CONTACTS 
0201 - Dynamic Alternatives
020101 - Mr. Garold L. Johnson

SUBJECTS
Development Planning for Next Generation SDS
Johnson, Gary Usability Features that Make SDS Unique
Usability Features that Make SDS Unique
Usability Features of SDS Based on Using SDS
Evaluation after One Month Working with SDS

2207 -
2207 -    ..
2208 - Summary/Objective
2209 -
220901 - Follow up ref SDS 11 0000, ref SDS 9 0000.
220902 -
220903 - Gary provides thoughtful analysis of SDS strengths and weaknesses that
220904 - guide considerations for work going forward, including fixing the
220905 - memory problem. ref SDS 0 SYVT
220906 -
220907 -     [On 021120 Gary lists features that make SDS unique, and analyses
220908 -     improvements for another version of SDS. ref SDS 11 VJ6N
220910 -      ..
220911 -     [On 021122 Gary publishes SDS record related to this work today.
220912 -     ref SDS 12 EV4F
220914 -      ..
220915 -     [On 021125 Gary discusses development of next generation of SDS by
220916 -     working on c versio of Medit. ref SDS 13 S57M
220917 -
220918 -
220919 -
220921 -  ..
2210 -
2211 -
2212 - Progress
2213 -
221301 - First Impressions Usability of SDS Based on a Few Weeks Use
221302 -
221303 - Follow up ref SDS 7 UZ6G.
221304 -
221305 - Received ref DRT 1 0001 from Gary saying....
221306 -
221307 -   1.  I don't think this is too early.
221309 -        ..
221310 -   2.  I have been learning and trying to use SDS for a little while,
221311 -       and I have studied the defining documents, so I think I am
221312 -       qualified to make some initial observations. ref DRT 1 002X
221314 -        ..
221315 -   3.  First, I think that it is necessary to separate the ideas
221316 -       embodied in SDS from its implementation, which has problems
221317 -       based on the nature of its evolution. ref DRT 1 PPSQ
221319 -        ..
221320 -   4.  There are many ideas in SDS that I think are essential to
221321 -       preserve in any new implementation, and to strengthen in the
221322 -       current one. ref DRT 1 PPSU
221323 -
221324 -            [On 021120 Gary lists "essential" SDS features again.
221325 -            ref SDS 11 NN9H
221327 -             ..
221328 -            [On 030119 Gary submits a letter with a link to his own SDS
221329 -            record demonstrating new skills for a new way of working
221330 -            enabled by SDS. ref SDS 14 346X
221332 -            ..
221333 -       1.  A chronological record of thoughts, actions, decisions, and
221334 -           documents, a history with its artifacts.
221335 -
221336 -              [On 021120 this is listed again. ref SDS 11 NN7G
221337 -
221338 -              Below, Gary says SDS has mechanisms to find information
221339 -              quickly; chronology is one of them. ref SDS 0 SYRT
221341 -            ..
221342 -       2.  Links to interconnect the record in arbitrary ways based on
221343 -           user decisions. ref DRT 1 00TR
221344 -
221345 -              [On 021120 Gary describes linking to specific locations
221346 -              in other records (and within the current record).
221347 -              ref SDS 11 WM5I
221349 -               ..
221350 -              [On 021120 Gary describes automatic linking based on
221351 -              context. ref SDS 11 KN6H
221353 -               ..
221354 -              Below, Gary says SDS has mechanisms to find information
221355 -              quickly; links are one of them. ref SDS 0 SYRT
221357 -            ..
221358 -       3.  Some form of subject indexing external to the indexed
221359 -           material. The index must be user extensible. ref DRT 1 00TU
221360 -
221361 -              [On 021120 Gary describes Organic subject structure.
221362 -              ref SDS 11 MZ6H
221363 -
221364 -              Below, Gary says SDS has mechanisms to find information
221365 -              quickly; organic structure is one of them. ref SDS 0 SYRT
221367 -            ..
221368 -       4.  Mechanisms to allow gathering and accessing all material
221369 -           relevant to a discussion, developing a work product, making
221370 -           decisions, and managing people, activities, and data.
221371 -           ref DRT 1 00TX
221373 -               ..
221374 -              Gary may recognize that points 1 - 3, above provide
221375 -              mechanisms that make finding information fast and easy
221376 -              with SDS, as Eric Armstrong reported on 010916.
221377 -              ref SDS 4 0001
221379 -            ..
221380 -       5.  The beginnings of ways to share some data while keeping
221381 -           other data privileged.  This needs to be expanded to the
221382 -           network, peer-to-peer communication, and the internet with
221383 -           various access permissions. ref DRT 1 00UR
221385 -               ..
221386 -              [On 021120 explain details of confidentiality that SDS
221387 -              supports. ref SDS 11 TW6G
221389 -         ..
221390 -        [On 021120 Gary adds to this list contact and document
221391 -        management. ref SDS 11 166B
221393 -         ..
221394 -        [On 021120 Rod adds to Gary's list the SDS design that
221395 -        integrates time and information to make good management fast
221396 -        and easy. ref SDS 11 PA4F  SDS makes converting content to HTML
221397 -        and publishing on the Internet fast and easy. ref SDS 11 UX39
221398 -
221400 -  ..
221401 - Gary continues...
221403 -        ..
221404 -   5.  There are several "conventional" information/knowledge
221405 -       management tools and ideas that could be valuable:, ref DRT 1
221406 -       PPUV
221407 -
221408 -       1.  Full text indexed search. This goes the next step. It could
221409 -           involve the current structure and an additional program that
221410 -           can handle the searching if it could return results as a
221411 -           list of file paths.
221412 -
221413 -               We need an example of how this would improve on Eric
221414 -               Armstrong's evaluation on 010916 saying SDS enables
221415 -               amazing memory, ref SDS 4 0001, and using other methods
221416 -               nobody can find anything. ref SDS 5 KA6H
221418 -            ..
221419 -       2.  Interface to more tools for doing the work involved in
221420 -           developing work products.  There are some SDS ideas that
221421 -           could be used in other products to improve the individual's
221422 -           ability to work with information in various formats. The
221423 -           valuable ideas in SDS could be used to improve other
221424 -           products.  The Received Documents idea of transforming all
221425 -           incoming information into a form where it could be handled
221426 -           as part of the system can be applied to all manner of
221427 -           systems, including email, in other tools with beneficial
221428 -           results. ref DRT 1 00VT
221429 -
221430 -               [...in another record today, Gary suggests using the
221431 -               Start command for opening other applications in SDS.
221432 -               ref SDS 7 UZ6G
221434 -                ..
221435 -               [On 031020 Gary followed up suggesting the Windows start
221436 -               command can be applied to open other programs from
221437 -               within SDS. ref SDS 15 FZ8K
221439 -                ..
221440 -               [On 031020 made progress on using using Start for
221441 -               enabling people to develop work product with other tools
221442 -               and use SDS for command and control. ref SDS 15 I25K
221444 -            ..
221445 -       3.  User definable fields. The sort of idea that is used
221446 -           in the askSam database...
221448 -            ..
221449 -           http://www.asksam.com/
221451 -            ..
221452 -           With this scheme, it is possible to provide what I call
221453 -           "semi-structured data" some fields with content that can be
221454 -           indexed and searched against plus "notes" or "free-form
221455 -           text" that is just, well, text. ref DRT 1 G04S
221456 -
221458 -        ..
221459 -   6.  Weaknesses of the current implementation. Many of these have to
221460 -       do with the limitations of DOS and with the history of the
221461 -       development of SDS. ref DRT 1 GP5S
221462 -
221463 -       1.  Editor limitations.  Particularly memory size, and modern
221464 -           features.
221466 -            ..
221467 -       2.  Interface controls. The current interface makes far
221468 -           more use of the mouse than DOS was designed for. One result
221469 -           is the existence of a lot of "mystery meat" areas where the
221470 -           mouse is active, but there is no visible indication.
221471 -           ref DRT 1 G05Y
221473 -            ..
221474 -       3.  Better selection methods. This too is a DOS artifact in the
221475 -           sense that such things as context menus, drop down lists,
221476 -           etc. are far harder in DOS than under Windows. ref DRT 1
221477 -           G06T
221479 -            ..
221480 -       4.  The help system navigation and context sensitivity needs
221481 -           work. This could be tackled by building an HTML help system
221482 -           for SDS. This is a daunting task, but there are tools that
221483 -           could help. ref DRT 1 G06X
221484 -
221486 -        ..
221487 -   7.  Issues for future consideration. ref DRT 1 OZ6O
221488 -
221489 -       1.  The glossary needs to be expanded, and access improved.
221490 -           Project-specific glossaries, and access to the glossary by
221491 -           selecting a word. Links within the glossary to other
221492 -           glossary entries to form a knowledge structure of its own.
221493 -           Other products have done this in the past, so there is prior
221494 -           art to borrow from. ref DRT 1 OZ6O
221496 -            ..
221497 -       2.  A different implementation of storage structure. A database
221498 -           rather than the directory structure for dates. ref DRT 1
221499 -           G14Q
221500 -
221501 -
221502 -
221503 -
2216 -

SUBJECTS
Launch Other Programs from Within SDS Using Windows Start Command

230301 -        ..
230302 -       Launch Other Programs to Open Files from Within SDS
230303 -
230304 -       Follow up ref SDS 7 UZ6G.
230305 -
230306 -   8.  Things we could do with the current version. ref DRT 1 GQ4T
230307 -
230308 -       1.  Interface to external programs such as Microsoft Office.
230309 -           This might entail the use or development of add-ins to
230310 -           support features that would allow tighter interaction with
230311 -           SDS.
230313 -  ..
230314 - This seems to relate to Gary's idea below to launch other applications
230315 - from within SDS. ref SDS 0 SU6V  In another record today, Gary's ideas
230316 - is reviewed further. ref SDS 7 UZ6G
230317 -
230318 -            [On 031022 developed this feature. ref SDS 15 0001
230319 -
230321 -  ..
230322 - Gary continues...
230323 -
230324 -       2.  Tie WS_FTP Pro into SDS. WS_FTP Pro has limited scripting
230325 -           capabilities that could be used in the same way as using
230326 -           batch files for other current utilities with SDS modifying
230327 -           the script as needed to carry out tasks. ref DRT 1 01RQ
230329 -            ..
230330 -       3.  Make use of external tools to experiment with ideas using
230331 -           the current SDS record as a base of information. There is an
230332 -           incredible amount of information there that could provide
230333 -           the basis for all sorts of experiments. Since all of the
230334 -           records are plain text, Perl, search engines, text
230335 -           processors, etc. can be used to investigate the material.
230336 -           ref DRT 1 G65G
230338 -            ..
230339 -           I am currently using KeyNote to organize such things as help
230340 -           files and macro files. Such tools could help us evolve the
230341 -           help system, better document current operation, etc. A Perl
230342 -           script could be written that would build a KeyNote file with
230343 -           the entire structure of the SDS database available in a
230344 -           chronological structure using virtual nodes to access the
230345 -           actual files. While this will not replace SDS, it or
230346 -           something like it might provide tools to let us experiment
230347 -           with the SDS data and other ideas. ref DRT 1 G162
230349 -            ..
230350 -       4.  Look for ways to provide cleaner access to complex
230351 -           operations. Ideas such as turning a line into a heading
230352 -           by conforming an underline, for example, provide more
230353 -           direct access to frequently performed operations.
230355 -            ..
230356 -       5.  Fix a few problems with DOS vs. Windows. I don=92t know how
230357 -           much of this is readily available in the DOS API, but since
230358 -           4DOS runs in that environment and supports long file names,
230359 -           some of it is doable.
230360 -
230361 -           a.  Get MEDIT to support the windows clipboard directly. I
230362 -               use cut and paste from the window, but it isn't as good.
230364 -                ..
230365 -           b.  Support long file names for file maintenance and
230366 -               documents.
230368 -                ..
230369 -           c.  Launch editor programs based on document extensions.
230371 -  ..
230372 - This may be an application of the goal to manage use of other programs
230373 - with SDS, per above. ref SDS 0 SZ3F
230375 -  ..
230376 - Gary continues...
230377 -
230378 -   9.  Future implementations.
230379 -
230380 -       It is a bit strange, but there are all sorts of tools that could
230381 -       be adapted to the problem of organizing information in many of
230382 -       the ways that SDS allows, but integrating that into an editor is
230383 -       going to be a bit tricky because of the rather arcane structure
230384 -       of the MEDIT editor. Supporting all of the operations with line
230385 -       numbers, for example, is going to require some strange tweaks on
230386 -       any editor code chosen as a base. Many editors support scripting
230387 -       or macros in a more readable form than MEDIT. I understand that
230388 -       you can accomplish wonders with the macro language as it is, but
230389 -       there are better approaches available.
230391 -        ..
230392 -       I am considering several approaches to experimenting with SDS
230393 -       ideas:
230394 -
230395 -       1.  Using the MultiEdit editor as a basis, and it powerful macro
230396 -           language, see about implementing some pieces of an SDS-like
230397 -           system.
230399 -            ..
230400 -       2.  Using delphi, which I am just beginning to learn, and an
230401 -           editor with source code, begin to enhance the editor in many
230402 -           of the ways that MEDIT as enhanced and thus evolve an
230403 -           experimental system.
230405 -            ..
230406 -       3.  Use Perl scripts and other tools to access SDS data in novel
230407 -           ways as a way to experiment with SDS ideas.
230409 -        ..
230410 -  10.  These are some preliminary ideas. I intend to evolve them over
230411 -       time into concrete suggestions.
230412 -
230413 -
230414 -
230415 -
230416 -
230417 -
230418 -
230419 -
230420 -
230421 -
2305 -