Lou Burnard

Hierarchical encoding of text: Technical problems and SGML solutions

One recurring theme in the TEI project has been the need to represent non-hierarchical information in a natural way — or at least in a way that is acceptable to those who must use it — using a technical tool that assumes a single hierarchical representation. This paper proposes solutions to a variety of such problems: the encoding of segments which do not reflect a documents primary hierarchy; relationships among non-adjacent segments of texts; ambiguous content; overlapping structures; parallel structures; cross-references; vague locations.

The Design of the TEI Encoding Scheme

This paper discusses the basic design of the encoding scheme described by the Text Encoding Initiative’s Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange (TEI document number TEI P3, hereafter simply P3 or the Guidelines).1 It first reviews the basic design goals of the TEI project and their development during the course of the project. Next, it outlines some basic notions relevant for the design of any markup language and uses those notions to describe the basic structure of the TEI encoding scheme. It also describes briefly the “core” tag set defined in chapter 6 of P3, and the “default text structure” defined in chapter 7 of that work. The final section of the paper attempts an evaluation of P3 in the light of its original design goals, and outlines areas in which further work is still needed.

What Is SGML and How Does It Help

SGML is an abbreviation for “Standard Generalized Markup Language”. This language, or rather metalanguage, was first defined by an International Standard in 1986. To complement the many detailed technical descriptions of SGML now available, this paper briefly describes the purpose and scope of the standard, aiming to persuade non-technically minded readers that it has something to offer them.

Speaking with one voice : encoding standards and the prospects for an integrated approach to computing in history

This paper focusses on the types of questions that are raised in the encoding of historical documents. Using the example of a 17th century Scottish Sasine, the authors show how TEI-based encoding can produce a text which will be of major value to a variety of future historical researchers. Firstly, they show how to produce a machine-readable transcription which would be comprehensible to a word-processor as a text stream filled with print and formatting instructions; to a text analysis package as compilation of named text segments of some known structure; and to a statistical package as a set of observations each of which comprises a number of defined and named variables. Secondly, they make provision for a machine-readable transcription where the encoders research agenda and assumptions are reversible or alterable by secondary analysts who will have access to a maximum amount of information contained in the original source.

Lessons learned from using SGML in the Text Encoding Initiative

In April of 1994 the ACH-ALLC-ACL Text Encoding Initiative published Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange (Document TEI P3). SGML was used as the basis for the encoding scheme that was developed. Several innovative approaches to the use of SGML were devised during the course of the project. Three aspects of this innovation are documented in the paper. First, all of the tags are organized into sets that can be included easily into the project DTD, which allows the corresponding features to be used in documents only when required. Second, mechanisms were developed to relate parts of documents in non-hierarchic ways. Third, a mechanism was developed to allow extension of the DTD in a disciplined manner. We comment on the effectiveness with which SGML could be used in these ways and the shortcomings we perceive.Nowadays more and more companies are evolving into worldwide operating enterprises embedded in interdependent networks of communication, information exchange and product manufacturing. An up-to-date enterprise is spread over several sites with distributed subsidiaries for administration, product launches and manufacturing. At the same time internationalization is combined with a strong need for efficient information exchange in an open system environment. Information management and dissemination is becoming a key issue to success in every phase of the product life cycle. Any solution must take all these developments into account. With SGML-based documents and tools a flexible approach can be made towards open system independent document management with re-usable portions of information. In this paper different aspects are described: the steps required to set up an SGML-based application are introduced, ideas and the benefits of Literate Programming to SGML applications are explained, database functionality in distributed environments is presented, and document exchange and hypermedia documents are considered.

Putting our Headers together : A report on the TEI Header meeting 12 september 1997

The TEI Header plays a vital role in the documentation and interchange of TEI conformant electronic texts. Moreover, this role is becoming increasingly important as more people follow the recommendations set out in TEI P3, and libraries, archives, and electronic text centres seek to share their holdings of electronic texts. However, the fact that TEI P3 allows for flexibility in the structure and content of TEI Headers has meant that divergent practices have begun to emerge within the numerous projects and initiatives creating TEI texts. With this in mind, the Oxford Text Archive hosted a one-day colloquium of leading TEI exponents, at which invited participants were encouraged to share their views and expertise on creating TEI Headers, and work together to develop some recommendations towards good practice.

Rolling your own with the TEI

This paper gives a brief introduction to the scope and development of the Text Encoding Initiatives Recommendations, due for publication in July 1993. A brief technical overview of the schemes modular architecture is given, paying particular attention to the proposals for representation of pointers and links, which may be regarded as a «poor mans Hytime»