Manual





EYDES Repository







Version 1.0



Copyright: Förderverein für Jiddische Sprache und Kultur e.V., Düsseldorf



Table of contents



1. What is the EYDES repository?


2. User interface

2.1 Navigation - left

2.2 Navigation - right

2.3 Executable functions


3. Operation in details

3.1 Select archive (archive view) (step 1)

3.2 Select corpus (step 2)

3.3 Select sound file (step 3)

3.4 Select topic (interview question) (step 4)

3.5 Cut list (step 5)


4. Archive management

4.1 Create a new archive

4.2 Create a new corpus

4.3 Import a file

4.4 View

4.5 Extras

4.6 Help


5. Start the client



1. What is the EYDES repository?

The EYDES repository is the door to the digital archive of the Language and Culture Atlas of Ashkenazic Jewry and provides a view and access to about 5,000 hours of sound recordings.
The EYDES repository offers:

The interviews (corpus) in the original recordings can be accessed via local abbreviations and Yiddish place names.
Each interview is stored in several files.
The sound files correspond to audio or wave files which are archived in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Columbia University Libraries in New York.


Sound files and available texts are assigned to one another.
The interviews follow a uniform questionnaire with serial question numbers.
The questions (topoi) serve to explore topics.

The repository presents spoken language in a new way. In the history of linguistic research, the spoken word was regarded as an ephemeral medium, and was only available as text. Since the invention of the gramophone, sound could be contained, but one could not really work with it. Acoustic signals have only become directly controllable in conjunction with current computer technology. Thus the spoken word is accessible in detail as an artifact.

The EYDES repository makes it possible for Internet users to hear the interview that they select, to explore, process, sort by their own targets, cut sound sequences and also to transcribe in the future, etc.

Fig. 1-1: The repository - opportunities


The repository offers two views of the archive:
The users can have have the transcripts displayed either in Yiddish script or Latin letters.
All interviews of the investigation are contained in both views.

An interview is called a 'corpus', and is designated with a location number and the Yiddish as well as the official place name.
A corpus contains sound files and - if available - the sound description files, which means an interview transcript with meta-information.

Fig. 1-2: Repository - structure


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2. User interface


The user interface is split into two on the horizontal plane.
The objects of the archive are listed in the left half.
Objects can be taken from the left half to the right half in order to be listened to or to be processed.



Fig. 2: User interface – schema


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2.1 Navigation - left

The worksteps on the left consist of the following individual steps:



Fig. 2-1-1: worksteps – left


Work steps which have not yet been done are grayed out. The current work step is illustrated in bold.
The work steps must be carried out in the defined, logical series. Already done work steps can be reactivated at any time. They then show the status of the work area when last exited.

The left work area shows the data which are activated. Interesting data must be marked.

Buttons for data transfer from the left to the right work area are found between the work areas.
Marked data is moved from the left to the right work area by clicking on the "Select" button.
The "All" button takes all data from the left to the right.
"Update" checks whether corrections are needed in the active work step due to a change made in the meantime on the basis of the previous work steps. If yes, the displayed data are updated in the active step.



Fig. 2-1-2: Work areas and transfer between the work areas


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2.2 Navigation – right

The function buttons are laid out on the right next to the right working area.

Function buttons in normal letters style can be used on the data in the active work step. They trigger functions when clicked.
The first, bold displayed button leads to the following logical work step.
Grayed functions are not available in the active work step (due to the inherent logic of the active work step or the data position in the archive).

The functions are structured in two groups set apart by a small vacant space.
The first group works virtually on the data, but does not change data in the archive.
The second group makes changes to the data in the archive. Thus some of these functions are locked to the user and are reserved for the system administrator (currently the Förderverein).



Fig. 2-2: Functions


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2.3 Process-dependent functions - pull-down menus

A series of functions are independent of the work process, and can be carried out in principle at any time.
These are arranged in a bar at the top of the main menu in a classic fashion.
Functions that, due to the data situation, cannot be used in the respective work step are grayed out.
Functions which are not yet implemented in the current program version are also grayed out.


Fig. 2-3: Work process-independent functions


See also in Chapter 4

3. Operation in details

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3.1 Select archive (archive view) (step 1)

The main menu appears after the client is started. Step 1 is active. The available archive views are displayed in the left window. The right window is empty: Step 1 ist aktiv. The available archive views are displayed in the left window. The right window is empty:



Fig. 3-1: Select the archive view


Now select the desired archive view for further processing, as is usual with Windows (double-click or "Select" or "All"). Then transfer from the left work space into the right.

You can move to the right window as soon as at least one archive view is transferred to the right workspace. The logically following function is shown among the function buttons on the right side ("Corpora" button).
All interviews (corpora) appear in the left work window by clicking, and the next work step ('step 2") is active on the left side.
The "Hide" function removes marked contents from the right workspace. They are taken out of the further processing (right window). They can be taken into the right window again at any time and used for further processing steps.
"Hide all" empties the right window.
"Info" gives information about the marked interviews in the archive.
"Delete archive" deletes the archive view. This function may only be used by sys admin.
"Rename archive" renames the archive view. This function may only be used by sys admin.

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3.2 Select Corpus (Interview) (Step 2)

All interviews selected in the archive view as defined in step 1 are listed in the left window.



Fig. 3-2-1: Listed interviews


Choose (as typical with Windows) the interviews that you would like to see. These then appear in the right workspace.



Fig. 3-2-2: Example - selected interviews



The possible functions on the right are activated at the same time.
After clicking, the "File" function lists all files of the selected interview(s) in the left workspace. At the same time, "Step 3" is active on the left side.

In addition, further functions can be activated with the following capabilities:
"File + XML" indicates which files have a transcript, lists them in the left workspace, and leads to "Step 3: Select sound file".
"File - XML" indicates which files do NOT have a transcript, lists them in the left workspace, and leads to "Step 3: Select sound file".
"Hide" masks Windows-type selected interviews. They are removed from further processing.
"Hide all" empties the right window.
"Info" gives information about the marked interviews in the archive. The info window offers a copy buffer (clipboard) which can be further processed as is typical with Windows.
You can now proceed in the left window.

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3.3 Select sound file (step 3)

Select (as is usual with Windows) the interview segments (sound files) in the left workspace which you would like to explore. The selected interview segments then appear in the right workspace.
At the same time, the "Topic" function is live.

Clicking on "Select" moves the marked data into the right window.
Clicking on "All" moves all data into the right window.
If all files are in the right window, both center buttons "Select" and "All" are grayed out.
The lower center button "Update" checks to see that the list of files in the left window is still up to date, and corresponds to the current status of the EYDES repository. The archive could have been changed in the meantime. "Update" erases all entries in the right window.

You can move to the right window as soon as at least one file has been transferred to the right window. Mark the Windows-typical rows (i.e. files) there.
Then you can use the "live" functions at the right on the marked files.



Fig. 3-3-1: Sound files selected


Case 1:
After clicking on the "Topic" function, the standard interview questions of the selected (transcribed!) soundfiles are shown in the left workspace. You can continue to work in the left window.
If the selected soundfiles have not been transcribed the left window indicates "Unknown topic".
Case 2:
Alternatively, individual interview segments (sound files) can by marked in the right workspace (Windows-typically). Then further functions are activated with the following capabilities:
"Hide" masks selected interviews. They are removed from further processing.
"Hide all" empties the right window.
"Info" gives information about the sound file and the sound description file of the interview segment(s) marked in the right workspace. See Fig. 3-3-2 below.
Three buttons are available at the foot of the info window:
Clicking on "close" closes the window.
Clicking on "Clipboard" copies the window contents into a clipboard.
Clicking on "Help" opens the user manual.

"Graphical XML viewer" displays the XML file in a graphic viewer if the sound file has been transcribed. It shows the XML structure of the marked file with its time synchronization points, and can be scrolled left and right as an "endless scroll". The viewer contains links to the sound. See Fig. 3-3-3 below.

"Elements" gives information about the XML elements of a transcript (if available) for a selected sound file:
Elements
Elements with attributes
Elements with attributes and values.

"Transcriber" and "Player MP3" indicate external applications linked with the repository. Clicking on one of these buttons calls up the application, and inputs the marked data in the application.
The further process is controlled by the respective application (as described in the documentation by the respective company).
The external applications, including the settings, can be configured by the system administration. The settings which the applications allow for users can be configured by them. The configuration also determines whether the application will provide data for re-import to the EYDES repository system.
Re-importing files into the repository has not yet been released.

"Transcriber" - for licensing reasons, no transcriber is set as standard in the application. Users can set their own transcriber software.

"XML-display" determines whether the selected sound file is transcribed. If yes, the editor shows the transcript in its XML code. If no, an error message is given.

"Player MP3" - The selected sound file is played in the user's player.


Fig. 3-3-2: Info files appurtenant to an archive document




Fig. 3-3-3: Graphic XML viewer


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3.4 Select topic (interview questions) (Step 4)

Topics are present only if transcripts to a sound file are available.

In the left window all interview questions of the files defined in step 3 are displayed now.
The numbers shown here are references to the standard questions asked by the interviewer during the investigation.
The standard questions are documented in the LCAAJ questionnaire. They can be searched in its index at the EYDES portal (www.eydes.de/index/FB/FB-list.html).
Spontaneous interview questions additional to the standard questions appear as "new".



Fig. 3-4-1: Select topic



Now select one or several topics for further processing by moving them from the left window to the right window.

When you move a topic to the right, start- and endpoints of time markers are displayed in addition to the already-specified indications (topics, files, etc.). These points indicate in accordance with the XML-compliant sound description files (transcription files) in which sound segment of the respective file the selected topic is contained.

Clicking on "All" moves all data into the right window. You can mark rows (topics) in the left window, as is typical in Windows. Then the "Select" button is live.
Clicking on "Select" moves the marked topic(s) into the right window.
If all topics are in the right window, both center buttons "Select" and "All" are grayed out.
"Update" checks to see that the list of files in the left window is still up to date, and corresponds to the current status of the EYDES repository. The archive could have been changed in the meantime. "Update" erases all entries in the right window.

You can move to the right window as soon as soon as at least one topic has been transferred to the right window. Mark rows (in this case, topics) in a Windows-typical way. Then you can use the "live" functions at the right on the marked files:




Fig. 3-4-2: Topics selected



"Search >>" determines character strings contained in the sections filtered through the active topics (XML "Sections"). The search serves as an additional filter. The result is named "Cut list". The search acts as an additional filter. The result is named "cut list".


Fig. 3-4-3: Search



Every search query is laid out in the repository's memory across users and sessions (pushdown list). It is displayed as selection list in the search menu on the right edge by clicking on the arrow.
One can click on a search, and it is carried out again.


Fig. 3-4-4: Search memory


Activating "Search >>" leads to "Step 5: Cut list.

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3.5 Cut list (Step 5)

In the left window now appear the hits from the search formulated before proceeding to step 5. The hits are supplied with indications of the pertaining sound sequences with their start- and end marks.



Fig. 3-5-1: Cut list after search



Select now one or several hits for further processing by marking and moving them from the left window to the right window. Use the buttons between the two windows: "Select" or "All":

When you move hits to the right, the time marks (i.e. the links to the sound--start- and endpoints) also are displayed. They indicate, in accordance with the XML sound description file, to which sound segment the hit applies.
The sound segment is ascertained on the basis of the sound description file. The time marks (sync time =) closest to the left and right of the hit are applied to determine the sound sequence.

Clicking on "All" moves all hits into the right window.
You can mark columns, or hits, in the left window, as is typical in Windows.

Clicking on "Select" moves the marked hits into the right window.
If all hits are in the right window, both center buttons "Select" and "All" are grayed out.

The button "Update" checks to see that the listed hits in the left window are still up to date, and correspond to the current status of the EYDES repository. You or another user may have changed their status in the meantime.
"Update" erases all entries in the right window.

You can move to the right window as soon as soon as at least one hit has been transferred to the right window. Mark the rows there as is Windows-typical. Then you can use the "live" functions at the right on the marked hits:

"Hide" masks "hits". These are then taken out of any further processing (not out of the XML file, not out of the left window - you can move them at any time back into the right window, and make them available for further processing again).

"Hide all" empties the right window.

"Cut" cuts all topics from the sound files and sound description files and compiles sound and XML code to 2 new files (XML files).

The client asks you to confirm the initiated action before executing it.


Fig. 3-5-2: Confirm the cut order



After a confirmation the client executes the cutting and indicates its success or failure.


Fig. 3-5-3: Message about the cutting result.


"Player MP3" reproduces the sound of the marked topic.


Fig. 3-5-4: Sound reproduction using the MP3 player



Users can store the newly-produced (cut) sound file on their own computer by using the relevant storage function on the MP3 player.

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4. Archive management

The system administration of the EYDES repository (presently with the Förderverein für Jiddische Sprache und Kultur) can create new archives and corpora. Administration is not part of the working procedure (step sequence), but is carried out using the pull-down menus "Archive," "Corpus" and "File".

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4.1 Create a new archive

This is a system administrator function, not a user function.
The system administrator creates a new archive by clicking on "Archive" in the pull-down menu. The following window appears:



Fig. 4-1: Create an archive (system administrator function)


You can find further directions in the administration manual.

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4.2 Create a new corpus

This is a system administrator function, not a user function.
The system administrator creates a new corpus by clicking on "Corpus" in the pull-down menu. The following window appears:



Fig. 4-2: Create a corpus (system administrator function)


You can find further directions in the administration manual.


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4.3 Import a file

The system administrator imports a file by clicking on "File" in the pull-down menu. The following window appears:


Fig. 4-3: Import a file (System administrator function)


You can find further directions in the administration manual.

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4.4. View

The "view" pull-down menu item offers 5 buttons:
Archive >> Step 1
Corpus >> Step 2
File >> Step 3
Topic >> Step 4
Cut >> Step 5

These buttons provide shortcuts when working with the repository.
Clicking on one of these buttons leads the focus in the window to the respective step in the work process if the data situation allows it:


Carrying out the work step itself is done as described above.



Fig. 4-4: Pull-down menu "View"


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4.5 Extras

This pull-down menu contains 2 buttons:
Settings
Font size



Fig. 4-5-1: Pulldown-Menü Extras



Clicking on "Font size" provides a sub-menu and allows to increase or decrease the font size.

Clicking on "Settings" brings out the following sub-menu:

"Expert mode" is switched on or off (see Fig. 4-5-2). No help (instruction line) appears if expert mode is checked.
An instruction line appears if it is not checked (Fig. 4-5-2).


Fig. 4-5-2: Explanations in the instruction line and switch of the menuarchitecture



"Check interval mail" --a time interval can be set (in seconds) in which the client checks the mailbox for emails. Currently no emails are sent, so the option has no effect.

"Audio cut with filler" --the filler, a separating sound, inserted in the cutting points when cutting files can be switched on or off.

The arrangement of both windows in the main menu can be switched:

No mark: vertical arrangement of both windows.
Mark: horizontal arrangement of both windows.

This setting is effective either when the customer re-starts the client, or by clicking on "Update".


Fig. 4-5-3: Horizontal menu architecture


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4.6 Help

The "help" pull-down menu item offers the user manual. It gives information on the client version and shows a symbol on the user's workspaces which can be started by the client clicking on them.



Fig. 4-6: Help


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5. Start the client

You start the client on your PC from the folder in which you have placed the client program, by calling up:

"EydesRepository"
- if you have retained the program name.

Fill out the form as shown in "Fig. 5-1":
The pictured settings are presently valid. The "Password" is: eydes.

Please go to www.eydes.de for announcements of any changes.



Fig. 5-1: Starting the client


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