[brailleblaster] Revised frramework for BrailleBlaster
- From: "John J. Boyer" <john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: brailleblaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2012 22:21:07 -0500
Here is a framework for BrailleBlaster that satisfies the needs of the
three major stakeholders, ViewPlus, APH and the general user community.
When an xml file is opened it will also be translated, That is,
rendered, by liblouisutdml according to configuration and
semantic-action files. The rendering will be in a thread, since it may
take a few seconds for a large document. The translation will then be
displayed in the Braille window.
BrailleBlaster will use Java properties files which are analogous to the
liblouisutdml configuration and semantic-action files to create a DOM of
the print document. This will in turn be used to display and edit the
document.
When the print document is edited, the block of text (paragraph,
heading, etc.) being edited will be dynamically translated and displayed
in the Braille window using the translateString method.
If focus is shifted to the Braille window the Braille becomes editable.
The Daisy window will show the part of the print document corresponding
to each line in the Braille document and will not be editable.
When the file is saved, edited Braille will be copied into the print
document with appropriate markup and the part of the document
corresponding to the edited Braille will be marked to be skipped.
Users can chose to emboss the Braille or send it to a file with Save As.
If either the print or the Braille has been edited the document will
automatically be retranslated (rendered.)
Later, liblouisutdml can be used to render the enhanced print document
according to whatever configuration settings the user wishes. This may
be done with BrailleBlaster or with another application that uses the
liblouis-liblouisutdml transcription engine.
UTDML will be used in displaying the print equivalents of braille lines
and in editing Braille. Files with UTDML will be working files, not the
basic format of BrailleBlaster. However, they can be saved and reopened
to continue work on a particular document. They will have the extension
utd
We will have to think further about how tactile graphics will be
handled, but UTDML will be used for this purpose also.
Additional dialogues will be provided for handling liblouisutdml
configuration and semantic files. Some of the features of these
dialogues will be available only to advanced users.
Braille editing will also be available only to advanced users. The same
will be the case for creating and editing BrailleBlaster styles.
(liblouisutdml styles will be handled in the configuration dialogues.)
When a brf file is opened it will automatically be back-translated and
the translated text will appear in the Daisy window. All blocks of
characters will have the paragraph style. This can be changed by
applying other styles, such as various headings. If focus is switched to
the Braille window the Braille can be edited as above.
Since translation and back-translation are automatic, the translate menu
will be changed for retranslate and reback-trranslate. This will enable
the user to see the format of Braille before embossing or saving the
file.
--
John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
Abilitiessoft, Inc.
http://www.abilitiessoft.com
Madison, Wisconsin USA
Developing software for people with disabilities
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