Glossary

Full Editor = The interactive, synchronous, and "live" system interface that uses Java WebStart.
Web Editor = This refers to editing Bridge web pages or objects using just the web browser by clicking on the "Web Editor" link.
Java WebStart = A helper application required to run the Bridge system Full Editor.
Object = Any tool or general component in the Bridge system such as a chat, drawing, or web page.
Exploring Window = A window opened in the Full Editor that displays a file system view of all the system folders and objects (where "read" permission is granted to the user).
Users Window = A window in the Full Editor that lists all users logged on to the system, the time they logged, and their stutus. It allows users to open personal chat when logged on.
Embed = Including an object on a page. Also known as Inlining.
Link = hypertext that connects to another page or website (internal or external websites).
Asynchronous = Not synchronous. Generally refers to events that are connected but that occur at different times.

Objects

Web Page
A web page object that can be collaboratively edited in the interactive client or edited from a web browser. These pages support a "shorthand" notation designed to simplify basic formatting tasks as well as standard HTML tags.

Drawing
A drawing or "whiteboard" that can be collaboratively edited and embedded in web pages.

Chat
A chat object that can be used for chatting, either from a web browser or from the interactive client.

Threaded Discussion
An object that can be used to hold asynchronous threaded discussions or "bulletin board". Users can add comments or replies to any message in the discussion. Messages can be re-edited.

Calendar
A calendar, schedule, or appointment book. The calendar object can be accessed and edited from the web and embedded in web pages to be displayed in several formats.

Data Table
A data table or spreadsheet. The data table can be edited collaboratively and embedded and edited in web pages. The data table can be associated with a Data Chart for graphing and charting of specific data.

Chart
A data chart or graph that can display data in an associated data table. It will be updated as the data from the associated data table is changed. The chart can be embedded in a web page. Once created, open the object and choose the "Data" menu and "Edit chart configuration" to choose a particular data table object and assign the chart axes to columns, then label those axes.

Math Formula
This will create an object that renders a simple or complex mathematical expression to display equations and formulas that cannot be done in standard text format. It displays the expression as an image when embedded in a web page.

Function Graph
An object that generates and dispays graphs of mathematical functions of the form y=f(x). The object has zoom and live display or embeds as an image of the graph in a web page.

Album
An object that displays a collection of objects (e.g. pictures as thumbnails) with captions and fixed size. When embedded in a web page, users click on the object (or image) to open the full sized object with detailed description or notes. Open the object then drag any other object (e.g. pic) to add it to the collection.

Display
An object that displays a select member of a collection of objects on each cycle (or event).
  • The object cycles through an assortment of objects (e.g. pictures or text) that are added to a list.
  • The cycle can be set for random or periodic update.
  • Allows for a variety of uses including:
    • rotating pictures
    • quote of the day
    • other needs for randomly generated objects to display


Web Counter
A web page counter that gets incremeted each time it is accessed from the web. You can embed these in a web page to show how many times the page is accessed.

Site Template
An object that formats all pages in that folder to the user's specifications. Adding one of these objects to a Web Site will cause all web pages in the site to be formatted with optional:
  • Sidebar content (on right and/or left)
  • Header content
  • Footer content
Sizes and colors of text, background, links, and sidebars can be adjusted. These are normally created by creating a site (e.g., one of the sites in the "Basic Sites" category of templates) that includes a pre-configured template.

Upload Container
A container (object) or "drop box" for files uploaded to the server. Use this to upload images or other files (e.g. Word docs, etc.). The system will assign a URL using the name of the object. When you upload files into a web site folder (using either the Full or Web editor), the system automatically creates one of these containers. There may, however, be times when you want to set up an empty container (e.g., as a "drop box").
Site Folders

Standard Site
A folder that provides a minimal structure suitable for use as a basic web site. It includes:
  • A blank "Home" page
  • A template object that defines a layout which may include "sidebar" columns on the right and/or left of each page's content; header and footer elements; a background color or image; and text colors. All pages in the site will share the format defined in this template.
  • A shared "Current Users" document that maintains a list of all of the users logged into the system.
  • A shared "Search" document that can be linked into web pages to allow web users to search the pages in the system.
  • A "Table of Contents" object, initially in the left sidebar of each page, to which links can be added and which contains user list and search objects.


Presentation Site
A site with pages formatted for use in a simple web-based presentation.
  • Default text size will be increased
  • Each page will include links at the top to the previous and next page
  • Standard navigation links are pushed down so that they will generally not be visible


Folder
A completely empty folder or site with no structure. This is much like creating a "New Folder" on your computer. Like a folder on your computer, you can use it to group documents (or other sites) for a particular project or purpose.

Workspace
A self-contained desktop workspace that contains other objects. Objects are shown in a list and can be opened by double-clicking. Workspaces also include a list of the users who are currently in the workspace and a chat panel that is always visible.

Workspace with Timeline
A self-contained desktop workspace that contains other objects. Current and past versions of objects in the workspace are presented on a timeline. Workspaces also include a list of the users who are currently in the workspace and a chat panel that is always visible.
Advanced

Cyber-discussion
The shell container for a cyber-discussion forum or "MOO" object. It requires significant additional setup including adding a navigation object (e.g. an image with mapped spots or "rooms") and content for "room" descriptions, chat objects, and other shared objects.

Cyber-discussion with Backdrop
The newer cyber-discussion forum or "MOO". All setup can be done "inside" the object once it's created. Simply open the object, and choose the appropriate menu (e.g. "admin") to add a "map" and link to background content for each room and to edit permissions for different groups.

Guest or Student Accounts Object
An object that allows users to create "guest" accounts for students and other users to access specified parts of the system.
  • The object comes with a particular ID number that identifies users assigned in that object.
  • The ID with username must be added to the relevant object or folder permissions.
  • For example, "guest.391088.dunlapd" refers to the user "dunlapd" listed in the object or wildcard (star) can be used to denote all usernames listed in the object as follows: "guest.391088.*"


Navigation Object
A container for a two-paned object with a navigation widget on the left and an object view on the right.
  • Much like a Cyber Discussion (MOO) without user list and chat panes.
  • This requires additional setup including:
    • Adding a navigation image or widget
    • Adding path to relevant starting point


Map
A container for the collaborative map. The UI is still under construction and currently only limited maps are available. Once the container is added, you need to go to the "Maps" folder to add relevant map "ShapeFile" layers, and you will need to create or copy an "Editable Map Layer" to add locations (spots) to the map.

Map Edit Layer
An editable layer for the Map object. Drag this object into a map container to edit (add spots) to a map. And/Or copy another editable layer to you map container.

RSS Feed
This (experimental) object will retrieve data from an XML source and process it using an XSL stylesheet. For example, it can be used to retrieve an RSS feed from a news site or web log and convert the data into HTML that can be embedded in a web page or other BRIDGE object.

The user interface is currently very minimal, no web editor interface is available, and little feedback is given on error conditions. In the full editor, you can create an XML Feed object and configure it by giving it the locations of the XML data and the XSL stylesheet. Both of these locations may be specified as either a URL or an absolute or relative path to a BRIDGE object.

/public/support/Glossary/Home Login | Web Editor | Full Editor
Last modified 4/8/05 4:18 PM by dunlapd (history)
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