Upload
philippa-horton
View
214
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Electronic Magazines:Issues in Implementation
Brian KellyUK Web Focus
UKOLN
University of BathEmail: [email protected]
UKOLN is funded by the Library and Information Commission, the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) of the Higher Education Funding Councils, as well as by project funding from the JISC and the European Union. UKOLN also receives support from the University of Bath where it is based.
Acknowledgements to Bernadette Daly, Editor of Exploit Interactive (1998-9)
Acknowledgements to Bernadette Daly, Editor of Exploit Interactive (1998-9)
Aims:• Describe approaches to
publishing a web magazine aimed at European library / information community
• Share experiences• Describe other approaches• Provide advice to those
wishing to publish web magazines
Aims:• Describe approaches to
publishing a web magazine aimed at European library / information community
• Share experiences• Describe other approaches• Provide advice to those
wishing to publish web magazines
2
Contents
• Background• The User's View• Searching• The Editor's View• Other Interesting Approaches• Conclusions
3
About UKOLN
UKOLN:• UK Office for Library and Information Networking• Based at University of Bath
Awareness and Advisory Services• UK Web Focus• Interoperability Focus• Public Library Networking
Focus
Awareness and Advisory Services• UK Web Focus• Interoperability Focus• Public Library Networking
Focus
Research InterestsMetadataDistributed librariesUK and EU project work
Research InterestsMetadataDistributed librariesUK and EU project work
DisseminationEvents (workshops, seminars, etc.)PublicationsWeb Magazines
DisseminationEvents (workshops, seminars, etc.)PublicationsWeb Magazines
4
ExperiencesUKOLN publishes two web magazines, with a third due to be launched shortly
Exploit Interactive• First published in May
1999• Four issues to date• Funded by EU
Telematics For Libraries Programme
Exploit Interactive• First published in May
1999• Four issues to date• Funded by EU
Telematics For Libraries Programme
Ariadne• First published in January
1996• 22 issues to date• Originally funded by eLib• Long-standing first
generation web magazine
Ariadne• First published in January
1996• 22 issues to date• Originally funded by eLib• Long-standing first
generation web magazine
Cultivate Interactive• To be released in a few months• Funded by EU DIGICULT
Programme (covers museums, archives and library areas)
Cultivate Interactive• To be released in a few months• Funded by EU DIGICULT
Programme (covers museums, archives and library areas)
5
Ariadne
Ariadne:• 22 issues published Jan 1996 - Dec 1999
• Published every 3 (originally 2) months
• HTML pages created using HTML authoring tool (HoTMetaL, FrontPage, etc.)
• Apache web server on Unix
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/
6
Exploit InteractiveExploit Interactive:• 4 issues published
(every three months)• Informs communities
on Telematics for Library projects
• Aims to provide quality content, be innovative and be standards compliant
• NB: Little funding for software development!
http://www.exploit-lib.org/http://www.exploit-lib.org/
7
Exploit Int. ArchitectureExploit Interactive:
• Runs on a Windows NT server• Microsoft SiteServer software used
Why?• Gain experiences of NT-based information system
in order to help in advisory role• Make use of shrink-wrapped solutions to minimise
software development• Investigate whether standards-based solutions can
be implemented in a Microsoft environmentResources
• Funding for 0.5 FTE over 2 years• Editor, project manager plus bought-in systems
support effort
8
The User View (1)Exploit Interactive:• Sub-menu pages for Features, Regular Columns, etc.• Context-sensitive
navigational bars• Links from all
pages to:–Main entry point–Issue entry point–Editorial–Features menu–Regular Columns
menu–News and Events
page–Et Cetera menu–Search facility
D
9
The User View (2)Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) used to:• Define margin settings• Define fonts• Background for headings
Benefits of Cascading Style Sheets:• Ease of maintenance
(appearance defined in single file)
• Re-use of resources• Performance• Accessibility
D
10
Behind The ScenesBehind the Scenes:
• Article fragments used and assembled into HTML resource using ASP (Active Server Pages)
• ASP server script used for server-side includes (SSIs) and for manipulating variables
article_title="The CULIVATE project"issue_num="1"
<title>Exploit issue <%=issue_num%>: <%=article_title%></title>
…<h3>Citation Details</h3><p><%=article_title%>, <%=author%>
Exploit Interactive <%= issue_num%>
Assignment of variables
Use of variables
11
The File StoreThe file store structure for a typical article is shown below
default.asp assembles fragments and processes variables
content.ssi content – simple HTML fragment
citation details (based on author and title variables)
article_defaults.ssiauthor, title, etc. variables
figure-1.gif
cultivateissue4
citation.ssi
resources
Some files stored next to articleOthers stored in central area (parameter passing)
Some files stored next to articleOthers stored in central area (parameter passing)
12
The Bigger Picture
In order to minimise maintenance, we want to store scripts, CSS files, etc. once and include them as appropriate
<!--#inc file="article_defaults.ssi" --> Read article variables<!--#inc file="../issue_defaults.ssi" --> Read issue variables<!--#inc file="../../global_defaults.ssi" --> Read global variables<!--#inc file="/resources/ssi/html_dtd.ssi" --> Define HTML DTD<html><head><title>Exploit Interactive issue <%=issue_num%>:
<%=article_title%></title><!--#inc file="resources/ssi/dc_metadata.ssi" --> Create DC metadata</head><!--#inc file="resources/ssi/nav_top.ssi" --> Navigational bar<!--#inc file="content.ssi" --> Include content<!--#inc file="citation.ssi" --> Include citation…
<!--#inc file="article_defaults.ssi" --> Read article variables<!--#inc file="../issue_defaults.ssi" --> Read issue variables<!--#inc file="../../global_defaults.ssi" --> Read global variables<!--#inc file="/resources/ssi/html_dtd.ssi" --> Define HTML DTD<html><head><title>Exploit Interactive issue <%=issue_num%>:
<%=article_title%></title><!--#inc file="resources/ssi/dc_metadata.ssi" --> Create DC metadata</head><!--#inc file="resources/ssi/nav_top.ssi" --> Navigational bar<!--#inc file="content.ssi" --> Include content<!--#inc file="citation.ssi" --> Include citation…
default.asp
13
Problems - Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS):• Separates content from presentation
• Reduces maintenance
• Simplifies HTML (no complex tables, clear.gif hacks, etc.)
• Accessible resources
But Netscape (esp.) implements CSS very badly:
• Images can float over text
• Too much white space around tables
• Problems in printing
• Other minor differences
14
Solution to CSS Problems
In order to address CSS problems:• "User-agent" negotiation used to
include simpler CSS file to Netscape users
• Uses a single SSI fragment
• Tables stored in singletable cell – a hack
• Should images be included with conditional SSI?
Also use CSS @media to allow different style sheetfor printing
15
SearchingExploit Interactive enables UKOLN to demonstrate its research interest in metadata:• Capabilities of SiteServer search facility investigated• Fielded searches
provided. Can search by Author, Title, Abstract and full text
• Uses Dublin Core (DC)metadata
• DC metadata (HTML format) created using ASP fragment
• Can easily createmetadata in other formats (e.g. RDF)
16
Errors
The 404 error message has been tailored:• Exploit Interactive look and feel• Embedded search facility• Tailored message:
The link to this resourceis incorrect – please inform web master
or
You have entered an incorrect URL
17
Extending the Web SiteThe web site is being extended to provide more than simply access to information
Experiment to search a project's web site, from an article about the project
Experiment to search a project's web site, from an article about the project
Evaluation of discussion software to enable readers to comment on articles
Evaluation of discussion software to enable readers to comment on articles
18
The Editor's View
Development work which may not be noticeable by readers includes:
• Promotion of the web siteMaking sure that people know about the magazine and can easily find it
• Checking the web siteEnsuring that the web site works, is accessible and conforms to appropriate standards
• Auditing the web siteMonitoring the popularity of the web site and being pro-active in maximising popularity
19
Web Site Promotion
Promotion of web site addressed by:• Having own domain name:
<www.exploit-lib.org> Note shorter variants (e.g. exploit.org, exploit.com, etc.) are not available.
• Having short, easily-cited URLs:
Note use of server default file name to avoid longer and possibly confusing file name and extension:
http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue1/pride/
http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue1/pride/intro.htmhttp://www.exploit-lib.org/issue1/pride/intro.htmlhttp://www.exploit-lib.org/issue1/pride/Default.asp
20
Finding The Web Site
Aim: • We want web site and articles to be indexed by
search engines and catalogued by directories
Approaches:• Articles contain "AltaVista" metadata (generated as
described for DC metadata)• Internal links to directory, avoiding links to .asp
extensions• Use of robots.txt file and <meta name="robots" content="noindex"> tag to avoid indexing of unnecessary resources (e.g. statistics, etc.)
21
Submission to Search Engines
Exploit Interactive resources submitted to search engines – see <http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue4/promotion/>
1. New issue URL submitted to AltaVista
2. Evaluation of Submission software
3. Creation of single page containing links to all articles
22
Does It Work?Exploit Interactive articles:• First (out of 421,122) for "exploit"
in AllTheWeb• Fourth for "news exploit"in Google• Fourth for "(electronic and paper)
near delivery" in AltaVista
Exploit Interactive articles:• First (out of 421,122) for "exploit"
in AllTheWeb• Fourth for "news exploit"in Google• Fourth for "(electronic and paper)
near delivery" in AltaVista
Note: Searches found from referrer logsNote: Searches found from referrer logs
23
Notification of a New Issue
Notification of new issues is sent to several mailing lists. But what about readers who aren't on the mailing lists?
We now provide anotification serviceof new issues using Netmind
http://www.exploit-lib.org/notify/http://www.exploit-lib.org/notify/
24
Checking The Web Site
Prior to release of new issue we use:• SiteServer Analysis to check broken links• Bobby software to check accessibility of web site
Summary
On 10 January 1999:
906 pages
5,180 internal links
1,818 external links
0 broken links
Web site passes Bobbyaccessibility test
Summary
On 10 January 1999:
906 pages
5,180 internal links
1,818 external links
0 broken links
Web site passes Bobbyaccessibility test
25
Broken Links – Whose Problem?
Internal links are responsibility of editors
But what should be done with broken links in articles?• Fixed: the web master is responsible for providing
a quality web site• Nothing: articles should be left as is• Flagged (and perhaps fixed): giving reader an
indication of original status
Our approach:• Authors provide links as
references with visible URLs• External links indicated by icon• Icon and link change if link is
broken• Display external links in new
window (personalised option?)
Our approach:• Authors provide links as
references with visible URLs• External links indicated by icon• Icon and link change if link is
broken• Display external links in new
window (personalised option?)
26
Checking The Web Site (2)
In issue 4 we provided a service for the readers to check for and enhance access to articles:
• Translation Service• HTML Validation• Accessibility Check• …
The link to further information is stored as a single SSI file, allowing changes to be made just once
The link to further information is stored as a single SSI file, allowing changes to be made just once
27
Auditing The Web SiteWe use SiteServer Analysis to provide statistics In issue 4 evaluated third-party services which provide (e.g):
• Last 10 visitors to page• Profile over time• Referrer for last 25 visitors
Third-party Service Issues:• Performance• Dependency on 3rd party• Open vs. restricted access
to statistics
NOTE: Comparison of Nedstat and SiteMeter can be easily made due to use of SSI fragments
NOTE: Comparison of Nedstat and SiteMeter can be easily made due to use of SSI fragments
28
Who's Linking To Us
The LinkPopularity.com web site is used to:
• Provide information on numbers of linksto web site
• Monitor growth in nos. of links
• Identify friends• Spot gaps
http://www.linkpopularity.com/http://www.linkpopularity.com/
Information on links to web site and nos. of resources indexed is useful and is being monitored regularly
Information on links to web site and nos. of resources indexed is useful and is being monitored regularly
29
The eLib Programme eLib programme funded several e-journals – see <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/elib/projects/>
http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/clic/http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/clic/
http://elj.warwick.ac.uk/http://elj.warwick.ac.uk/
Much can be learnt from the experiences of the eLib projects
Much can be learnt from the experiences of the eLib projects
30
Other e-journals: EPRESS• eLib-funded project which provides an administrative
system (rather than a publishing one) for refereed academic journals
• Addresses (time-consuming) administrative issues• Used by Sociological
Research Online and Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation
See <http://www.epress.ac.uk/>See <http://www.epress.ac.uk/>
31
Other e-journals: D-Lib
D-Lib magazine:• Currently mirrored at 4 locations including UKOLN• Is making use of DOIs (Document Object Identifiers)• Each article has DOI which provides persistent,
location-independent identifier• "Handle" system can return multiple values e.g. 10.1045/december99-gladney can returnfive URLs
• Interesting idea for the future (resolution by proxy or browser plugin)
• Use of multiple values could be used for related resources (e.g. metadata, translation, etc.)
• Exploit Interactive is considering a similar approach
32
Other e-journalsLibrary and Information Studies departments are active in producing e-magazines and exploring various issues
For example see Information Research, published by theDepartment of Information Studies,Sheffield Univ.
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/I-M/is/publications/infres/ircont.html
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/I-M/is/publications/infres/ircont.html
33
Exploit Interactive's Key Features
Exploit Interactive uses (normalised) resource fragments for:
• Server-side scripts• Navigational elements• Standard text fragments• CSS
Separation of Content / Navigation / Functionality is useful for:
• Ease of maintenance• Introduction of new functionality (e.g. print all
articles, personalisation)
34
Challenges
Use of resource fragments:• Requires advance planning• Some complications in use of authoring tools• Some complications in validating resource fragments
(no compilers to spot, say, unassigned variables)• Useful to have a programmer's or DBA perspective
(identification of reusable fragments)In addition use of ASP variables / file-based fragments means:
• NT-dependencies (until Open ASP matures)• Difficulties in managing variables which are defined in
scripts
35
Future DevelopmentsMake use of article and navigation fragments to provide a configurable interface
Navigational bar:Located:• Top and bottom • Side (in frame or embedded)
Configurable:• Sections of interest• cf MS Office 2000
Navigational bar:Located:• Top and bottom • Side (in frame or embedded)
Configurable:• Sections of interest• cf MS Office 2000
References & Related LinksAs above
References & Related LinksAs above
http://www.ljdigital.com/http://www.ljdigital.com/
36
Future DevelopmentsIdeas for the future:
• Variables stored in database (NB: performance issues)• Use of XML
For Metadata and Articles (e.g. news items)Would also like to provideenhanced searching (structured browsing):
• Search issue 1 & issue 3• Search Regular Columns• Search Regular Columns
in issue 1• Search for articles about
EU projects• Counts nos. of articles in
these categories
37
Future Developments
Processing articles is time-consuming. Would like to automate processes:
c:/docs/article.doc
Enter documentBrowse
Document Type• MS Word HTML
Abstract
Keywords TAP, digitisation, …
• Replace email submission by web form
• Automate conversion to HTML
• Author submission of keywords metadata
• Automated upload to draft area for editor reviewProgramme: • ELIB EU (5th Framework)
EU (4th Framework)
38
Conclusions
To conclude:• Exploit Interactive has shown the benefits of an
architecture based on:– Resource fragments– Style Sheets– Server-side scripting– Resources in neutral format to enable reuse
• It is possible to provide an innovative, standards-based solution on an NT platform
• Similar solutions also possible on Unix (e.g. PHP)• We look forward to further developments based on
use of database technologies / XML
Questions welcomeQuestions welcome