Workflow for Super-glossaries

Induction

Induction is the procedure for adding a new source glossary to the super glossary. The source glossary should be copied to the folder 00raw, where it may be given any name because the induction process determines what to call the new source file based on the header information in the incoming glossary.

By convention, unprocessed glossaries are placed in the 00raw folder. Assuming we have obtained the Late Babylonian glossary from from the GKAB project (where it would be called akk-x-ltebab.glo) and copied it to 00raw/akk-x-ltebab.glo, we run the command:

super-induct.plx 00raw/gkab-akk-late.glo

which creates the new source file 00src/cams-gkab~akk-x-ltebab.glo.

Comparison

Comparison involves running a program to compare the named source glossary to the base. The results of the output are placed in a map file which can then be edited so that "new" entries and senses will either be added to the base or considered equivalent to existing entries/senses in the base.

When the comparison is run again, the map file is first loaded, ignoring items still marked as "new". The add/map items are then used during the new comparison and only items which are still "new" are output again to the map file, along with the existing add/map items. This means that the map file contents preserve add/map decisions but udpate what is considered "new", allowing for an iterative workflow.

To run the comparison using the source example above, issue the command:

super-compare.plx 00src/cams-gkab~akk-x-ltebab.glo

which creates/revises the map file 00map/cams-gkab~akk-x-ltebab.map.

Mapping

Mapping involves editing the source's map file as described in Map files.

Preparing

Preparing, i.e., for the merger of the new source items into the base, involves extracting the add items from the map file and creating a glossary from them. This can be reviewed for correctness before doing the actual merge.

To prepare for the merge, issue the command:

super-prepare.plx 00map/cams-gkab~akk-x-ltebab.map

which creates the glossary of the material to be merged in 01tmp/cams-gkab~akk-x-ltebab.new and a revised version of the map file--one without the add items--in 01tmp/cams-gkab~akk-x-ltebab.map

Merging

Merging creates a new base glossary with the add items inserted into it. The current base glossary is saved before being overwritten: for a glossary akk.glo, the backup is named 00bak/akk-DATE.glo where DATE is the current date in YYYYMMDD format, e.g., 00bak/akk-20140526.glo. The current map file is also saved in 00bak with the date inserted into the filename in the same way.

To merge a new source glossary, issue the command:

super-merge.plx 01tmp/cams-gkab~akk-x-ltebab.new

Rebuilding

Super-glossaries are rebuilt using the 'oracc build' command.