Reference Glossary (Related Terms and Categories)

[H.Mc]

I'm looking to build an app that is a "pocket reference" using a custom dictionary (approximately 1,000 terms). I know that I can use the database services to manage the dictionary itself, many of the terms have "see also" or "reference" across different terms.

Ideally, the user will user will first login (registration required). Then, using a searchScree (using jQuery against the DB) it will display to categories of results. 1) direct hits (i.e., hit the term); 2) definition hits (hit in the definition of a term). The list display will be term only. The user can click on the term and get a full description. The "fullDescript" page would be laid out so that it shows the full definition AND the related terms and their definitions, clickable to go directly to that term's fullDescript page.

If my gut (and experience) serves me correct, this is not doable within the current DB model (mongo I think I read). Is it?

On a similar note, is there any reasonable way to add "categories" of sorts (similar to tag values on a blog) within the database services? That way I can build a "searchbyCategory" screen.

THANKS for any help.

[Igor]

Hello,

I don't see any restrictions, you can use DB Collections.
You can use pointers in your Db Collection
http://docs.appery.io/documentation/b...

You can also use SqLite Db and synchronize it with DB Collection.
http://docs.appery.io/tutorials/build...

[H.Mc]

Thanks, Igor.

If I understand the pointer concept correct, here's what I'd have to do, right?

1) Build the Reference DB with the following columns.
- _id
- term (string, idx)
- definition (string, idx)
- citation (string)
- lastrevised (string)

2) Go through (manually) and add a pointer column, to the same collection, per reference, copy and pasting the _id value from the original collection.
- xRef1
- xRef2
- xRef3
- xRef4
- xRef5
etc.

3) Build the pages (activate services):
- search.page with list feature;
- definition.page with text (definition), text (citation), and list field (pointers)

4) Export function

[Yurii Orishchuk]

Hello.

If i understand your purposes correctly i guess you need consider following DB:

1 "terms" collection:
"_id"
"term"
"text"

2 "term_term_links" collection(serves to link two terms):
"_id"
"termRerFrom" - pointer to certain term.
"termRefTo" - pointer to certain term.

Also if you need category you can add these collections:

3 "categories" collection:
"_id"
"name"

4 "category_term_link"
"_id"
"categoryRerFrom" - pointer to certain category.
"termRefTo" - pointer to certain term.

You can make relative queries with "$inquery" clause after. Please read about it here: http://docs.appery.io/documentation/b...

Regards.