Final testing of SignPuddle 1.6

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
July 11, 2011

Hello SignWriting List Members!

It feels like a very long time since I have posted to the SignWriting List. It is a pleasure to be back...

THANK YOU, Steve, for opening SignPuddle 1.6 for testing. SignPuddle 1.6 is a remarkable work, that has been years in the making, and we appreciate all the gifts you are giving us...

I am particularly looking forward to using SignPuddle 1.6 because it uses the ISWA 2010 (the International SignWriting Alphabet 2010). SignPuddle 1.5 (which we are currently using), uses the ISWA 2008. Plus I like the new features in SignPuddle 1.6, including a new layout for documents in Literature Puddles. So there is much to share with all of you.

Right now I am updating and adding some new icons to the User Interface for SignPuddle 1.6.

Thanks again, Steve, for opening SignPuddle 1.6 for testing - I hope everyone will try it and enjoy and give us feedback...

SignPuddle 1.6 (test version)
http://www.signbank.org/signpuddle1.6/

Val ;-)

Valerie Sutton
sutton at signwriting.org

---------


On Jul 11, 2011, at 1:45 PM, Steve Slevinski wrote:

> Hi list,
> 
> This week, we will be performing the final quality assurance testing before moving SignPuddle 1.6 into production.  I invite anyone interested to check it out give it a try.  Please report any issues or questions to the SW List.
> http://www.signbank.org/signpuddle1.6
> 
> If everything goes well, SignPuddle will be upgraded early next week.  There will be a few hours down time, but everything should be back up and running the same day.  All previous links will continue to work as expected.
> 
> The major changes for SignPuddle 1.6 are structural  and foundational rather than major improvements to the user interface.  These changes will provide a pathway to the future and streamline the creation of more powerful viewer and editors.
> 
> Symbol Set
> ---------
> The SignWriting symbol set for SignPuddle has been updated to the ISWA 2010.  The most notable change is the expansion of the movement symbols.  You will notice the change in the symbol palette.  All of the signs and sign texts have been converted from the ISWA 2008 to the ISWA 2010.  The conversion has been thoroughly tested and should be 100% accurate.  The ISWA 2010 is a focused refactor of the ISWA 2008.  You can read about the specific changes:
> http://www.signpuddle.net/mediawiki/index.php/ISWA_2008#Successor
> 
> 
> Preliminary Unicode
> -----------------
> Symbol identification has been modified from the Symbol ID to the Preliminary Unicode string.  This string is in agreement with what has been proposed before the governing bodies of Unicode Consortium.  This string is equivalent to a purely ASCII string called the symbol key.  We are planning a follow-up Unicode presentation in the beginning of 2012 and hope to be included in the official balloting.  You can read the Unicode proposal:
> http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n4090.pdf
> 
> 
> Word Structure
> -------------
> Each sign is represented as a separate word which is a string of sequential letters and symbols, replacing the previous methods of comma separated values and SWML.  The new word structure sets SignWriting as a formal language with advantages for searching, sorting, and layout.  The word structure will be explicitly defined and leveraged in the update to my Internet-Draft later this year.
> 
> Formal language definition:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_language
> 
> Previous version of Internet-Draft:
> http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-slevinski-iswa-2010-00
> 
> 
> XML Data Set
> -----------
> The main data backend for SignPuddle has been updated to XML through the use of SignPuddle Markup Language files.  Each SPML file represents an entire dictionary or document collection.  These files are easy to backup, restore, and transfer.  These files can easily be included with any program that can process XML.
> 
> SPML Document Type Definition:
> http://www.signpuddle.net/spml_1.6.dtd
> 
> SignPuddle 1.6 SPML puddle files:
> http://signbank.org/signpuddle1.6/data/spml/
> 
> 
> Sign Text Justification
> ------------------
> Sign Text justification forces the signs of a column to align with both the top and bottom, thereby removing the jagged appearance at the bottom when several columns appear side by side.  The excessive space that previously occurred at the bottom of a column is redistributed between the signs in the column.
> 
> Sign Text justification also forces punctuation to remain at the bottom of a column, rather than allow punctuation to start a new column.  The spaces between the signs in a column are compressed to pull a punctuation to the bottom of a column.
> 
> 
> Scalable Vector Graphics
> ---------------------
> Within ColumnMaker, SVG support has been added.  There are 4 automated vector tracings of the ISWA 2010 available.  A 5th version of manual refinements is a work in progress.  SVG support is planned throughout SignPuddle in the near future.  The user will be able to choose between raster PNG images or SVG.
> 
> 
> SignText Loading...
> -----------------
> SignText has been given a small update that forces the symbols to properly load before the text is displayed.  This removed the need to use the "refresh" button to fix the text when using SignText.
> 
> 
> Thanks for your attention,
> -Steve
> 

-------




Val ;-)

Valerie Sutton
SignWriting List moderator
sutton at signwriting.org

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