Factsheets Web Application Page: 4 of 8
This article is part of the collection entitled: Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
NOV 15 208
Web Site Overview and Structure OSTD
The structure of a factsheet web site is 3 levels deep. The user pre-establishes four high level
groups for the site which are immediately accessed from the site's home page. Categories are
entered via a web interface in the site and tied to the high level groups in a flat text database file.
As factsheets are entered into the database, they are linked to the categories in the factsheet data
entry form. The structure therefore consists of 4 main groups, a second level consisting of an
unlimited number of categories, and the third level containing unlimited factsheets.
Structure of the Internal and External Factsheet Web sites
The factsheet web page uses framesets to create the portal page to the site (see Figure 1). The left
frame is designed to allow the user to navigate into the Sandia National Laboratories external web
and the factsheet web site. Clicking on "Center Home" takes the user to the main frame (home
page) of the factsheet web site. The right frame consists of two main areas that are also split into
smaller sub-frames. The upper right-hand frames consist of a keyword search field and a submit
button along with static graphics and navigation links via graphic images. The linked navigation
graphics are used to pull up categories in the left part of the lower right frame based on the group
selected. The resultant categories displayed for the group become links that drive database calls
to dynamically bring up related factsheets listed in the factsheets database. The seemingly
complex frame structure of the site allows the user to navigate to desired factsheets by drilling
down through the groups and categories. Since factsheets may be tied to more than one category,
clicking on different groups allows the user access to the factsheets via multiple routes. The site
also allows the user to search for factsheets by listing them alphabetically by author's last names
or list all available factsheets by title.
Site Search Logging
As a browser of the site searches for factsheets by keyword searches, the application logs the
search to a search log flat database text file. The purpose of the log is to allow the site owner to
view keyword searches of the site to identify the type of content being searched for as well as
utilization of the site.
Factsheet Database Structures
The Factsheet web application contains several database files. Below is the list of files and a
description of their purpose and content.
Factsheet Database: The actual factsheet data is contained in a flat text database file usually
called database.txt. This file contains all of the data necessary to generate the factsheet web page
along with any auxiliary image gallery data files. Data contained in this database include
factsheet number (automatically assigned by the application), main paragraph, main image, body
paragraphs and titles, image gallery information, contact information, and categories.
Categories Database: A second database contains the categories for the second level of the
structure in a flat database file called categories.dat. This database is edited by calling upon the
"Edit Categories File" button from the site main menu. The categories are entered or deleted by a
dynamically generated form listing all of the categories in the database (see Figure 2). By
deleting the name of the category from a field and clicking on the "Save Category Changes"
button on the form, the category is deleted from the database. A new category can easily be added
to the site by simply entering a new category in the blank field at the bottom of the form and
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This article can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Article.
Vigil, Frank & Reeder, Roxana G. Factsheets Web Application, article, October 30, 2000; Albuquerque, New Mexico. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc725437/m1/4/: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.