[Tshwanelex-l] How to use cross-references in tlTerm?
David Joffe
david.joffe at tshwanedje.com
Mon Apr 27 17:37:41 EDT 2020
Hi Michael,
Hmm .. good question. Technically, TLex's cross-reference system is
not directly applicable for tlTerm terminology databases because
cross-references intrinsically work differently between dictionaries
and 'true' terminology databases. For example in a dictionary one
would typically have separate entries for the lemmas 'dog' and
'hound', with cross-references between the two entries.
Terminology is concept-centric, so both 'dog' and 'hound' would
belong to the same 'concept' and therefore be on the same entry, as
two synonyms:
Entry: 'concept of dog'
English: dog
English: hound
When generating alphabetical *output*, eg exporting to Word, tlTerm
will (if the option is turned on) for these cases *automatically
generate* little cross-reference entries from eg 'hound' to the main
entry 'dog'. (E.g. if one clicks the little green configuration
spanner above the Preview Area, there's a menu item that says
something like 'Display second synonym onwards as a cross-reference'
... there are a few related options, e.g. to change the style of
arrow etc. at the automatically generated reference.)
Because of this difference, we therefore don't enable the *TLex*
smart-references system for terminology databases ... tlTerm needs
something. different
So that said, there *do* exist terminology databases that genuinely
have 'normal' cross-references within the data. They internally work
a bit differently to the TLex ones anyway (eg TLex's
smart-references generate the target entry's 'headword'/lemmasign -
but concept-centred terminology databases don't have a 'main
headword' - just a hub and spoke model with translations plus
synonym terms underneath the main entry.)
So we're still busy working on improving this and adding support for
more proper tlTerm cross-references. I can't remember offhand the
current state of the development of this ... I'll have to have a
look to refresh my memory. In other words we have to do some extra
programming to support a new extension to the cross-references
system tailored for terminology, where the cross-referenced node
would probably have to be a special 'Term' node. Alternatively, I
think we can use inline references (but that's not ideal, one wants
the advantage of smart references).
I remember we started working on this, but I can't remember how far
we got ... I'd have to look at the source code to go see where we
are with this.
- David
On 27 Apr 2020 at 18:38, Michael Beijer wrote:
From: Michael Beijer <michael at beijer.uk>
Date sent: Mon, 27 Apr 2020 18:38:00 +0100
To: tshwanelex-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Tshwanelex-l] How to use cross-references in tlTerm?
>
> I am trying to add/use (smart) cross-references in tlTerm.
>
> In the TLex Suite User Guide it says:
>
> "To add cross-references, right-click on the “Lemma” element or on a
> “Sense” element in the Tree View and select “Add: References”. A
> “References” element will be added, and the cross-reference editor dialog
> (shown below) will appear. This dialog allows you to add cross-references
> to lemmas, or to particular senses within lemmas, by selecting them from a
> list of all the current lemmas and senses in the dictionary database."
>
> However, there doesn't seem to be a 'cross-reference editor dialog' in
> tlTerm...
>
> Am I missing something?
>
> Regards,
>
> Michael
>
> --
> Michael Beijer
> Dutch-English technical translator
> Hastings, United Kingdom
> Tel.: 447475771720
> Email: michael at beijer.uk
> Website: beijer.uk
>
>
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