How to create a Virtual Museum Tools: CMS and other...

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How to create a Virtual Museum

Tools: CMS and other applications

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INTRODUCTION

To create a Virtual Museum but mainly theVirtual Museum according the F-Museumproject (LLP-LDV/TOI/07/IT/016 - FORM-Multimedia system for a European museum) itis necessary to use a software.

Such software is called CMS.

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Content Management System (CMS)

To insert contents in a uniform way and toguarantee the output communicationaccording to standardized pattern it isnecessary to use a content managementsystem (often shortened to CMS)

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A CMS literally Content ManagementSystem is a software application installed ona web server studied to facilitate contentmanagement of websites, freeing thewebmaster from any technical programmingknowledge.

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A specialized CMS exists, that is planned forspecific contents (on–line encyclopedias, blogs,forums, etc.), CMS planned for specificpurposes (this the case of the virtual museum)and generic CMS, which are usually moreflexible to enable the publishing of differentkinds of contents.

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From a technical point of view the CMS is aserver-side application, divided into two parts:the administration section (back end) toorganize and supervise content production, andthe application section (front end) whichenables the Web user to benefit from Website’scontents and applications.

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CMS can be programmed in different languages,among which commonly in ASP, PHP, .NET; thelanguage used doesn’t change according to levelof functionality.

Some languages make the CMS multiplatform,while others make it usable just on the user’splatform.

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CMS Advantages

A CMS enables the user to create and update adynamic website, even a big one, with no need towrite in HTML text, to know planning server-sidelanguages (as PHP) or to plan a special database.The outer page can be personalized by choosing aCSS style sheet.

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The CMS flat file (also known as text-based CMS)is a content management system based on a textfile (mostly XML files) which don’t need a databasesuch as MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.

These CMS are easy to install and so particularlysuitable for personal websites or smallcommunities. A CMS open source of this typologyis Flatnuke.

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CMS Limits

The more the CMS is specialized, the more it isproductive. Many small portals use distributedCMS ( written by other people and available forfree or fee-paying) of generic type;

Even though a CMS could be flexible, usually ithas a little personalized look if it is not possible todirectly intervene on the product’s source codeto modify it. Similarly contents will always be tiedto what is expected by who has planned the CMSbut not to the needs of who publishes thewebsite.

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Management problems can arise from the fact thatthose publishing or using the website can use the CMSto intervene in the contents and the look, but usually (in the case of proprietary software) they are not able tointervene directly (or make someone intervene) on thesame CMS structure;

this a limit closely connected to the CMS primaryadvantage : to publish a portal while being forced toplan the structure as well or without knowing thetechnical knowledge ( or the financial resources) for apersonalized development. Anyway particularlydeveloped CMS exist, which give the chance to directlywrite on the database. This is the case of some CMSproprietary.

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These problems can be resolved by using opensource software: the chance to access the product’ssource code enable people to personalize thesoftware on the basis of one’s own experiences onthe condition not to have the necessity to modifythe used product.

If that is the case it is necessary to bill the costs todevelop personalized modules or specific functionsunless owning in one’s own firm, or personallyhaving the technical knowledge to intervene on thesource code.

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Portals of a certain relevance never usedistributed CMS but employ custom-plannedprograms and databases, that is personalizedCMS and so necessarily specialized;

in this way the structure and the presentationwill be realized keeping well in mind whatcontents the website is going to host and thatit will be possible to modify them after newneeds.

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Software to be used to create a VirtualMuseumAs far as the development and the computer engineeringaspect concern, the most used software are:

Adobe flash for the web animation.It is a software mainly used for graphic realizations,which enables the creation of vector animationsprincipally for the web. In addition it allows therealization of interactive animations, thanks to aninternal scripting language. Through this language calledActionScript and based on ECMAScript it is possible toapply behaviors to the animation’s objects or photogram.At the very beginning there were just a few actions, butat the present ActionScript is a very powerful tool.Thanks to it, it is in fact possible to create menus, surfingsystems, GUIs, complete websites.

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Software to be used to create a VirtualMuseum

Adobe Dreamweaver (Software for web designing, editorHTML)HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and Active Server Pages(ASP)Structured Query Language (SQL) a language used for thequerying databases.

To create a European Virtual Museum it is obligatory to use aRDBMS (Relational DataBase Management System), becauseof the complexity of the requested data for the completedescription of the objects hosted in it and because of theneed of museum administrators is to constantly update thedata.

For a depth analysis on planning refer to the web designercourse on our project website:http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net/e-courses.asp

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http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net/e-courses.asp

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As far as image handling and 3D image realization is concerned,the most used softwares are :

Adobe Fireworks ( graphical editor for the web graphic for theweb graphic design).

It is a computer application produced by Adobe SystemsIncorporated thought out to create/work out web graphic design.An important peculiarity of Fireworks is the chance to manage inan intuitive environment raster graphics and vector graphics at thesame time.

VR WORX Version 2.6 has the ability to create object movies witha panoramic movie as a moving background. And v2.6 has thecapacity for transitions within a multi-node scene, like standardwipes, dissolves, explodes, and others, as well as actual linearvideo as a transition. The VR Worx 2.6 can construct multinodeenvironments with cylindrical panoramas, Cubic VRs, multi-rowobjects, absolute objects, still images and linear QuickTimemovies.

For a depth analysis on 3D image realization/image handling referto the web designer course on our project website:http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net/e-courses.asp

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http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net/e-courses.asp

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QUICK TIME VR

It is among the easiest systems of Virtualrealities; it is a system simulating a virtualreality having recourse to bi-dimensionalphotos handled and assembled in particularways

As it is tied to 2D images it gives just a visualinformation of the represented scene: it is notpossible to move through the objects, thepossibilities of movement are limited toswinging round, getting closer and going off.

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How to create a Virtual Museum

F-MUSEUM Implementation: guide to data uploading

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F-Museum WebsiteOur website is available at the address:http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net

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Click on Project website

http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net/

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HOMEPAGE 1/3This is our website homepage

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Home Page 2/3

On the left hand side of the Home page is a Menu articulated in 10 different sections:

1. Project

2. Products

3. Partner

4. News

5. Contact

6. E-courses

7. Credit

8. Press room

9. Newsletter/Brochure

10. Virtual Museum21


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HOMEPAGE 3/3

From the website homepage go to the left menu in the section “Reserved Area”where it will be possible to insert your username and password to be able to access the data allocation system of the “Virtual Museum”.

???helpIf your access data is not available, contact the website operator, who will give you your user ID/password

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - HOMEPAGE

This is the first page of our system of data uploading.On the left side of the Home page is a Menu articulated in 10 different sections:

•Identity card•File transfer (ftp area)•Documents•News•Work Area •Address Book•Mailing List•Credits•My Museum

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD 1/2Select the “Identity card "area regarding the virtual museum creation. Through the identity card it will be possible to create a real virtual museum.

What is the identity card?

The identity card is a CMS, a Content Management System, that is a tool software installed on a server web studied to easy the management of websites contents. Before going to the allocation stage, it is advisable to build a material and file tree, that is planned to be inserted.

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD 2/2

Once you enter the “Identity card” section go to “Add new record” to insert a new subject.

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD – ACCESSING PAGE

Before filling in the in-depth analysis sheet’s sections the user must first of all select the affiliation museum (insert IMG scroll menu “Museum”) and give the artifact's name (insert IMG section “name of the artifact”).Select “save and continue” to save the inserted data.

???helpThe museum name is not in the scroll menu “Museum”, what should I do?If the name of the museum is not in the menu, contact the website operator and ask to have one’s own access data for the identity card filled in, activated.

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD -STRUTTURA

The in-depth analysis in-depth analysis sheets (Identity card) is structured as follows:•WHERE IT IS AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS•STATE•DIMENSIONS•PERIOD OF USE•DISCOVERY•ANALYSES AND DETERMINATIONS•FILLED IN BY•COMMENTS•IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS•THEMATIC ROUTE

Warning!!!Insert data in one’s own national language.Later on it will be possible to insert data alsoin the other languages. It is reminded thatthe available languages are: Italian, English,Bulgarian, Romanian.

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD - WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTIC

The section “WHERE IS IT AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS” is a kind of graphic card of the object where the main information is given, that is:

Museum: name of the affiliation museum.Warning!!!The name of the museum must be the same of the museum at issue in the access page to the identity card. The name of the object is a compulsory part to fill up to save information!!

DepartmentInventory numberName of the artefact:Warning!!!The name of the museum must be the same of the museum at issue in the access page on the identify card.

Object type: select the object typology among:human figurine – animal figurine - vessel/anaphora –amulet – tool – weapon – jewelry – otherMaterial:Method of manufacture:Decoration type: select form the scroll menu the exact typology of decoration:No decoration – Incision – Excision – Plastic – Painting –Impression – StampDistinctive mark: insert a sign to mark the object at issue. 28


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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD -STATE

The section “STATE” is aimed to give information regarding the object’s state. In particular the concerning data will have to be ascribed to:

Preservation: select from the scroll menu one of these headingsvery good – good – poor

Restoration: select between restored and not restoredCompleteness: select the exact state of completeness Complete – Almost complete –Incomplete

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM -IDENTITY CARD -DIMENSIONS

The section “DIMENSIONS” allows the user to give the real dimensions (unit of measurement: mm e.g.) of the artifact:

Length (mm) - Width (mm) -Height (mm) - Thickness (mm) - Diameter (mm) -Weigh (g)

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD -PERIOD OF USE

In the section “PERIOD OF USE” it will be possible to up load data regarding the object history:Époque:Period:Culture:Face:Relative chronology:40.000-20.000 bc20.000-10.000 bc10.000-7.000 bc7.000-3.500 bc3.500-2.000 bc2.000-0 bcAbsolute chronology:

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD - DISCOVERY

In the section “DISCOVERY” information regarding the following will be inserted:Date (dd/mm/yyyy): insert the date of the finding of the object by following the order day, month, yearCountry:District:Town hall affiliation:Village:Discovery find spot:Condition of discovery: select how the object was discoveredChance discovery – Survey –Archeological excavation –UnknownDiscovery type: select from the scroll menu the exact typology of the findDeposit – Dwelling – Grave – Pit –Sanctuary – Other

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM -IDENTITY CARD - ANALYSES AND DETERMINATIONS

In the section “ANALYSES AND DETERMINATIONS” it will be possible to ascribe data regarding the spheres:Type:Laboratory:No./Code:

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM -IDENTITY CARD - FILLED IN BY

In the section “FILLED IN BY” the user who had filled up the identity card will have to insert their name, the source museum and the inserting data.

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM -IDENTITY CARD -COMMENTS

The section “COMMENTS” is structured in such a way that the user can give both a detailed description of the object (COMMENT) and a synthetic abstract with just the most important information (SHORT COMMENT).

Comment:Short Comment:

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD - DEEPENINGS

In the section “IN-DEPTH-ANALYSIS ” all the object’snon-technical information willbe inserted, data regarding thefollowing themes:

Morphology of the object –Decoration – Inscription –Analogies – Interpretation –Bibliography

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM - IDENTITY CARD -THEMATIC ROUTE

In the section “THEMATIC ROUTE” the user will have the chance to connect the inserted object with one of these thematic routes :1.The river 2.Trade, exchange3.The religious places4.Cultic objects, tools furniture, places5.Thermal baths, spring waters, scared waters, hilling waters, votive water offerings6.The hidden roots7.Fashion (cloths, jewelry. arts)8.Wine/tourism9.Start of agriculture/ancient tools, ethnographic, diet10.First houses models11.Metallurgy12.Ritual connected to the burn of old year, field burning13.How an exhibition will build up - The Neolithic Sanctuary of Parta14.Signs15.Music16.Sports and role-playing games in the prehistoric era

At the end of the identity card select “Save” to move to the second step, images uploading. 37


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HOW TO UPLOAD IDENTITY CARD DATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES

Having filled in the identity card in the national language , go back to the starting page of the identity card:- select “Identity card” from the left menuselect from the “menu museum”the museum of the inserted object.

From the works list, select the language (flag) of the inserted object, which will be used to insert data. Fill in all fields according the same procedure used to fill in the identity card in national language.

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM –UPLOADING PHOTOS 1/2

Once having filled in theidentity card, go back tothe starting page of theidentity card (select“Identity card” from theleft menuSelect from the “menumuseum” the museum ofthe inserted object.

From the list of the worksgo to “edit image” of theinserted object (chose thelanguage among EN- IT –RO – BG)

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VIRTUAL MUSEUM –UPLOADING IMAGES 2/2

The user will have the chance to insert the image’s name (Insert IMG “name of image”) and the connected file after dimensions 248 x 182 (Insert IMG browse “Upload img SIZE:248 x 182”).

For 3D images there is a box at the end of the page where it is be possible to insert in order :•Image’s name•Upload the connected 3D file •Object width (unit of measurement mm)•Object length (unit of measurement mm)

Select “Save” to save uploaded images.

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HOW TO PUBLISH THE COMPLETED IDENTITY CARD ON LINE?

Once the identity card has beencompleted, go back to the first page ofthe identity card (select “Identity card”from the left menu)Select from “menu museum” the objectof the inserted object.Insert IMG of the routeIdentify the inserted object from the listSelect the languages you would like topublish and click on “Publish”. The objectis now on line visible in the VIRTUALMUSEUM section of our website.http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net

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http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net/

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HOW TO MODIFY AN INSERTED OBJECTFrom the website homepage go to the “Reserved Area” section, where it will be possible to insert username and password to access the allocation system of the “Virtual Museum”.???helpIf access data is not available, contact the website operator, who will give you your ID user/password

Select the section “Identity card” from the left menu.ISelect from the “museum menu“ the museum of the inserted object.From the list of the work go toward the object, we are going to modify.

Chose section (edit information/ edit image) and the language (flag)where we would like to introduce changes.Changes follow the same procedure used to insert data. Select “save” to save changes. 42


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HOW TO DELETE THE PHOTO OF AN INSERTED OBJECT

From the website homepage go to the “Reserved Area” section, where it will be possible to insert your username and password to access the allocation system of the “Virtual Museum”.

????helpIf access data is not available, contact the website operator, who will give you your ID user/password

Select the section “Identity card” from the left menu Insert IMGSelect from the “museum menu "the museum of the inserted object.

From the list of the work go toward the object, we are going to modify.Chose section edit image and the language (flag) where we would like to introduce changes.

Select “delete image” to delete the image

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HOW TO DELETE AN INSERTED OBJECT

The user can not delete autonomously an identity card’s data; please, contact the website operator and comunicate the card it is believed to be deleted.

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Problems related to the Identity Card

data entry (Virtual Museum)

OBJECT PROBLEMS SUGGESTIONS

Timing for the

works upload

To enter data referred to each voice

of the Identity Card, you have 10

minutes maximum of stand by (you

are on line but you are not working).

After this time the system will quit

and you will have to start again.

Do not enter data on line. Work on

a separate word file and use the

function “copy and paste “ to enter

data. Remind to use the function

“save” each time you have entered

a datum in each voice of the

Identity Card.

File extension Photos that have been uploaded by

the Manciano Museum are not

visible.

It is necessary that the file you

upload has the extension (e.g.

image 01.JPG).

How to create a Virtual Museum Tools: CMS and other...

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