Stefano, Eric, Ryan et al, I've finally had some time to spend on my problem
with Semantic-Bank and been able to reproduce the errors I've encountered.
It mostly boils down to my method of testing:
A. Start at an initial state - always: A 'clean' OS-platform, with no
earlier test-installations
B. Install the required base software: In this regard, the latest Sun Java
JDK/JRE and Mozilla Firefox
C. Install the software for testing: Semantic-Bank-2.1.1 - following
instructions, step by step
D. Add the supplemental software: In this regard, the latest Sun Java and
Piggy Bank plug-ins for Firefox
E. Start or initialize the software for testing: "./semantic-bank.sh run
semantic-bank.properties src/rdf"
F. Try out the software for testing:
F1. If the software works as expected: Make this the new initial
state
F2. If the software doesn't works as expected: Return the test-bed
to it's initial state
FINDING 1: At item F2, this is where my method fails, regarding
Semantic-Bank! After initialization (E) of Semantic-Bank-2.1.1 and using the
latest Piggy Bank (2.0.1), the following happens: Feeding my localhost
Semantic Bank with data from the outside world, through the required Piggy
Bank, absolutely no 'Starting Points' will appear on the 'Semantic
Bank'-page, even when pressing Reload/Update in Firefox. I check the RDF:s
and repeat feeding the bank, still nothing is appearingly added to 'Starting
Points' the 'Semantic Bank'-page.
FINDING 2: After a few rides on the 'merry-go-around' above, I start
straying from my method of testing. I change the settings in the
'semantic-bank.properties'-file to '.MemoryConnector' in the 'Triple
Store'-section. Thus requiring me to re-register my Piggy Bank-account in an
all-memory resident Semantic-Bank. Again, nothing is appearingly added to
'Starting Points' on the 'Semantic Bank'-page. So, I return to the
'.NativeSesameConnector' in the 'semantic-bank.properties'-file and again
having to re-register my Piggy Bank-account. Sadly, by then, I give up and
return to my original method of testing!
FINDING 3 - The grammar version: Unlike 'Persist' - a disapproving verb,
'Perseverance' is a noun I should have heeded (to.) All that was required to
get both 'Browse Data by Tag' and 'Starting Points' going in my localhost
Semantic-Bank, was to press Ctrl+C and reload the script, in either the
XPP-cmd DOS-box or Linux bin/bash console-session. Thus, re-initializing the
localhost Semantic Bank, with updated RDF's, which I eventually did to,
finally, be awared with a fully functioning Semantic Bank. As depicted on
your web page.
FINDING 4: In my tests of Semantic Bank-2.1.1, I've come to understand that
pressing Reload/Update in Firefox 1.0.6 does reload the page and doesn't
requery the loaded RDF's. Thus, a re-initialization of the localhost
Semantic Bank is required to read any added RDF's in the 'src/rdf'-directory
of my Semantic Bank installation. If understood correctly, relying on Piggy
Bank to feed the Semantic bank is very Client/Server-based in a world of
distributed W3C-solutions. I can forget solutions as automating a load of
RDF's - backoffice-side - because of this circumstance.
FINDING 5: In a clean and updated MS Windows XPP, forcing an end of a
Semantic Bank Service (Process) in a XPP-cmd DOS-box - i.e. not Ctrl+C on
wait-state, wreaks havoc in that sessions DOS. Paths as 'C:\Program Files'
are replaced with 'C:\Progra~1', sending you into limbo trying to 'cd' into
displayed folders as 'C:\Program Files'.
CONCLUSION: Absolute misses and mis-conceptions, as above, will happen. So,
to gather a following of universal adopters, please provide more specific
instructions on the page
http://simile.mit.edu/semantic-bank/install.html or
at least a basic README-file about the quirks-and-crannies in each
distribution of Piggy Bank and Semantic Bank.
In a final summary of the above, Semantic Bank work's, but it requires
insights not available in your public documentation. An installation of
Semantic-Bank should have taken me an odd hour and no more. Alas, with the
correct instructions.
// Patrik
-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: Patrik Holmer [mailto:NNTP.psbh_at_telia.com]
Skickat: lördag den 22 oktober 2005 12:03
Till: general_at_simile.mit.edu
Ämne: RE#4.1: SEMANTIC-BANK Q&A: Neither sh- or bat-scripts will finalize
cleanly: Unless using US-ENG
Stefano, Eric, Ryan et al, thank's for spending time with this - as it
seems, internationalization - issue of mine.
SM wrote:
Done-> 1) download the latest version of semantic bank
Done-> 2) "cd" into it
Done-> 3) type "./semantic-bank.sh run semantic-bank.properties src/rdf"
Okey-> [don't type anything else afterwards and let the console running]
Done-> 4) point your browser to "
http://127.0.0.1:8888/bank/"
I followed the instructions above. It still wouldn't work, ending up in a
basic Semantic Bank, even when trying the tips provided by Eric Miller.
Fortunately, having a dejà-vu about the with-standing 'lingua
franca'-problem in computing, I upgraded a unit to Slackware 10.2 for
Firefox-support and installed a Firefox 1.0.6 in US English. Although, using
the "data icon" on
http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/ didn't help matters,
publishing a 'news item'-RDF from the commercial site www.infoworld.com did!
It turned up as Starting Points - News (1).
It seems to me, that the old problem of internationalization, dating back to
the times when I was using Floppy Discs large as underlays, still persists.
Up to now, I've been expecting
http://www.w3.org/International/Activity.html.
Please, provide a system reference on the Install-page of Semantic Bank,
regarding; OS-platform, Firefox-version, language-versions and the expected
result of the default installation of Semantic Bank and Piggy Bank.
// Patrik
-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: Patrik Holmer [mailto:NNTP.psbh_at_telia.com]
Skickat: fredag den 21 oktober 2005 14:25
Till: general_at_simile.mit.edu
Ämne: RE#3: SEMANTIC-BANK Q&A: Neither sh- or bat-scripts will finalize
cleanly
Stefano, thanks for the quick input!
SM wrote:
1) download the latest version of semantic bank
2) "cd" into it
3) type "./semantic-bank.sh run semantic-bank.properties src/rdf"
[don't type anything else afterwards and let the console running]
4) point your browser to "
http://127.0.0.1:8888/bank/"
The basic Semantic Bank, as described below, still stands - in all of my
OS-platforms.
What, of the apparent, is eluding me? I just don't see it.
// Patrik
Ryan, a quick response, as always, appreciated.
RL wrote: "Perhaps we should be more detailed and mention that 'properly'
means the Semantic Bank should be visible when browsed to,..."
With no man.-pages available, it would be helpful, as a starting point for
new Semantic-Bank users, to provide a reference setup for
http://localhost:8888/bank and an image co-responding to an expected default
view of Semantic-Bank, when initially loaded. Also, a brief description of
system and OS-platform requirements or at least a referenced setup, would be
appreciated. Thus, narrowing down the field of possible faults and
misconceptions.
RL wrote: "...and that 'stopping' is something along the lines of ctrl-C."
A thousand pardons, in my Microsoft OS-enviroments I have a BIOS-code setup,
avoiding keyboard buffers-^C in DOS-sessions and relying on Ctrl+Break/Pause
to do the job. Pressing Ctrl+Break causes the mentioned flurry of event
messages in the XPP-cmd window. Disabling the BIOS-code setup and on
pressing Ctrl+C, the Semantic-Bank script neatly provides a
Y/N-input-question, enabling the user to end the script or not. But, in
Debian-Ubuntu or Slackware 10.1 bin/bash-consoles a STOP,INT,HUP or
TERMINATE signal won't stop the script and thus block the Port 8888 from
further script-a-do. A crude KILL works though, as in any situation.
RL wrote: "Have you added anything to your bank? The SB screenshot on the
home page is of one that's been used heavily."
All that I've done, is to follow the instructions on
http://simile.mit.edu/semantic-bank/install.html and then expecting to see a
default Semantic Bank as depicted on the page
http://simile.mit.edu/semantic-bank/index.html. A standard run-of-the-mill
showcase.
RL wrote: A new, empty bank has no tags, no starting points (because there's
no data), and not particularly interesting typed data (classes, properties,
etc.). What do you mean by 'no descriptive labels?' To me, that sounds
like the ontologies haven't been loaded, but I'm not sure what indicates to
you that no descriptive labels exist."
A basic Semantic Bank is to me one that loads the paraphernalia, a
right-most page-column headlined as "Starting Point" with a "Type here to
search"-fields below - nothing else. Also a left-most page-column headlined
as "Browse Data by Type" with an odd twenty tags as "Facade (10)" and
"Ontology (11)" available. As mentioned above, I'm expecting a showcase.
RL wrote: Is your instance of SB running in a public location? Can we see
it?
I'm not letting the fabled 'Cat out of the bag' - referencing
'Pig-in-a-poke' - until it works as depicted on the page
http://simile.mit.edu/semantic-bank/index.html and I fully understand it's
configurations. I'm in a test enviroment, so the installed Semantic Banks
aren't currently available. Expect to see it at data standards .org and
.com/.se in the future.
// Patrik
Received on Sun Oct 23 2005 - 12:47:16 EDT