[comp.software-eng] Hypertext applied to S/W libraries

dano@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dan Olson) (03/15/89)

I am currently involved in a project in which we want to make it
easier to search a large library of software tools and systems
(about 4000 entries) by using hypertext techniques.  The idea is to
allow someone to find desired s/w without having to know exactly
what it is.  Being able to browse through hierarchies and follow
cross reference links to related items seems to be a possible solution.

Since this library already exists in a vanilla database form, there
is a potential problem in making all the necessary hypertext links
between items.  A goal is to come up with some automated linking
schemes.  One idea is to have a programmable link generator that can
be setup to link certain items together when specific conditions are
met.

-- QUESTIONS --

1) What hypertext(media) tools are available that like to run on
   Suns, Macs, and/or, Vaxen?

2) Has anybody worked this kind of problem before (specifically
   using hypertext to search and browse a s/w library)?

3) What has been done so far that addresses the automatic link
   generation problem?

Personally, I think that automated link generation is an interesting
problem and one that needs to be solved if large amounts of existing
information are to be hypermedia-ized.

Any ideas?

				dano.

dmcintee@netxcom.UUCP (Dave McIntee) (03/16/89)

In article <2542@ssc-vax.UUCP> dano@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dan Olson) writes:
>
>I am currently involved in a project in which we want to make it
>easier to search a large library of software tools and systems
>(about 4000 entries) by using hypertext techniques.  The idea is to
>allow someone to find desired s/w without having to know exactly
>what it is.  Being able to browse through hierarchies and follow
>cross reference links to related items seems to be a possible solution.
>
>1) What hypertext(media) tools are available that like to run on
>   Suns, Macs, and/or, Vaxen?
>

One interesting approach might be to utilize the Mac HyperCard /
Oracle link. With HyperCard's capabilities along with Oracle keeping
data on VAX (VMS or UNIX), a very interesting solution could be
provided.
-- 
Dave McIntee
NetExpress Communications, Inc.	  	Phone: (703)749-2380
1953 Gallows Road, Suite 300		uunet!netxcom!dmcintee
Vienna, VA 22180

edrbtsn@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Ed Robertson) (03/20/89)

In article <1171@netxcom.UUCP> dmcintee@netxcom.UUCP (Dave McIntee) writes:
>
>One interesting approach might be to utilize the Mac HyperCard /
>Oracle link. With HyperCard's capabilities along with Oracle keeping
>data on VAX (VMS or UNIX), a very interesting solution could be
>provided.
>-- 
There is a local company which is doing exactly that: the have built
an object oriented interface to Oracle (currently on VMS).  Their
environment is ment to handle complex objects.  They started out doing
laboratory instrumentation and have the ability to link experiments
into their object environment.  They are
	DOME Software Corp.
	655 W Carmel Dr.
		Suite 151
	Carmel, IN 46032
	317 573-8100 
(I know they are good.  They've hired several of our students. :-) )

moineau@lri.lri.fr (Thierry Moineau) (04/04/89)

In `comp.software-eng' (message #1001) dmcintee@netxcom.UUCP wrote:
> 
> In article <2542@ssc-vax.UUCP> dano@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dan Olson) writes:
> >
> >I am currently involved in a project in which we want to make it
> >easier to search a large library of software tools and systems
> >(about 4000 entries) by using hypertext techniques.  The idea is to
> >allow someone to find desired s/w without having to know exactly
> >what it is.  Being able to browse through hierarchies and follow
> >cross reference links to related items seems to be a possible solution.
> >
> >1) What hypertext(media) tools are available that like to run on
> >   Suns, Macs, and/or, Vaxen?
> >
> 
> One interesting approach might be to utilize the Mac HyperCard /
> Oracle link. With HyperCard's capabilities along with Oracle keeping
> data on VAX (VMS or UNIX), a very interesting solution could be
> provided.
> -- 
> Dave McIntee
> NetExpress Communications, Inc.	  	Phone: (703)749-2380
> 1953 Gallows Road, Suite 300		uunet!netxcom!dmcintee
> Vienna, VA 22180
>