© F. Dell'Orso, Bibliography Formatting Software: An Evaluation Template
Last update: November, 17, 2003


      4. Bookends: shorter grid
 4.14. Term/Entry lists

The overstriked grid's items have not been taken into account for the purposes of this shorter evaluation: it does not imply at all that the package cannot perform the relevant function.
The numbering and the content are the same as the full version of the evaluation grid

14 Term/Entry lists

Bookends

Features in general

Indexes : four built-in indexes (called: "term lists") directly linked to fields content : authors, editors, keywords, journals. Any other field can generate its term list upon user's choice
Predeterminated structure. Each one exclusively belongs to the field that originates it, thus authors and editors are separate files. Indexes content automatically reflects field content, can host unlinked entries only as long as you do not update the list. They are not separated from database, cannot be independently accessed nor shared with other db. They can be used to browse the short record list of the db in two situations: a) select "Utilities" --> Term Lists; b) while editing/browsing (no different mode) a record, i.e.: a) a full reference is displayed, b) the relevant term list button is pressed, c) the brief view of records connected to that entry is activated; thereby can swiftly change list.
They are useful during data input; autocompletion available; new entries are instantly accessible.
To edit an index entry, one must edit one record or more via global replace: no direct access to the entry in the list.
Terms lists: Journal Glossaries are just term lists and not indexes at all. Their structure pattern is: "Abbreviation | Short Name | Full Name"
While editing, the abbreviation can be replaced by either short or full name. In formatted output can choose short or full form. As external tables they are shared among databases, do not reflect fields content, are edited separately.
Remarks : alphabetic scrolling and autocompletion are efficient. In general lists's structure is stiff: cannot import, share -either between databases and fields-, or host independent entries. 1:1 unmodifiable relationship between field and index is not at all an advantage, though theoretically logic, see e.g. authors and editors.

14.1 Fixed number

Bookends: no 4 + any other field based + n journal glossaries

14.2 Lists' content is automatically derived from db data, or can contain external data

Bookends: only derived as far as the 4 built-in lists are concerned. Journal glossaries are independent and host their own data

14.3 Lists are physically separated from database

Bookends: no as far as the term lists are concerned, yes the Journal glossaries

14.4 Lists reflect records content in real time

Bookends: yes

14.5 Lists can be directly edited

Bookends: no, only Journal Glossaries

14.6 When list entries are edited, records content change

Bookends: no, must perform global change

14.7 New entries are validated (go list, e.g.: new, old, probably a duplicate)

Bookends: no

14.8 List entry can contain its own supplementary data: note, abbreviation, date, compiler, x-refs

Bookends: no, only Journal Glossaries may have up to three forms for each entry, see above Features in general

14.9 Lists can be printed

Bookends: yes, first save a text file

14.10 Import external data into the lists

Bookends: no

14.11 Lists are useful for input

Bookends: yes

14.12 Lists are useful for searching

Bookends: yes

do not start from the Search/Find window, but either select "Utilities" --> Term lists, or: when a full reference is displayed, press the relevant term list button (for the four built-in lists), activate the "disclosure triangle" : the brief view of records connected to that entry is shown; can thereby directly switch to another list

14.13 Lists are useful for output

Bookends: only Journal Glossaries

14.14 List entries show total number of related documents

Bookends: yes

14.15 Lists can be shared among different db

Bookends: no, only Journal Glossaries

14.16 How lists are created and updated:
   1. input: new entries automatically update the list
   2. ad hoc command to edit lists out of records
   3. import
   4. as a text file out of the program

Bookends: 1 2 only as far as Journal Glossaries are concerned

14.17 How lists are printed
    1. from the outside, as text file
    2. from the inside, by ad hoc printing function

Bookends: 1



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© F. Dell'Orso, Bibliography Formatting Software: An Evaluation Template
Last update: November, 17, 2003