Structuring Hypertext Databases Using Hyper-Plate

Abstract

Hypertext is the non-sequential access of information. The hypertext structure is powerful enough to represent informal, semiformal, and formal data. The construction of a hypertext document is a complex and laborious task. In general, hypertext documents are constructed manually. The manualmethod of construction may produce unstructured documents. It has been shown that a poor domerzt structure contributes to the lost in hyperspace syndrome. Hypertext Authoping System WypAS) was developed at the Depmtnaent of Systems Analysis, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. In this study, Hyper-plate system was developed to structure documents created in HypAS. Hyperplate system is used to create hyper-plates, i.e., templates for hypertext documents. A hyper-plate defines the atbributes of a collection of nodes and the relationship among those nodes. The hyper-plate concept was conceived to aa'dress the issues of structuring and automating the construction of hypertext documents. The concepts of this study can be extended to any hypertext authoring system. The paper presents the design and implementation of Hyper-plate. The system components, data strctures, operations and its integralion with HpAS are described in detail.