Using Glossary

Add a new entry

Adding a new entry, you have to fill in two fields. Others are optional.

• Concept (mandatory)

Here you should insert the word/concept, the definition of which you wish to create.

• Definition (mandatory)

As its name suggests, this field should contain the definition of the word/concept.

• Keywords

Each entry in the glossary can have an associated list of keywords (or aliases). Enter each alias on a new line (not separated by commas). The aliased words and phrases can be used as alternative ways to refer to the entry. For example, if you are using the glossary auto-linking filter then the aliases will be used (as well as the main name of the entry) when deciding what words to link to this entry.

• Categories

The default setting is 'Not categorised'. However, if you do add new categories, they will display here giving the possibility of choice.

• Enabling automatic linking in a entry

To be able to use this feature, the glossary auto-linking filter should be activated by the administrator via Administration >> Configuration >> Filters.

This feature allows entries to be automatically linked whenever the concept words and phrases appear in the course. This includes forum postings, internal resources, week summaries and so on.

If you do not want particular text to be linked (in a forum posting, say) then you should add <nolink> and </nolink> tags around the text.

• Case sensitive matching

This setting specifies whether matching exact upper and lower case is necessary when performing automatic linking to these entries.

For example, if this is turned on, then a word like "html" in a forum posting will NOT be linked to a glossary entry called "HTML".

• Whole words matching

If automatic linking is enabled, then turning this setting on will force only whole words to be linked.

For example, a glossary entry named "construct" will not create a link inside the word "constructivism".

Import entries

This allows you to import glossaries that have been exported from other glossaries. To import entries, select the XML file on your own computer which contains the entries to import (using the Browse button).

The Destination field allows you to define the destination of imported entries. You can specify whether you want to import entries to Current Glossary (which will append the imported entries to the currently open glossary) or New Glossary (which will create a new glossary based on the information found in the selected import file and will insert the new entries into it).

If you check the Import categories box, you will import not only the entries but also the categories the new entries will be assigned to.

Import format example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<GLOSSARY>
    <INFO>
        <NAME>Latest Glossary</NAME>
        <INTRO>Glossary of topics relevant to all Students and Staff</INTRO>
        <STUDENTCANPOST>0</STUDENTCANPOST>
        <ALLOWDUPLICATEDENTRIES>0</ALLOWDUPLICATEDENTRIES>
        <DISPLAYFORMAT>dictionary</DISPLAYFORMAT>
        <SHOWSPECIAL>1</SHOWSPECIAL>
        <SHOWALPHABET>1</SHOWALPHABET>
        <SHOWALL>1</SHOWALL>
        <ALLOWCOMMENTS>0</ALLOWCOMMENTS>
        <USEDYNALINK>1</USEDYNALINK>
        <DEFAULTAPPROVAL>1</DEFAULTAPPROVAL>
        <GLOBALGLOSSARY>1</GLOBALGLOSSARY>
        <ENTBYPAGE>20</ENTBYPAGE>
        <ENTRIES>
                <ENTRY>               
                <CONCEPT>Bullying</CONCEPT>
                <DEFINITION>Bullying is bad</DEFINITION>
                <FORMAT>1</FORMAT>
                <USEDYNALINK>0</USEDYNALINK>
                <CASESENSITIVE>0</CASESENSITIVE>
                <FULLMATCH>0</FULLMATCH>
                <TEACHERENTRY>1</TEACHERENTRY>
                <ALIASES>
                    <ALIAS>
                        <NAME>harrassment</NAME>
                    </ALIAS>
                </ALIASES>
                <CATEGORIES>
                    <CATEGORY>
                        <NAME>Behaviour</NAME>
                        <USEDYNALINK>1</USEDYNALINK>
                    </CATEGORY>
                </CATEGORIES>
            </ENTRY>
            <ENTRY>
                <CONCEPT>Friendship</CONCEPT>
                <DEFINITION>Friendship is good</DEFINITION>
                <FORMAT>1</FORMAT>
                <USEDYNALINK>0</USEDYNALINK>
                <CASESENSITIVE>0</CASESENSITIVE>
                <FULLMATCH>0</FULLMATCH>
                <TEACHERENTRY>1</TEACHERENTRY>
                <ALIASES>
                    <ALIAS>
                        <NAME>friend</NAME>
                    </ALIAS>
                </ALIASES>
                <CATEGORIES>
                    <CATEGORY>
                        <NAME>Social</NAME>
                        <USEDYNALINK>1</USEDYNALINK>
                    </CATEGORY>
                </CATEGORIES>
            </ENTRY>
        </ENTRIES>
    </INFO>
</GLOSSARY>

Copy each section beginning <ENTRY> and ending with </ENTRY> and edit the entry.

Export entries

This allows you to export your glossary to share with another glossary. Clicking Export entries will generate an xml file, which, as it says, you can import in this or other course.

Waiting approval

If entries require teacher approval before being publicly posted, this is where those entries are approved.

Browse options

You can browse glossaries according to several criteria, such as:

• Browse by alphabet

• Browse by category (if there are any categories added)

• Browse by date (you can sort entries by last update or by creation date)

• Browse by Author

You can also search for a given word using the Search field. Checking the 'Search full text' option (on the right side of the Search box) allows searching for a given word in any position in the text. This can take longer and return more entries than you might wish, but it is thorough. If you do not check the "Search full text" box, the search only looks for the term names. The index below lets you browse the glossary according to a given letter.

When you are done with adding a new word, click "Save changes".

See also

• Importing glossaries in WebCT format forum discussion