The Linguist's Shoebox
Integrated data management and analysis for the field linguist
List of tips
- A dictionary can be organized either by roots or by lexemes.
- Alternate and underlying forms in the lexical database affect the Shoebox parser.
- An important—but neglected—principle of data management is to stay caught up.
- Back up your Shoebox files regularly.
- Categories in observation databases should be linked to topics in analysis databases.
- Consistency checks can help you find errors and inconsistencies in the data.
- Data links are special jump paths that are similar to hypertext links.
- Database types define the structure of databases.
- Enter different kinds of information in separate data fields.
- Filtering using And and Or might match different records than you intend.
- How do lexicographers decide between different words and different senses?
- How do you know which settings Shoebox is using?
- Identify research team members and sources of information in database records.
- If data fields can occur multiple times in a record, set up the marker hierarchy.
- If you use Shoebox on multiple computers, use the same version.
- In Shoebox, the right mouse button is a valuable shortcut.
- In Shoebox, you can set up projects for different "workspaces" or "desktops".
- Installing additional memory in your computer can increase the speed and capacity of Shoebox.
- Jump paths describe relationships in the data.
- Language encodings define the characteristics of multilingual data.
- Lexical databases can contain multiple data fields for definitions and glosses.
- Lexicographers should identify morphological subclasses within a part of speech category.
- Lines in the list of primary sorting characters correspond to sections in a dictionary.
- Options for matching characters relate to the sort order and case associations.
- Principles of card filing also apply to data management in Shoebox.
- Publishing a series of topically-oriented volumes contributes to completion of a dictionary.
- Range sets consist of the valid values for data fields that represent categories.
- Remember to correct errors in your database files, not just in exported files.
- Researchers need to identify the primary audience for a dictionary.
- Researchers should continually refine their notions about parts of speech categories.
- Researchers should explore lexical relations before selecting example sentences.
- Secondary sorting fields are tie-breakers for the primary sorting field.
- Semantic categories are useful for analyzing, managing, and publishing lexical data.
- Set up case associations for the primary sorting characters in language encodings.
- Set up variables after you have set up the sort order in a language encoding.
- Shoebox can automatically provide a "template" of data fields for new records.
- Shoebox can automatically "stamp" database records with the date last edited.
- Shoebox can display records from the same database in multiple windows.
- Shoebox lets you set up multiple sort orders for a language encoding.
- Shoebox provides a basic database type for text files.
- Shoebox provides files that you can you can use for anthropology research.
- Text-based linguistics is a solid foundation for understanding a language and culture.
- The Browse Fields dialog box allows you to specify text for empty and missing fields.
- The consistency check for data links reminds you to enter related data.
- The data properties of fields affect the way that Shoebox interprets them.
- The Multi-Dictionary Formatter (MDF) lets you define categories for irregular forms.
- The Multi-Dictionary Formatter (MDF) provides data fields for lexical functions.
- The Shoebox parser works according to the longest-match principle.
- The status bar displays the primary sorting field.
- The user settings folder can help you keep your Shoebox files better organized.
- There are several ways for you to switch between windows.
- Thoroughly categorize, index, and cross-reference your data to maximize its usefulness.
- Use multiple data fields rather than a semicolon (;) to enter multiple glosses, etc.
- What is Shoebox?
- What is the difference between the Jump To and Jump Insert commands?
- When you are browsing, you can easily switch to the "record" view.
- You can analyze your data by sorting, filtering, and displaying browse fields.
- You can change individual field markers and "rename" markers everywhere.
- You can define a marker for following field.
- You can display descriptive information in the marker pane.
- You can filter date stamp fields.
- You can hide the toolbar and status bar, if you prefer not to use them.
- You can make Shoebox use a window as a jump target.
- You can rename generic language encodings.
- You can select text using the mouse.
- You can set up a window as a gloss index (finderlist) by sorting and browsing.
- You can sort by date stamp fields.
- You can use sorting and filtering to find data items that occur multiple times.
- You can write word formulas to eliminate invalid parses.