Creating new layers

Revision as of 20:18, 20 October 2006

Topic map standard defines a merge operation between identical topics. Merge operation is extremely powerful as it allows incremental knowledge building. Knowledge packets addressing same topics superposition. The only problem with merge rules is that the source of topic changes is lost. You can't recognise which source assigned which topic element. Backtracking the merge changes is essential to ensure trust between knowledge sources and knowledge aggregator.

Wandora supports layered topic maps. Layered topic map contains one or more topic maps stacked into an ordered array. Wandora allows you to add and delete topic maps in the layer stack. You can also make topic map layer invisible and lock layer if you decide not to change layer's contents.

Wandora's layer stack locates in bottom left corner. When you start Wandora, application reads topic map from conf/wandora.xtm and creates the layer Base for it.

To create another layer you can

• Drag and drop XTM, LTM or RDF(S) file to the layer stack. Wandora imports the file and creates a new memory layer for the imported file.
• Select Layers > New layer or press ALT+N. This opens layer creating window used to define layer type and properties. Current version of Wandora supports memory, database and remote layers. Layer type defines also the source of topic map.

Creating Memory Layer

Configuring new memory layer is very easy. You can only import XTM topic map file to the layer. Below is an example of memory layer configuration panel.

Creating empty topic map does not actually create empty topic map but imports conf/wandora_mini.xtm to the created layer. This mini map contains a set of Wandora's fundamental topics and associations. In order to get absolutely empty topic map use Layer > Clear layer topic map... tool.

Creating Database Layer

Creating Remote Layer