Chapter 1. DynaWeb User Interface

Introduction

When you are using a DynaWeb server, certain features are added to your browser's document pane to assist in locating and navigating the information contained on the server. These features are dynamic in nature, helping to accomodate your changing needs as you move through a book or collection.

When you are viewing a collection list, book list, or a table of contents (TOC), the server provides you with a button bar containing control buttons and a search field. When you are viewing text, the server provides you with navigation buttons that enable you to easily move forwards or backwards within the document.

This chapter describes how to access the DynaWeb library and use the features of the DynaWeb client-user interface.

Accessing the DynaWeb Library

To access the library, type either of the following URLs in your HTML browser::

http://<HOSTNAME>:88 or 
http://<HOSTNAME>:88/DWEB-COLLECTIONS

Replace HOSTNAME with the name of your system or the remote system that is running the DynaWeb server.

If you receive a message saying the server couldn't be contacted, you need to enable the server. By default, the server is disabled. To enable the server, perform the following sequence of commands. If you do not know your system's root password, you will have to ask a system administrator for assistance.

su
chkconfig dynaweb on
/etc/init.d/dynaweb start

Button Bar

The button bar is visible whenever the server displays a collection list, book list, or TOC. The button bar contains a group of control buttons and a search field (for entering a specific search string or a DynaText query).

The buttons on the button bar are dimmed and unable to be selected if they cannot be used at the current time. The status of the buttons can change depending on whether a search is active, or whether you are currently viewing a TOC.

The accompanying picture shows the button bar as it typically looks when you are viewing a book TOC:

By default, the button bar appears just above the document title. However, a publisher can choose to have the button bar displayed below their TOCs, collection lists, and book lists.


Tip: When the button bar is below a very long TOC, the button bar mey not be visible when the window is first viewed. To display it, scroll to the bottom of the document window.


TOC Buttons

These are the DynaWeb control buttons...

The Home Button goes to the homepage.

Figure 1-1. Home Button


The Collection Button goes to the collection list.

Figure 1-2. Collection Button


The Book Button goes to the book list of the current collection.

Figure 1-3. Book Button


The Expand Button reveals the next lower TOC level.

Figure 1-4. Expand Button


The Contract Button hides the lowest current TOC view.

Figure 1-5. Contract Button


The Query List Button accesses any book-specific queryforms which may have been provided by the publisher.

Figure 1-6. Query List Button


The Clear Search Button clears the current search string orquery and removes all currentlyvisible hits

Figure 1-7. Clear Search Button


The Styles Button chooses alternate stylesheets for viewing books.

Figure 1-8. Styles Button


TheHelp Button brings up a quick reference guide and a link to the DynaWeb Client User's Guide.

Figure 1-9. Help Button


The Search Button activates a search for the current contents of the search field.

Figure 1-10. Search Button


Other Buttons

These buttons are used within a book to navigate from section to section.

The Next Button goes forward in a document to the block of text that follows the text currently in your document window.

Figure 1-11. Next Button


The TOC Button returns you to the book TOC with the section you are currently viewing fully expanded.

Figure 1-12. TOC Button


The Previous Button goes backwards in a document to the block of text that precedes the text currently in your document pane.

Figure 1-13. Previous Button


Search Buttons

These buttons are used to navigate between search results inside a book without returning to the TOC.

The Previous Search Button goes backward in a document to the previous section of text that contains a sucessful search result.

Figure 1-14. Previous Search Button


The Clear Search Button clears the current search string or query and removes all currently visible hits while keeping you at your current location.

Figure 1-15. Clear Search Button


The Next Search Button goes forward in a document to the block of text that contains the next search result.

Figure 1-16. Next Search Button



Note: Previous Search and Next Search only work within the confines of a single book. To move from book to book, you need to return to the collection TOC.


Directory Icons

These icons are used when the server is directly viewing adirectory structure.

The Directory Icon represents a directory when a URL leads to a directory that is not a collection.

Figure 1-17. Directory Icon


The File Icon represents a file when a URL leads to a directory that is not a collection directory

Figure 1-18. File Icon