Python and WXWidgets were considered. However the SWT (Standard Widget Toolkit) in Java seems to give better cross-platform accessibility. It is used in Eclipse. We are also considering using tika for file importing and dom4j for managing xml files. John On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 09:42:15AM +0200, Kerneels Roos wrote: > It does make sense if the functionality and purpose of the system as a > whole superseeds that of an office suite like Open Office. I was thinking > of a specialised editor inside for Braille inside Open Office for example. > Building on all the APIs already developed for Open Office could probably > speed up things tremendously since there are examples of how to do things > and a lot is done for you already. One can of course always take a look at > the open office code to see how things have been done should you do your > own project completely. > > Just for interest sake, was Python and the wx GUI tookit ever a > consideration? What was the reasons why it was not chosen instead of Java, > if I may ask? > > On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 6:21 PM, John J. Boyer > <[1]john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > OpenOffice is not accesible in Windows. We decided not to tie > BrailleBlaster to any word processor for a number of reasons. It has its > own specialized editor for both print and braille. > > John > On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 02:52:17PM +0200, Kerneels Roos wrote: > > * *While on the topic. I'm very excited about the Braille Blaster > project! > > * *But here's a thought. Could it not be integrated with the existing > Open > > * *Office suite? Just imagine in the near future every Open Office > > * *installation offering superb Braille functionality. Now that would > be > > * *total proliferation of access technology! And why stop there, why > not > > * *start a drive to create a self voicing Open Office via NVDA or > Orca? I > > * *relish the thought of a day when the concept of a screen reader > would be > > * *a* strangely absurd notion because all applications would emerge > out from > > * *software vendors, speaking and brailling from square one. > > > > * *It is possible and would be order of magnatudes faster and far more > > * *accurate than any *after the fact* slapped on attempts as is the > common > > * *norm today. Even if the self voicing requires the presence of a > common > > * *shared code base that forms part of the OS itself. > > > > * *On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 2:33 PM, Kerneels Roos > <[1][2]kerneels@xxxxxxxxx> > > * *wrote: > > > > * * *Shot in the dark here, but since XML has a very low entophy -- a > lot of > > * * *redundant data -- would it not make sense to attempt to either > avoid the > > * * *direct rendering of the XML on both sides by passing something > else > > * * *between the Java and C++ liblouisutdml library? > > > > * * *I would speculate that the parsed XML contained in data > structures in > > * * *the Java code and in the C++ code of liblouisutdml is a far more > > * * *efficient representation of the actual XML. If there could be an > XML > > * * *parser API which the Java code and the liblouisutdml code could > jointly > > * * *access the exchange of data would be very fast. > > > > * * *What about the option of compressing the XML on both sides before > > * * *exchanging it? This introduces additional computation time for > the > > * * *compression / decompression for each round trip, but it lowers > the > > * * *lenght of time more memory would be required -- only during the > > * * *compression / decompression stages, not all the time in the case > of > > * * *passing huge XML blobs. > > > > * * *Lastly, is it not possible to call liblouisutdml API calls that > directly > > * * *act on the XML from within the Java code instead of passing huge > chunks > > * * *from one code base to the other? Haven't had time to check it > out, but > > * * *the odt2brl Open Office plugin might very well do something like > this? > > > > * * *Regards > > > > * * *On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 1:24 PM, Homme, James > > * * *<[2][3]james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > * * * *Hi, > > * * * *What would be a good light weight solution for this? > > * * * *Thanks. > > > > * * * *Jim > > > > * * * *Jim Homme, > > * * * *Usability Services, > > * * * *Phone: 412-544-1810. Skype: jim.homme > > * * * *Internal recipients, *Read my accessibility blog. Discuss > > * * * *accessibility here. Accessibility Wiki: Breaking news and > > * * * *accessibility advice > > > > * * * *-----Original Message----- > > * * * *From: [3][4]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * * * *[mailto:[4][5]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf > Of Sina > > * * * *Bahram > > * * * *Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 10:25 PM > > * * * *To: [5][6]programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * * * *Subject: RE: Passing xml documents between Java and a C library > > > > * * * *Don't get too carried away with some of these frameworks. JMX > and the > > * * * *rest might sound like awesome ideas, but heavy weight is not > > * * * *where you necessarily want to be. > > > > * * * *Just a word of advice from someone who has done both sides of > the coin > > * * * *on java development. > > > > * * * *Take care, > > * * * *Sina > > > > * * * *-----Original Message----- > > * * * *From: [6][7]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * * * *[mailto:[7][8]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf > Of John J. > > * * * *Boyer > > * * * *Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 9:26 PM > > * * * *To: [8][9]programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * * * *Subject: Re: Passing xml documents between Java and a C library > > > > * * * *Thanks. This sounds helpful. We are still working out the > architecture > > * * * *of BrailleBlaster and figuring out what Java libraries or > > * * * *packages we will need. We are definitely using Java 6. > > > > * * * *John > > > > * * * *On Sat, Aug 07, 2010 at 07:06:53PM -0500, Jay Macarty wrote: > > * * * *> If you are using java 6 as your platform, there is an XmL > binding > > * * * *API > > * * * *> called JAX-B which you might find helpful for this. JAX-B > allows you > > * * * *> to convert a java object into an XML string or to map an XML > string > > * * * *to > > * * * *> a java object. We use this at work a lot because we are > receiving > > * * * *text > > * * * *> based messages from queues and the message body is XML. > > * * * *> > > * * * *> In JAX-B you add java annotations to a java bean style data > object > > * * * *to > > * * * *> tell it what the XML element and/or attribute names should be > when > > * * * *the > > * * * *> object is converted to XML. > > * * * *> > > * * * *> ----- Original Message ----- > > * * * *> From: "John J. Boyer" <[9][10]john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > * * * *> To: <[10][11]programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > * * * *> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 6:52 PM > > * * * *> Subject: Passing xml documents between Java and a C library > > * * * *> > > * * * *> > > * * * *> >For the BrailleBlaster project, the editor and user > interface are > > * * * *> >written in Java. The braille knowledge needed for > translating annd > > * * * *> >formatting is in the C library liblouisutdml. The two > communicate > > * * * *by > > * * * *> >method calls and xml documents. We would like to pass the > > * * * *documennts > > * * * *> >back and forth inn a memory buffer, if possible. However, > some > > * * * *> >doccuments can be quite large, up to 6 megabytes. After > UTDML > > * * * *> >(Unified Tactile Document Markup Language) has been added to > them > > * * * *> >they can be 20 MB or more. Such large buffers seem > impractical, so > > * * * *we > > * * * *> >will probably have to pass documents of that size as files. > > * * * *However, > > * * * *> >we would like to be able to pass smaller documents, say up > to 100k, > > * * * *> >in memory. How can this best be done on the Java end? > liblouisutdml > > * * * *> >expects xml documents in UTF-8 in an array of 8-bit > charactors. > > * * * *> > > > * * * *> >Thanks, > > * * * *> >John > > * * * *> > > > * * * *> >-- > > * * * *> >John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer > Abilitiessoft, > > * * * *> >Inc. > > * * * *> >[11][12]http://www.abilitiessoft.com > > * * * *> >Madison, Wisconsin USA > > * * * *> >Developing software for people with disabilities > > * * * *> > > > * * * *> >__________ > > * * * *> >View the list's information and change your settings at > > * * * *> >[12][13]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > * * * *> > > > * * * *> > > * * * *> __________ > > * * * *> View the list's information and change your settings at > > * * * *> [13][14]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > > > * * * *-- > > * * * *John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer > Abilitiessoft, Inc. > > * * * *[14][15]http://www.abilitiessoft.com > > * * * *Madison, Wisconsin USA > > * * * *Developing software for people with disabilities > > > > * * * *__________ > > * * * *View the list's information and change your settings at > > * * * *[15][16]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > > > * * * *__________ > > * * * *View the list's information and change your settings at > > * * * *[16][17]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > > > * * * *This e-mail and any attachments to it are confidential and are > > * * * *intended solely for use of the individual or entity to whom > they are > > * * * *addressed. *If you have received this e-mail in error, please > notify > > * * * *the sender immediately and then delete it. *If you are not the > > * * * *intended recipient, you must not keep, use, disclose, copy or > > * * * *distribute this e-mail without the author's prior permission. > *The > > * * * *views expressed in this e-mail message do not necessarily > represent > > * * * *the views of Highmark Inc., its subsidiaries, or affiliates. > > * * * *__________ > > * * * *View the list's information and change your settings at > > * * * *[17][18]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > > > * * *-- > > * * *Kerneels Roos > > * * *Cell/SMS: +27 (0)82 309 1998 > > * * *Skype: cornelis.roos > > > > * * *The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the > cheese! > > > > * *-- > > * *Kerneels Roos > > * *Cell/SMS: +27 (0)82 309 1998 > > * *Skype: cornelis.roos > > > > * *The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the > cheese! > > > > References > > > > * *Visible links > > * *1. mailto:[19]kerneels@xxxxxxxxx > > * *2. mailto:[20]james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx > > * *3. mailto:[21]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * *4. mailto:[22]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * *5. mailto:[23]programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * *6. mailto:[24]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * *7. mailto:[25]programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * *8. mailto:[26]programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * *9. mailto:[27]john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * 10. mailto:[28]programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > * 11. [29]http://www.abilitiessoft.com/ > > * 12. [30]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > * 13. [31]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > * 14. [32]http://www.abilitiessoft.com/ > > * 15. [33]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > * 16. [34]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > * 17. [35]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > -- > John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer > Abilitiessoft, Inc. > [36]http://www.abilitiessoft.com > Madison, Wisconsin USA > Developing software for people with disabilities > > __________ > View the list's information and change your settings at > [37]//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > -- > Kerneels Roos > Cell/SMS: +27 (0)82 309 1998 > Skype: cornelis.roos > > The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese! > > References > > Visible links > 1. mailto:john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > 2. mailto:kerneels@xxxxxxxxx > 3. mailto:james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx > 4. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 5. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 6. mailto:programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 7. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 8. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 9. mailto:programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 10. mailto:john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > 11. mailto:programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 12. http://www.abilitiessoft.com/ > 13. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 14. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 15. http://www.abilitiessoft.com/ > 16. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 17. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 18. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 19. mailto:kerneels@xxxxxxxxx > 20. mailto:james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx > 21. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 22. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 23. mailto:programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 24. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 25. mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 26. mailto:programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 27. mailto:john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > 28. mailto:programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > 29. http://www.abilitiessoft.com/ > 30. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 31. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 32. http://www.abilitiessoft.com/ > 33. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 34. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 35. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > 36. http://www.abilitiessoft.com/ > 37. //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind -- John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer Abilitiessoft, Inc. http://www.abilitiessoft.com Madison, Wisconsin USA Developing software for people with disabilities __________ View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind