The Gmelin Information System the Connection between Handbook and Database

Abstract

The Gmelin Information System consists of the Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic Chemistry and the Gmelin Database. Currently, the Gmelin Handbook is actually created without computer data processing; the procedure of entering data into the database started at the beginning of 1989. Both components will be integrated into the Gmelin Information System. Therefore, the primary information for the handbook production (information about compounds, facts, and bibliographic data) will be delivered from the Gmelin Database. This information and careful study of the original literature forms the basis of the handbook. The distinctive characteristic of the handbook is the evaluation from the view of a scientist of published data concerning a special compound. Within this process, the data from the Gmelin Database will be edited in some cases and after completing a handbook project these data will be uploaded from the handbook department. From this point of view, the connection between the handbook and the database is a process of changing information from one component of the Gmelin Information System to the other. The main qualities of both the handbook, which are described above, and of the database (availability of on-line factual information) should be able to be retained. As an interface between the handbook and the database we have developed the Gmelin Electronic Card Index. It is the card file for the handbook production and employs methods of electronic data processing. The development was based on the hypertext software product CAMS4. This system is a means of presenting information of all kinds as a sequence of pages. Pages are organized into a logical structure called a knowledge base with the program. The pages are connected in the form of a tree structure. The system provides a number of functions in order to access a dBase III Plus compatible data file. Further developments from the CAMS4 hypertext system for the Gmelin Electronic Card Index include a flexible generator of templates and functions for direct access to an ADABAS database under VAX/VMS. The flexible generator for templates is necessary to present the contents of the Gmelin Database (815 fields) in individual form for special handbook projects. This template acts as a filter on the database for downloading, working, and uploading.