Dear colleagues,
We continue to work on the prototype database for indexing programs. I have
some specific progress to report.
1. We imported some name and title authority records from a catalog that I have
been working on for the collection of the Théâtre de la Monnaie
in Brussels. It consists of about 790 operas and ballets from the 18th and 19th
centuries. It also includes about 600 names for the composers, librettists and
choreographers associated with these works. Prior to importing these records
we had already created a few entries for some performances for some of these
same works. Unfortunately, they did not automatically link. So you will notice
that there is some clean up to be done with the earlier entries. The problem
will appear as duplication of records in the name and title authority files.
2. We have implemented the search interface for the system. You can enter a
simple keyword search and/or create an advanced search. You do not need to log
into the system as a user to search the database. When searching, the system
first returns a brief description listing of the search results. If you click
on the “full view” text at the left the full record for that performance
is displayed. Note that the full view contains a number of live links. For example
you can click on the title of the work or the theater of the performance and
the system will automatically generate a listing of all the performances for
that work or theater. In the same fashion you can click on the names of the
artists and the system will generate a listing of all the performances by that
artist.
(**note there is a problem in the search system that is inherent to MySQL. If
the keyword you are searching on is found in more than 50% of the records it
will ignore that term. So, for example, if you search under the keyword Bruxelles
in the system as it is now you will get a result of no entries found. In reality
there are many records with the term Bruxelles, but more than 50% of the database,
so it is ignored. I am told that this problem with MySQL can only be changed
by altering the code of the application. I am also told that they developers
of the application strongly advise to not change this setting because the code
will become corrupted. So, for now the solution is to have lots of volunteers
entering a greater variety of information. Another limitation to MySQL is that
it does not yet allow Boolean searching. Terms are automatically connected with
the default operator AND.)
3. There are now live links to the images of the programs or the source of the
information for the performance. In testing the system I find that most of our
images of programs from the Théâtre de Royal de Bruxelles appear
very nicely. We are experiencing some problems with images of the programs from
the BYU School of Music. It appears we saved these images in an incompatible
format. If you want to view the Brussels programs I suggest a simple search
on opera or ballet. Then go to full view and click on the link for the images
at the bottom of the display.
4. My student helpers are continuing to enter data. These are records for real
performances and should remain a permanent part of the database. One of the
student helpers has been given the specific assignment to document problematic
questions of data entry and potential issues of style. Her name is Rebecca Arnott.
She will report on her findings at the Berkeley session. Of course we hope that
everyone interested in this project will test the system and do the same.
The system is now stable and developed to a basic but fully functional level
of operation. Once again I would like to acknowledge my deep appreciation to
Stephen Todd. He has been the programming skill behind the development of this
system and the RIAM or archives database. I am both sad and happy to report
that he will no longer be working on the project. Sad because we will greatly
miss is expertise. Happy because he is moving on to an important next step in
his young life. In just a week he will begin language training to serve a mission
for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Budapest Hungary. We
wish him well in this new endeavor.
Because the system is now basically operational and stable, and because Stephen
is leaving I have decided to leave the system as it is without further development
(other than additional data entry and data clean up) until after the Berkeley
meeting. I dread the thought of attempting to make a minor enhancement only
to crash the system without currently having a replacement for Stephen in place.
I will also be traveling extensively between now and the Berkeley meeting, so
I will not be here to oversee additional system development. I hope that the
Berkeley discussion will help chart the course for future development later
this fall.
For those of you who will be able to attend the Berkeley session please spend
some time testing the system. If you would like to enter data send me an email
and I will provide you with a user name and password. I also encourage everyone
who can to talk to your friends and national representatives on the IAML Board
and Council. Please encourage them to vote in favor of the establishment of
a formal IAML Working Group for this project. I believe that a vote will take
place before our session. Please talk it up and help us gain this very important
formal forum in IAML.
I will still have access to my email even while I am traveling. So, please send
me any comments and suggestions. Your comments and observations will help me
to prepare for the IAML session.
Again the URL is: http://msc.lib.byu.edu/performance/
Best regards to all,
David Day