DTS Graphic Viewer User Guide

Version 1.5

 

Introduction

 

The Graphic Viewer is a DTS plug-in module that provides an alternate graphics-based Apelon KB browser component. The Graphics Viewer is available as an additional tab panel on the left side of the DTS application interface, from the Tools Menu, or from the Icon Bar. Panel operation is identical in the three cases.

 

 

Installation

 

Extract the files in GraphicViewer-1.5.zip into your DTSInstall directory. Be sure the Use folder names box is checked. This will place all the Graphics Viewer files into the appropriate folders:

 

Folder                                                  Files

DTSInstall\bin\graphicviewer                GraphicViewerV15Sources.jar

DTSInstall\lib\modules                         graphicviewer.jar

DTSInstall\docs                                   graphicvieweruserguide.pdf

DTSInstall\docs\help                            graphicvieweruserguide.htm

 

 

Operation

 

The Graphic Viewer opens in “neighborhood tree” view: it shows the (virtual) root of the Apelon KB at the far left of the panel with its children, which are the KB Namespaces, descending to the right. Double clicking on any of the Namespace names causes that Namespace to be the new focus of the view. The parent of the focus (the KB root) is shown above and to the right of the focus and its children (the “root concepts” of the Namespace) are shown below and to the right. Continue browsing by double clicking on any concept name which will make that concept the new focus and display the focus concept’s parents and children as well as any requested concept attributes (see below). Mousing over any concept displays the full concept name and relationship to the focus concept in the message area at the bottom of the panel.

 

The number of columns in the parent and child displays is dependent on the width of the Graphic Viewer panel. Increase the panel width to reformat the display to use more columns. See also the Field Width display option below. Increasing the (single column) Field Width will, in general, reduce the number of columns. Remember that the full name of any concept is always available in the message area by mousing over the concept.

 

The Combo Box at the top of the Graphic Viewer panel gives the “view axis”, or relationship type, for the hierarchical display. For Ontylog Namespaces, the default axis is the Ontylog Superconcepts and Subconcepts. For Thesaurus Namespaces, the Graphic Viewer uses the DTS default “Parent Of” Association Type (if one exists in the Namespace). A different view axis can be used by selecting the desired Association Type from the Combo Box. The selected view axis remains in effect until there is a change in the focus concept Namespace (or another Association Type is picked).

 

Right-clicking in any open (non-concept) area of the panel shows the Graphic Viewer popup menu. (Right-clicking on a concept is reserved for future use.)  Popup menu actions are:

 

Root Concept                     Sets the focus to the KB root.

 

Previous Concept            Sets the focus to the previously displayed concept (go back one concept).

 

Ancestor Tree                   Displays an “ancestor tree” view: a graphic rendering of all ancestors of the focus concept (relative to the current view axis). Click any mouse button to return to the neighborhood tree view.

 

Concept History              Shows the recent history of displayed concepts in a cascade popup. Selecting a history concept makes it the new focus.

 

Display Options              Opens a cascade menu with the following options for configuring the display. Most menu items toggle display of focus concept attributes to the right of the focus concept.

 

White on Black                             Changes the background of the Viewer to be Black rather than White. (Item alternates with Black on White.)

 

Field Width                                   Opens a dialog box for setting the value of the minimum field display width for a column.

 

Show Rays                                        Causes rays between the focus concept and parents, children and attributes to be shown. Set by default.

 

Show ToolTips                               Causes a ToolTip to appear showing the concept or attribute name when mousing over the element. Set by default.

 

Show Preferred Term                 Displays a concept’s Preferred Term rather than Name. If there is no such term, the name is used.

 

Show Namespace                             Displays concepts with their namespaces in standard qualified name format: Concept Name[Namespace]

 

Show Code                                        Displays the Concept Code in the Attributes area.

 

Show ID                                            Displays the Concept ID in the Attributes area.

 

Show Synonyms                               Displays Concept Synonyms in the Attributes area.

 

Show Properties                          Displays Concept Properties in the Attributes area.

 

Show Roles                                      Displays Concept Roles in the Attributes area.

 

Show Inverse Roles                    Displays Concept Inverse Roles in the Attributes area.

 

Show Associations                      Displays Concept Associations in the Attributes area.

 

Show Inverse Associations    Displays Concept Inverse Associations in the Attributes area.

 

Double clicking on any Role, Inverse Role, Association or Inverse Association sets the focus concept to that attribute’s target concept.

 

Both the neighborhood and ancestor tree views support drag to and drop from other DTS Editor panels.

 

 

 

 

Revision History

 

Version 1                     Initial release.    Only Ontylog Namespaces are supported.

 

Version 1.1                  Added Ancestor Tree view, selectable background (black or white), and ToolTips.

 

Version 1.2                  Support for Thesaurus Namespaces (including Local) and selection of View Axis.

 

Version 1.3                  Concept-dependent positioning of Attributes.

 

Version 1.4                  Rebuild for Eclipse.

 

Version 1.5                  Rebuild for DTS V3.4. Persistent and synchronized configuration (display options). Field width, preferred terms and rays as display options. Adaptive columns. User Guide available in DTS Help menu.