Jules Verne Forum

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Re: Jules Verne Internet Index

From: Norman Wolcott <nwolcott~at~gwis2.circ.gwu.edu>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 12:13:28 -0500 (EST)
To: Multiple recipients of list <jvf~at~math.technion.ac.il>

I think what we are talking about here is a data-base, not an index. Such
a db can easily be created in ACCESS (for windows folks) or dbase3 or
PCFILE for DOS hands. The problem is really finding a universal format
accessible to all without special programming requirements (ie a self
contained application) This can be done with programs which make compiled
dbase programs, but then the updating is difficult. For those using ACCESS
be aware that ACCESS95 and ACCESS97 are not compatible (vive la
Microsoft!) If ACCESS were more universally available and not so expensive
(as an add on of OFFICE it is $175 or so) it would be a convenient
vehicle. One could start by categorizing all the links in ZVI's site,
then building tables of desired searching categories and linking them.
Requires some thought and expertise to do it rignt.

Norman M. Wolcott nwolcott~at~gwis2.circ.gwu.edu nwolcott~at~capaccess.org
301-340-9317 (O)

On Mon, 24 Nov 1997, Garmt de Vries wrote:

> Dear Zvi, and all others who replied to my message,
> (Thierry, Fabien, Dennis, Bill)
>
> Zvi:
> > the only missing part in my list is the
> > categorization.
>
> Bill:
> > you need to think very carefully about the organisation of your site:
> > both its own internal structure; and not duplicating Zvi's and/or an
> > internet search.
>
> Dennis:
> > making adjustments to Zvi's site, rather than creating
> > a whole new index.
>
> Thierry:
> > I am not sure I understand the value your proposal would add to Zvi's
> > page. Can you be more specific?
>
> Thanks for your reactions.
>
> I notice that I have not been clear enough about the character of the
> index I proposed. It should certainly not be a duplicate of Zvi's page,
> and it must be more complete than a search engine.
>
> The potpourri page is, as far as I know, a complete list of all sites
> concerning JV. But what I wanted to make is not so much *more* than the
> potpourri, but *different* from it.
>
> Let me stress the idea of an Internet Jules Verne Index, and the
> difference with the potpourri page:
>
> 1- Many sites consist of a lot of pages about very different subjects. You
> only have a link to the main page. E.g. Zvi Har'El, Fabien Raynaut, Dennis
> Kytasaari, Frederic Viron, Gilles Carpentier, Francois Chasse, myself and
> others are only mentioned once. A visitor of the potpourri site cannot see
> what our collections contain.
> I want to make a list of *all pages*, instead of sites. In my previous
> posting I said sites, but I meant pages.
> (Sorry if my use of the words site and page is not correct; I thought that
> a site is a collection of pages, where each page has its own URL. Correct
> me if I'm wrong.)
>
> 2- The *categorization*, indeed. And the same page may appear in several
> categories. A *short description* will also be very useful. Most of the
> time, the title describes the page quite well, but extra info would be
> good.
>
> 3- I would like to have an *alphabetical* list of keywords, so that a
> visitor who is looking for specific information can look this up directly,
> instead of having to browse through the complete list of links.
>
> So, the idea is to mention individual pages, alphabetically in categories.
> These are the three main differences between the index I thought of and
> the - comprehensive - potpourri.
>
> I'll give an example of a situation where an index would be useful.
>
> Suppose someone wants to find information on Jules Verne and the theatre.
>
> He uses Infoseek (+Verne+Theatre): not much result (see
> http://www.infoseek.com/Titles?qt=%2BVerne%2Btheatre&col=WW&sv=N4&lk=noframes&nh=10)
>
> Then, searching for "Jules Verne" he finds -of course- Zvi's collection,
> and goes to the potpourri page. Here are no links that mention the
> theatre. Eventually he may find what he's looking for, but after a lot of
> browsing.
>
> But look what we can offer him! The plays section of the Complete
> Bibliography, Jules Verne et le theatre by Francois Chasse, and many more.
>
> Under the heading "Theatre" of the index, he would find links to all
> possible pages on this subject, with a description of each page, so he can
> pick the one that matches his interest best.
>
> And there are so many of these examples: reviews of biographies, Paris au
> XXe Siecle, JV collectibles, different editions, societies, everything
> about 'De la Terre a la Lune', illustrations from the VE, etc.
>
> With all this, I'm not saying that the potpourri site isn't good enough,
> but it's not an *index*, in the way that an encyclopedia, or a science
> handbook has an index. It's just not the most adequate info finder that
> one could think of.
>
> Besides, I don't know if it's a good idea to change the potpourri into an
> index. It has a different character, mentioning every site just once, with
> an image, and all in one long column. It's the perfect starting point for
> extensive browsing, and would cease to be so if changed to an index.
>
>
> I hope that I made myself clearer now. If you still don't see anything in
> the idea, don't hesitate to say so. But I would really appreciate your
> assistance in creating this index. And if you have questions, please ask
> them. I thought making an index was a good idea, but if it's not
> realistic, or useful, I'd rather find out before I start. However, I still
> think it will work out fine.
>
> Regards,
> Garmt.
>
Received on Mon 08 Dec 1997 - 19:13:49 IST

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