[sw-l] Search by symbol with SignPuddle

[Kimberley A. Shaw]

Hello Stephen:
YAY -- I'm glad we're getting much closer to having online Sign-to-spoken
dictionaries!
Unfortunately, my attempts didn't bring up any sign matches at all, but
maybe that was because of all the "graphics"?
Keep up the good work.
Val, does this mean that you will be able to issue the paper
ASL-to-English dictionary soon?
Best,
Kimberley from Boston MA

sw-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu writes:
>Hi List,
>
>I've added a new feature to SignPuddle: It's called SignSearch, and it
>allows you to search the dictionary by symbol, rather than gloss.
>
>The interface is based on SignMaker, and looks almost exactly the same.
>
>I've attached a picture for reference.
>
>When searching by symbol, there are four options.
>- Exact Match: The symbol with the same fill and rotation
>- Any Match: The symbol with any fill and any rotation
>- Fill Match: The symbol with the same fill and any rotation
>- Rotate Match: The symbol with any fill and the same rotation
>
>After you have dragged & dropped one or more symbols onto the SignBox,
>press
>the Search button (top-right special command).  This will open a new
>window
>displaying the search results.
>
>Example in sgn-US:
>http://www.signbank.org/signpuddle/sgn-US/signSearch.php
>
>Drag and drop the symbol of the first hand group (top-left symbol pallete)
>onto the SignBox.  Then drag and drop the contact symbol (asterisk) onto
>the
>SignBox.  Press Search (special command).  A new window will open with 4
>signs.  Each sign will contain the exact symbols you dropped onto the
>SignBox.  Close the search results window.
>
>On the SignSearch window, select the handshape on the SignBox.  It will
>start to blink.  Press the Any Match (special command).  The symbol will
>turn grey.  Press Search.  A new window will open showing 31 results.
>Notice in each sign, that you can find the handshape, but with different
>rotations and different fills.
>
>NOTE: SignSearch does not search all of the signs in sgn-US or sgn-DE
>because many of the signs in these dictionaries are graphic only.
>
>NOTE: Position of the symbols does not matter in the SignBox.  This will
>be
>a future enhancement.
>
>NOTE:  Sometimes an error will appear on the search results page.  Press
>Refresh on the browser and the error should do away.  I'm still looking
>into
>it.
>
>Play around and tell me what you think.
>-Stephen