This page provides an overview of the further developments of WebDewey, the classification tool for the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). The focus of this collection is on the DDC translations and their language versions of WebDewey. Some features were developed specifically for local workflows, while others are implemented in all WebDewey language versions, including the English WebDewey. Therefore, the WebDewey's out there do not have all features implemented equally, and individual solutions are not listed here. The list does not claim to be complete.

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Documentation of new features in WebDewey language versions
YearFeature

Description

2024

New screen BUILT NUMBERS

(Overview and management of built numbers)


A new screen headed BUILT NUMBERS offers WebDewey users an overview of the built numbers in their DDC language version. There are several lists available that may also serve as a starting point for managing or cleaning up own built numbers. For example, there is a list of all duplicate numbers: Duplicates may exist due to the continuous updating of the DDC, for example if someone has created an institutional built number, but this number is then, per Dewey update, also included in the system as a "global" built or non-built number.

Lists of built numbers can be selected using the following filters:

  • All built numbers: Contains all types of built numbers.

What types of built numbers are there and how can I recognize them?

  • Puzzle icon = Global, for all visible built numbers of your edition
  • Twoer icon without question mark = institutional built numbers created with number building tool
  • Oner icon without question mark = personal built numbers created with number building tool
  • Twoer icon with question mark = institutional built numbers that were created using the manual mode of the number building tool or that are imported built numbers
  • Oner icon with question mark = personal built numbers that were created using the manual mode of the number building tool or that are imported built numbers
  • All duplicates: Contains built numbers (all types) which, when compared with all DDC notations (built and non-built), produce the same number more than once. For example, a Dewey number may exist once as a personal built number and as a global built number, which entered the system by a recent update. Or, there may be an institutional built number next to a same number, which has since been updated to a notation without an icon (one with DDC notes, etc.).
  • My personal built numbers: Contains all built numbers with a single icon, with and without a question mark. If you have many personal built numbers, you can get an overview here, check captions and Relative Index entries or comments that are linked to this class.
  • Institutional built numbers: Contains all built numbers with a twoer-icon, with and without a question mark. As with personal built numbers, this list also provides an overview of the numbers in this category.
  • Own institutional built numbers: This list can be longer or shorter, depending on how many built numbers exist that a user has created or last edited.
  • Manually created built numbers: This type of notation was either created in WebDewey using the number building tool, but the adding process was continued from a certain step without the rule-based (automatically guided) wizard, or these are built numbers that were created or imported before the full mode of the number building tool was introduced. To indicate this, these numbers have a question mark next to their oner or twoer icon. However, if you want to submit such a number as a candidate for take-over into your language edition, it must be available without a question mark. In this case, it is necessary to create a new number using the number building tool. See also the section "Creating a new built number".
  • Global built numbers: Recognizable by their puzzle icon, these are all built numbers that are part of your language version of the DDC and thus visible to all users of a language version’s WebDewey.
2024

Re-create a built number

(to make it a technically valid built number)

This feature primarily relates to the use case "Manually created built numbers". This type of notation was either created in WebDewey using the number building tool, but the adding process was continued from a certain step without the rule-based (automatically guided) wizard, or it is a built number that was created or imported before the full mode of the number building tool was introduced. To indicate this, these numbers have a question mark next to their oner or twoer icon.

What's new:

When creating a built number with the number building tool, a comparison is made in the background with existing numbers. If the comparison shows a match at the time of the first save, the user can decide whether the newly created, technically valid institutional or personal built number should overwrite the existing one. Only notations of the same visibility type can be overwritten, i.e., a newly synthesized institutional number will only overwrite an existing built number with a question mark if it also has a twoer icon. The same applies to the type personal built numbers (with a oner icon). During this process, you are also asked whether any existing comments or Relative Index terms should be transferred to the newly created class.

If you want to systematically recreate manually created built numbers, one way to do so is by the following workflow:

  • On the BUILT NUMBERS screen, select the filter "Manually created built numbers" (or any other filter that contains built numbers with question marks)
  • In the list, navigate to the number to be replaced and open the number on the main screen (Of course, the number can also be accessed directly from the main screen).
  • Go to the appropriate base number (or the superordinate number that contains the add instruction) and start the creation of the same number.
  • When saving, you will be informed that such a number already exists. You will also be asked whether the contents of the existing number (i.e. the Relative Index terms and, if available, the comments) should be taken over to the new class.

Once the built numbers have been merged, Relative Index vocabulary and comments can be edited for the number as usual.


2024Behavior when canceling the number building process using the number building tool

If the user cancels the number building process, the position at which the user remains is no longer the number that was last added (e. g. a T1 or T2 notation), but the number where the user has started the number building from. If this was a number span, then the next higher position is determined as the new starting position (However, number building might start from the span if the add instruction is found there).

This allows users to quickly resume work in the area where they were last active or, if desired, to restart the number building process without having to search the system for a long time to find the right base number.

2024UPDATES screen: General improvements

The UPDATES screen was revised for the first time following its introduction in 2016. In particular, the search in thematically coherent updates (called projects) and the configuration of your “own search” (previously misleadingly called "standard search") have been improved. 

What's new:

  • The search in projects can now be carried out without detours. Depending on the date selected on the left-hand side of the search area, the projects are now visible by default. The sorting is based on the date of the latest published project, but the order can also be displayed by project name (A-Z).
  • The "Additional search filters" (previously: Additional criteria) always appear expanded at first so that you can narrow down your search directly by selecting one or more of these criteria.
  • New designations:
    • STANDARD SEARCH new MY SEARCH: If a search has been saved according to preferred search filters, this search is triggered via the MY EARCH button.
    • "Save criteria as search standard" new CONFIGURE MY OWN SEARCH: Takes you directly to the general settings page, where you can set and save your preferred search filters. 

Good to know about “MY OWN SEARCH”:

  • Any configured “MY SEARCH” preferences influence the number of updates displayed in the UPDATES button: For example, if you are only interested in the 362.1 and 610 range and save the search accordingly as “MY SEARCH” on the general settings page, the number you see in the button indicates that there have been new updates in this range.
  • Your own default search can be set up or changed on the “Preferences” page (accessible in WebDewey Deutsch either by clicking the "Preferences" button in the top right menu bar or directly via the CONFIGURE MY OWN SEARCH link on the updates page). There, the RESET button deletes all parameters of your own search filter and resets it to the default basic search.
  • On the updates page, you can switch between MY SEARCH and the basic search (the latter as a basis for a possible further search refinement) using the REMOVE button. Clicking the MY SEARCH button again loads your own preset search parameters.


2024History box: Update information related to your translation

The history box contains information that makes it possible to track DDC updates such as relocations and discontinuations.

Other language versions translate the history information according to the English edition. However, translations are always carried out with a time lag, and history information for past updates is also added retrospectively in the English edition. 

The following features have been implemented to meet the information requirements of DDC translations with regard to published updates:

  • It can now be seen that the translated information in the history box (MARC field 685) refers to the English data.
  • Indication "Updates for XY translation from": If an update has been translated and visibly published for a class, the publication date is specified in the history box ("Last changed:"). This is also the date that can be used to search for the number on the DDC updates screen.
  • The number of updates made since the history was recorded is shown.
  • By clicking on the "Updates" button in the history box, the view switches to a pre-selected view of the updates screen, which shows all published changes to this class.

From now on, users will be informed directly in the class view about changes to this class. This information always refers to the language version’s edition. The history information relating to the English edition will continue to be translated and maintained, as it may contain additional information about the development of a class (sometimes over several editions).

2024Treatment of comments without a link to a number

A comment can lose its link to a number for several reasons. The number may have been removed from the system via an update. Maybe a new, differently synthesized number or regular schedule number has been introduced for the same topic. Only the user can decide whether the content of the comment that was previously in the old entry is still valid. 

The following features have been introduced to support “comments without a link”:

  • Introduction of a new type of comment "without link": This comment type brings up those comments that do not have a link to a class and can be limited to your own comments by combining them with the search for your own user name or email address. The comments can now be deleted or linked again, for example if a new number has been introduced for the same topic and the comment is still required.
  • The total number of comments without links is immediately shown on the comments screen ("All comments without links:")
2024Deleting comments

When deleting comments via the comments screen, the information "The comment from XXX.YY has been deleted." Is now given.

The notation link allows you to return directly to the class from which the comment was opened and deleted. It is also possible to remain in the comment area in order to carry out further actions there if desired.

2021Public commentsNew type of comment that makes it possible to create comments on classes that are visible not only for users of your own institution, but also for users of any other institution that uses WebDewey with your language version of the DDC.
2017Improved display of hierarchies and preview of subclasses

The hierarchy display of the DDC hierarchy in the hierarchy box has been made more clearly arranged, especially by improving the indentation of the subclasses.

Navigation is also supported by a preview: An arrow behind the number indicates that subordinate classes are available; they are even displayed using a quick info function (leave the mouse pointer motionless on the arrow for a short time). This makes it possible to decide in advance whether a click in the subclasses is worthwhile or not.

2017New index comments in advanced searchPreviously, searching via the comments was only possible within the comments screen, but now there is also a global search index for the comments. It can be found in the drop-down list together with the other selectable search indexes.
2017PDF generation of selectable areas

New menu item: PRINT

Up to 400 consecutive DDC numbers or Relative Index terms can be generated in the familiar print format of the DDC and then saved and/or printed as a PDF. This allows you to print the current status of an area of interest. If, for example, you want to take a closer look at an updated range of numbers and have a better overview of the hierarchical arrangement, you can now "read up and down" the hierarchy as in the print output without having to click through the individual subclasses.

2017Drag-and-drop icon for moving the boxesA drag-and-drop icon in the top right-hand corner of the boxes allows the boxes to be moved. The text of the heading line can now be selected and copied. (Previously, accidental moves occurred when trying to select the number and/or its caption from the heading line).
2017Conversion to HTTPS protocolWebDewey has been switched to the HTTPS protocol.
2017Box for Relative Index terms of type institutional or personal built numberThe Relative Index entries of institutional and personal built numbers are displayed in a separate box outside the edit box for the built number. They now appear, just like the standard Relative Index terms, in the "Relative Index" box and are each preceded by the icon for identifying the type of built number.
2017Box for number componentsThe components that make up a built number (base number, plus added schedule and/or auxiliary table numbers) are displayed in a separate box together with their captions.
2017Search a number without Dewey dotAs an adaptation to the typing behavior of many WebDewey users, it is now possible to type in a DDC notation without the Dewey dot. This means that the NUM block area of the keyboard can be used to quickly enter the number, which, unlike the American PC keyboard, does not have a dot.
2017Presentation of manual records

The readability of the manual records is improved by indentation and the presentation of text in bold and italics.

2016
Submit Relative Index terms

A functionality that allows WebDewey users to propose additional Relative Index terms for built numbers. The "Submit Relative Index term" button in the "Relative Index Terms" box leads to an edit box in which users can either combine existing index vocabulary or enter an individual index term and send it as a candidate to the DDC editorial system.

Only one index term can be sent at a time. If necessary, the process must be repeated from the class.

The submitted Relative Index terms are then checked editorially, and if all the criteria for acceptance into the DDC Relative Index are met, they are being published in WebDewey.

2016Keep track of DDC updates and configure your own search for updates

New screen UPDATES (accessible via the top menu bar):

  • Search for DDC updates using various search filters
  • Search for coherent updates ("projects")
  • Results are presented in a before/after presentation
  • Users can save a personalized search ("My search"). This initially limits the display of changes to the results of your own configuration, e.g. for a specific range of DDC numbers or a specific time (last login, last 30 days, etc.). It is possible to switch to the normal search at any time.
Info

WebDewey is the classification tool for the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). There is a separate web application for both the original English edition and the DDC translations.

Since its introduction in 2011, there have been several enhancements to WebDewey, some developed specifically for a local use-case, but also many that were implemented in both the English and all WebDewey language versions.

Learn more about the English WebDewey (OCLC Dewey Services).

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