On 9/22/2000 at 7:58 PM [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I plan to develop a collaborative work environment tool with REBOL.
There is nothing done yet, so that if some of you want to join me
please contact me.
I can't offer to do any coding right now, but here's a description of
my favorite collaborative dreamware.
--
In essence, this application would act like like dmoz.org hooked up to
hypertext articles, rather than just
links, with the same group editing features dmoz provides for just
links.
Objective
Collect, organize, and maintain a collection of hypertext documents via
a HTML browser or SMTP/POP3 email.
Audience
Knowledge workers connected by a network, already familiar with
Internet browsers, portals, and search engines.
Requirements - Knowledge Base
The knowledge base allows people to create and update articles. The
articles are submitted as plain text and converted to HTML. An advanced
version allows articles to be formatted according to a template and
include various CGI components.
Allow text articles and one standard image to be submitted by browser
or email. Track article title, ad-hoc and standard keywords, original
author, creation date, last editor, edit date, edit history
Save articles to HTML files
+ Title, meta keywords, link to author profile, edit history
+ Email comment form to author and editors
+ Back link
+ Convert HTML meta characters to macros (< >), et cetera
Parse saved articles into component fields for editing or indexing
Allow author and authorized editors to add target and anchor links to
article, when available
Create and update author profiles by browser or email
Allow new author registration and first article submission as an
unified transaction
Hold new submissions to queue pending approval by editor
Allow updates to article by original author or authorized editor
Grant editor rights to an author profile
Track articles authored or edited with each profile
Full-text search: Responsibility of Web site.
Organization by topic: Responsibility of Article binder.
Possible Refinements
Store articles in alternate format (database, XML / RDF ), and generate
HTML pages upon request
Maintain companion annotation/history pages linked to main article
+ May be enabled by template (infra)
Allow for submission of multiple images
Full-text/keyword search of articles
Plain-text formatting of simple HTML elements ("pidgin HTML")
*bold* - _underscore_ - ~italics~ - :hot zone: {target} (anchor)
bold - underscore - italics - hot zone
{{ A: [block] }} - no evaluation - fixed font
[heading]:1 {target} (anchor)
| col | col |
Create articles with various layouts or features based on templates.
The template would determine both the input form (by the browser) and
the display format (as an HTML document).
Knowledge Base | Author Profile
Job Postings | Resume | Employer profile / Classified ads
Link Directory / Article binder (hint)
Common CGI components (some may require registration with a cron
script)
+ Time/date stamp
+ Guest books | Link Lists | "Talk Back" replies
+ Email response forms | Confirmations
+ Email page to reader
+ Exams | Surveys (Rate it)
- - Optional real time tallies
+ Table of contents (from anchor page to target links)
+ + What's new index
+ Blue sky | Kitchen sink
- - Includes | Scheduled includes
- - Display or comment block
- - Variable substitutions
- - Hit Counters
- - File uploading / downloading
- - Shopping carts
- - Managed banners
- - Slide shows
Requirements - Article Binder / Link Directory
The article binder allows people to organize hypertext documents into a
hierarchy, and also generates alphabetical and chronological indexes.
When someone is authorized to edit a topic in the heirarchy, they are
also authorized to edit its sub-topics and the associated articles. An
advanced version also provides for other features to be associated with
topics in the hierarchy, including email, remote updates, and secure
viewing of topics or articles. An important feature is that articles
can be associated with more than one topic in the hierarchy.
Index articles into a hierarchy, with headings and sub-headings
Allow articles to appear under more than one heading or sub-heading
Authorize editors by heading and sub-heading, with rights for a heading
descending to its sub-headings
Create hyperlinked heading index in HTML
+ Top-level headings / Heading and sub-headings for each top-level
Create hyperlinked alphabetical index to articles titles in HTML
Create hyperlinked author index to articles in HTML, with public
portion of author's profile
Possible Refinements
Email new articles to list of subscribers by heading, or heading and
all sub-headings
+ Articles only; Articles and Replies.
+ Viewer-only registration / email address
Route replies to author and editor, and (optionally) other subscribers
Smart update of remote Web site from local machine
+ May disallow default updates by Internet mail or browser
Allow for updates to mirror sites (complete hierarchy or selected
branches)
Merge and delete articles between binders
Secure (members-only) headings or articles
Links to off-site articles
+ Meta-link option to allow update of URL and/or description for entire
hierarchy
+ Or, URL search and replace?
Constraints
Must be cross-platform
+ Available to any client platform with a HTML 3.2 or later browser
+ Run through any popular HTTPD CGI - Apache, IIS, et cetera.
-Ted.
