Is it right that I can work with the Program after installation offline on
Windows XP?

2) I can imagine to offer an online dictionary on my website -
www.gebaerdenSchrift.de   This would become an additional eyecatcher -- of
course I would mention you as the one who made it possible to run the
program ... ;-))

Right now my computer is working fine ;-) Windows XP ! Internet Explorer 6.0
....,

Will the new installation change anything within this setting? (HA, you
see - I am afraid of driving crazy since there is soooo much on my to do
list)
I tried to understand your instructions below - but when I followed the
links I made several downloads  (asl.zip ; pudl.zip;SSS-US.zip;

I downloaded   php_manual_de.html.gz  but cannot open it ;-((

I went to www.apache.org

I did not know where to click in order to download a webserver (?)   what
!!? ;-(( Can you please support me an make a gif or write the exact link?? )

I would love to learn to install the program small step by small step !!
Would be great if you could assist!

So I understood that my first step would be to download the Apache -
webserver (As soon as I know what the download-file looks like. I will save
it on my special "Download file on harddrive D" Is this ok?

Stefan ;-))

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
[mailto:owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu]Im Auftrag von Stephen
Slevinski
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 21. Juli 2004 00:55
An: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
Betreff: RE: [sw-l] Sign Puddle: single language version of PUDL's
dictionary

Hi Val,

-------
Preface
-------
Depending on your system, understanding and luck; you can get Sign Puddle up
and running in about 1/2 hour. If everything works right, you download a
webserver and PHP, follow the configure instructions, and you're ready to
go.  However, if you run into problems you may need to trouble shoot your
system.  Be aware that you may need to read detailed instructions, move
files around, and edit text files.

-----------------------------
Step One - Webserver with PHP
-----------------------------
The first thing that you need is a webserver configured to use the PHP 4
programming language.  I suggest the Apache webserver.  You can also use
PWS - Personal Web Server from Microsoft.

You can download the Apache and PHP packages for free from their respective
sites.  PHP includes detailed instructions on how to work with Apache.
www.apache.org and www.php.net

If you are running Mac OS X, you should have Apache installed.  Configuring
PHP is explained at http://www.entropy.ch/software/macosx/php/

If you have any problems you can do a web search on "install configure php
apache".

Once you have a webserver working with PHP, you are ready to run the Sign
Puddle code.

-------------------------------
Step Two - The Sign Puddle code
-------------------------------
The Sign Puddle code is only 28k.  This code can work without downloading
the dictionary images or the sss images.

Copy and paste the Sign Puddle code into the webserver document root (Ex:
.../apache/htdocs/)

You will need to update the third line of code in the "global.php" file.
The line in the code will be...
$dict = "/usr/www/users/slevin/oculog/puddle/dict";

If you are installing on Windows, you may need to change the line to
something like:
$dict = "c:\Program files\apache\htdocs\puddle\dict";

And that's it.  Start the webserver and point a browser to
http://localhost/puddle

-----------------------------------------------
Step Three - Creating sign with point and click
-----------------------------------------------
If you want to be able to use Sign Puddle to create signs you will need to
install a directory containing SSS image gif files.

You can download SSS-US and copy into the puddle folder.  Unzip the file.
Delete the puddle\sss folder.  Rename puddle\SSS-US to puddle\sss.

You can also use any other SSS as long as the images are set as transparent.

--------------------------------
Step Four - Pasting a dictionary
--------------------------------
You can start with an empty dictionary.  You can paste a dictionary
directly.  Download the ASL dictionary and copy into the puddle\dict folder.
Unzip the file.  Delete the puddle\dict\sl folder.  Rename puddle\dict\asl
to puddle\dict\sl.

That's about it.  If you're up to the challenge, go for it.  If you have any
problems let me know.

Good luck,
-Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
[mailto:owner-sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu]On Behalf Of Valerie Sutton
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 11:16 AM
To: sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu
Subject: Re: [sw-l] Sign Puddle: single language version of PUDL's
dictionary

SignWriting List
July 20, 2004

> Stephen Slevinski wrote:
>> The PHP 4 code is available for download at http://www.oculog.net....

Hello Everyone and Stephen!
I have now downloaded the source code that Stephen placed on the web
for us....Then I unzipped all the files, and here is a graphic of what
I now have on my desktop. You can see there are three folders:

1. asl (signs written in SignWriting)
2. puddle (source code)
3. SSS-US (SignWriting symbols)

So now, let me guess, Stephen. Do I move the SSS-US folder contents
into the folder you have in the puddle folder called sss?  Give me
instructions as to what I should do next?...smile....Val ;-)

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____________________________________________________________________
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http://valenciacc.edu