> From: PackRat > > Ric Sherlock wrote: > > I've updated the greaterthan. page to show what's possible. I'm not > sure > > I like it better than the previous version though. > > > > http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/Vocabulary/greaterthan./ > > Is there some reason that the triple rank indication at the upper right > is so "sacred" from its use in the DoJ that everyone seems to insist on > keeping it in this project? I contend that that's not useful to a > beginner because the rank of arguments are connected with the > monadic/dyadic valence and, therefore, the appropriate rank(s) ought to > be connected with the definition of each valence (as I had suggested in > a previous message).
I did experiment with trying to include the ranks in the boxes to the right of monadic and dyadic sub-titles that are currently on the greaherthan./ page. However it got messier that it already is, so I ended up leaving them out. I don't have a problem with including the verb ranks with the individual monadic/dyadic definitions if we can come up with an unobtrusive. I do think that the primitive summary box in the top right should retain all three. > One way (and I stress that, since there surely are other ways) that > this might be done is to substitute the rank(s) in colored(?) boxes > where the x and y arguments would be positioned, perhaps like this: > > monadic: >. [ 0 ] > > dyadic: [ 0 ] >. [ 0 ] > > The rank(s) might be hotlinked to a definition page explaining the > various possible rank values or, perhaps using Skip Cave's tool tip > approach, the actual meaning/explanation could be linked to each rank > (and which would appear when the mouse pointer hovers over them). > > The same tool tip (or page hotlink) approach could be used in perhaps > an even "friendlier" beginner display: > > monadic: >. [ y ] >. [ y-arg ] > or > dyadic: [ x ] >. [ y ] [ x-arg ] >. [ y-arg ] > > Similar to what Skip Cave noted about not displaying info until needed, > this approach shows the syntax--and rank appears only when needed. Sorry I'm not clear what you are suggesting should "pop-up" and what should be displayed. We could have the rank pop up when you mouse-over the 'y' (monad) and However I think we should be mindful that popup text won't be available to people using touch screens, so we don't want to rely on it for crucial bits of information. I'm also not really in favour of having _separate_ advanced sections. IMO we should have a single section for each form of the verb, structured with the simple/basic examples/information towards the start and the more advanced material towards the end. However I imagine that different readers will have different interpretations of which examples are "advanced"! > From my perspective as a newer learner of J, this approach would be far > more helpful than the current triple rank indicator. The latter is > fine once one gets further along in J and might use the DoJ more. > > Harvey ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
