I would also intend to use a graphically-based query if possible as well
as a commandline. Has this been tried and are there any metaphors which
have proved to be useful? How do most humans currently construct TEI
quries? Do they learn the language and use a command line or do they
get customised queries?
This is sufficiently important for me that I shall need to do it myself
if there is no alternative, but it seems like something that can be developed
as a problem-independent module, so long as the API from the parser of
other tools (e.g. GUIs) is clear. The search needs to have the flexibility
to include <TT>FOREIGN</TT>, i.e. the ability to include non-XML-based
methods. (In my own case it would be molecular substructure searches, which
are essentially labelled subgraph matching algorithms). It should also
include the <TT>SPACE</TT> facility, because this is going to be extremely
important in technical documents.
[The WG has suggested that the TEI syntax may be an important part of XML
PhaseII, but I am not sure of the timescale for resolution. My
request would be currently useful for documents prepared for the PhaseI
draft and doesn't prejudge the WG deliberations.]
P.
-- Peter Murray-Rust, domestic net connection Virtual School of Molecular Sciences http://www.vsms.nottingham.ac.uk/