Troubleshooting Troubleshooting MultiTermMultiTerm

2007-02-122007-02-12

To Capitalize or Not?To Capitalize or Not?► Two rule sets:Two rule sets:

Cap for first word in definition, period at endCap for first word in definition, period at end No cap for first word in definition, no period at endNo cap for first word in definition, no period at end

►DO NOT MIX THE RULE SETS!!DO NOT MIX THE RULE SETS!!► I started with Cap + period.I started with Cap + period.►We need to be consistent: go back and make We need to be consistent: go back and make

sure you have a cap and a period!sure you have a cap and a period!► You can make your own choice for your You can make your own choice for your

individual termbase.individual termbase.

Form of DefinitionsForm of Definitions►Noun definitions – see presentation for Noun definitions – see presentation for

logical definitionslogical definitions►Verb definitions – to + verbal phraseVerb definitions – to + verbal phrase►Adverb & adjective definitions – in the Adverb & adjective definitions – in the

form of a modifier: pertaining to, etc.form of a modifier: pertaining to, etc.►Synonyms are not definitions. They Synonyms are not definitions. They

belong in their own term fields.belong in their own term fields.

Great Entry!! But regardless of the definition rule, contexts are always treated as standard text, capitalize first word & use period at end.

Definition RulesDefinition Rules►Don’t repeat the term.Don’t repeat the term.►Don’t use a finite verb.Don’t use a finite verb.►Keep to one sentence (fragment)Keep to one sentence (fragment)►Fold extra info, if it’s really interesting, Fold extra info, if it’s really interesting,

into a note field, or incorporate stuff into a note field, or incorporate stuff into the definition statement.into the definition statement.

►Be sure to put synonyms into a term Be sure to put synonyms into a term field – don’t bury them in a definition, field – don’t bury them in a definition, context, or note.context, or note.

Another great entry content-wise; but * repeats the term * embeds a synonym * includes the verb “is” * includes several sentences

Example of including the acronym and the term in the definition. Reduce definition to a single fragment.

Here the terms have been removed from the definition, and the definition has been slightly modified to turn it into a single sentence fragment. Part of this could have been put into a note.

Precision in DefinitionsPrecision in Definitions►Make sure that your definition reflects Make sure that your definition reflects

the same level of precision as your the same level of precision as your term.term.

►Data storage metadataData storage metadata, for instance, , for instance, will be more precise in its definition, will be more precise in its definition, more restrictive than a definition of more restrictive than a definition of just just metadatametadata itself. itself.

Applicability of the DefinitionApplicability of the Definition►Think through whether the definition Think through whether the definition

really explains the term in question. really explains the term in question. ►You may have to collect information You may have to collect information

from several sources and construct from several sources and construct your own definitive statement.your own definitive statement.

Here the definition doesn’t really tell us what the term means. It deals with a “connection”, but we don’t really know what it means for a connection to be “reliable”.

Definitions vs Explanations & Definitions vs Explanations & NotesNotes

► Just finding “stuff” about your concept Just finding “stuff” about your concept doesn’t mean that you have a doesn’t mean that you have a definition. If you can’t find a definition definition. If you can’t find a definition anywhere, you will need to revise the anywhere, you will need to revise the material you have to form a good material you have to form a good definition.definition.

Here the definition comes close to explaining what it means to “run out of memory”. Again, it will be necessary to try to rewrite the information so that it has the form of a good definition.

Difficulty Finding DefinitionsDifficulty Finding Definitions►Don’t hesitate to change the definition Don’t hesitate to change the definition

a little in order to retain rules.a little in order to retain rules.►Don’t repeat terms in the definition Don’t repeat terms in the definition

that are part of the term itself unless that are part of the term itself unless that terms is already defined in the that terms is already defined in the termbase.termbase.

Inadvertent Merging?Inadvertent Merging?►Watch to make sure you don’t merge Watch to make sure you don’t merge

entries accidentally.entries accidentally.► If you see you have done that (usually If you see you have done that (usually

by saying “OK” when the system asks by saying “OK” when the system asks if you want to merge entries), click if you want to merge entries), click “cancel edit” and start over again. This “cancel edit” and start over again. This is usually easier than trying to sort out is usually easier than trying to sort out and clean up the entry.and clean up the entry.

It doesn’t look likely that these terms go together. “invoke” and “call” may be synonyms, but “cover note” is not. I suspect an inadvertent merge.It’s easier to just cancel edit and then start over. Much of the time, the system won’t let you delete extra terms.

Deleting a TermDeleting a Term►The program requires one term in each The program requires one term in each

language.language.► It will provisionally let you delete a It will provisionally let you delete a

second term, but …second term, but … You can’t delete a term that has You can’t delete a term that has

subordinate data categories filled in.subordinate data categories filled in. So: delete the subordinate data categories.So: delete the subordinate data categories. At some point you should be able to delete At some point you should be able to delete

the term as well.the term as well.

I did it! I got rid of the extra term. At first I couldn’t delete it, but then I started deleting items that depended on the term. After I’d deleted most of them, I was then able to delete the term itself.

Not-Quite SynonymsNot-Quite Synonyms►machine-readablemachine-readable

machine-accessiblemachine-accessibledata, a file, some piece of digital information data, a file, some piece of digital information that can be recognized and displayed in a that can be recognized and displayed in a computer program, usually to a human usercomputer program, usually to a human user

►machine-processablemachine-processabledata that are marked up in such a way that data that are marked up in such a way that they can be manipulated by a computer, they can be manipulated by a computer, perhaps without significant human interventionperhaps without significant human intervention

► An html page on the Web is machine-An html page on the Web is machine-accessible and machine-readable. An xml accessible and machine-readable. An xml database on the Web is machine-processable. database on the Web is machine-processable. Most web-based glossaries are machine-Most web-based glossaries are machine-readable. Your MultiTerm termbase is machine-readable. Your MultiTerm termbase is machine-processable.processable.

Misplaced InformationMisplaced Information►Use the samples done in class as a Use the samples done in class as a

guide for what goes where!guide for what goes where!►Classification to Classification to ProtocolsProtocols goes in the goes in the

SubjectSubject field field►The context in your Excel file goes in The context in your Excel file goes in

the the Context field.Context field.

Don’t use “to” to introduce a verb in the term field.Do use “to” to introduce the definition of a verb.Don’t start a term with a capital letter.

Matching Context to Matching Context to DefinitionDefinition

►Don’t equate a metaphor or comparison Don’t equate a metaphor or comparison to a true definition.to a true definition.

►A server A server functions asfunctions as an agent (of the an agent (of the publisher).publisher).

►Define Define agentagent and and publisherpublisher independently.independently.

►Then figure out the relationship between Then figure out the relationship between the server and the agent. They aren’t the the server and the agent. They aren’t the same thing.same thing.

Part-of-Speech ShiftPart-of-Speech Shift►Watch out for subtle changes in part of speech.Watch out for subtle changes in part of speech.► “… “… asking browser” is essentially a browser that asking browser” is essentially a browser that

is asking. So defining it depends on defining a is asking. So defining it depends on defining a browser and figuring out what it means for a browser and figuring out what it means for a browser to “ask” in some way.browser to “ask” in some way.

► “… “… ask browser” sounds as if someone or ask browser” sounds as if someone or something is going to ask the browser about something is going to ask the browser about something, which is the opposite to the actual something, which is the opposite to the actual meaning of the text. Sort of like: “ask Jeeves …”meaning of the text. Sort of like: “ask Jeeves …”

► Try creative searching to find what it means if a Try creative searching to find what it means if a browser “asks” for something on the Web.browser “asks” for something on the Web.

The definition is OK (not great!), but in particular, it is for a verb, but the term is in the participial (adjective) form. Solution: change the term to the verb form, which is how it would properly be defined.

Define the Right Term!Define the Right Term!►Make sure that the definition is for the Make sure that the definition is for the

term and not for some other term in term and not for some other term in the context.the context.

►Either change the definition or change Either change the definition or change the term.the term.

This is a nifty definition for a URI (if you get rid of the term and the verb “is” in the definition), but the term you have listed is “have authority over”. As a consequence, the entry doesn’t make much sense. Create an entry for URI, but you also need to find out what it means to “have authority over a URI”, which must have something to do with “owning” a URI.

Orient Concepts to the Orient Concepts to the MacrocontextMacrocontext

►Macrocontext: Web & InternetMacrocontext: Web & Internet►Term: publisherTerm: publisher►Definition: One that is engaged in Definition: One that is engaged in

publishing printed material.publishing printed material.►Does this make sense in this context? The Does this make sense in this context? The

source context talks about the source context talks about the serverserver being the being the agentagent of the of the publisherpublisher..

►What does it mean to publish on the Web?What does it mean to publish on the Web?

Plausibility factor: does this make sense in the macrocontext?Essentially: just because you find a word and a definition for the word, doesn’t mean that the definition has anything to do with the concept in question!!

Extra Vertical SpacingExtra Vertical Spacing►Usually the cause of hidden code Usually the cause of hidden code

dragged in from scraping a Web page.dragged in from scraping a Web page.►Avoid by eliminating extra spaces after Avoid by eliminating extra spaces after

the end of copied text.the end of copied text.►Problem is always in the text field before Problem is always in the text field before

the appearance of extra spacing.the appearance of extra spacing.►Sometimes shows up as irregular Sometimes shows up as irregular

positioning of entry fields.positioning of entry fields.

There are some issues with the form of the definition, but notice the line break after the definition. Reopen the definition field to fix the definition, and then position the cursor as far as it will move after the end of the text. Back space up to the period to remove extraneous invisible markup hidden behind the text.ALSO: Record the term in the singular.

False SuperordinatesFalse Superordinates►Avoid “the term used to refer to”Avoid “the term used to refer to”►““Se refiere a …”Se refiere a …”►““Refers to …Refers to …► Instead, use a real superordinate or Instead, use a real superordinate or

broader concept to introduce your broader concept to introduce your definition.definition.

Embedding a SynonymEmbedding a Synonym►Don’t embed a form of the term in the Don’t embed a form of the term in the

definition.definition.► Full forms and acronyms each get their own Full forms and acronyms each get their own

term group.term group.► Right click on the language name and select Right click on the language name and select

“Term” by left clicking.“Term” by left clicking.► This will give you a new term group for your This will give you a new term group for your

full form.full form.► Indicate in the Type field which is the acronym Indicate in the Type field which is the acronym

and which is the full form.and which is the full form.

Here’s how the entry should look.

Cross ReferencesCross References►Put cross-references in the “Related Put cross-references in the “Related

Term” field if they point to another term.Term” field if they point to another term.►Don’t put anything in the definition field Don’t put anything in the definition field

other than the single definition sentence other than the single definition sentence fragment.fragment.

►This is a function of the principle of This is a function of the principle of “data elementarity” (check back to the “data elementarity” (check back to the initial lecture).initial lecture).

Dealing with synonyms and related terms:Synonyms become second term groups in the same entry.Related terms become additional entries.Links can be created to related terms.

Canonical FormCanonical Form►Use the infinitive form for verbs.Use the infinitive form for verbs.►Modify any definition you find to Modify any definition you find to

reflect the infinitive form if you find reflect the infinitive form if you find your best definition as another part of your best definition as another part of speech.speech.

“identify” is the term, not “identifies”.Don’t ever use the “to” form in the term field.But do use it for the definition.

Hidden SynonymsHidden Synonyms►Watch out for short forms or colloquial Watch out for short forms or colloquial

terms that may point to more common terms that may point to more common “proper” forms.“proper” forms.

►For instance, “local network” is a short For instance, “local network” is a short form for “local area network”, which form for “local area network”, which also has an acronym “LAN”. also has an acronym “LAN”.

► Include these items as additional Include these items as additional terms in your entry.terms in your entry.

Tautological DefinitionsTautological Definitions►DO NOT create definitions that merely DO NOT create definitions that merely

restate the content of the term!restate the content of the term!►Example:Example:

TCP specificationTCP specificationThe document specifying TCP.The document specifying TCP.

►Proper definition:Proper definition:The document that states the specific The document that states the specific requirements for the Transmission requirements for the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).Control Protocol (TCP).

Saving a Tautological Saving a Tautological DefinitionDefinition

► Internet Header LengthInternet Header LengthIHLIHLThe length of the internet header in 32 bit The length of the internet header in 32 bit words, which points to the beginning of the words, which points to the beginning of the data, whereby the minimum value for a data, whereby the minimum value for a correct header is 5.correct header is 5.

► This looks almost like a tautological This looks almost like a tautological definition, but it’s not because it includes definition, but it’s not because it includes additional critical information that explains additional critical information that explains what the IHL really is.what the IHL really is.

Generic ConceptGeneric Concept►Study the Powerpoint on Definitions.Study the Powerpoint on Definitions.►Be sure that your definitions always have Be sure that your definitions always have

a meaningful generic concept (broader a meaningful generic concept (broader term) as the introductory element.term) as the introductory element.

►Contains and encloses all other elements Contains and encloses all other elements and is the top node in a tree structure. and is the top node in a tree structure.

►Should be: An element that contains and Should be: An element that contains and encloses all other elements and is the top encloses all other elements and is the top node in a tree structure. node in a tree structure.