This presentation explains how to use the World Wide Web (WWW) to distribute scientific and technical information as hypermedia. WWW clients and servers use the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to transfer documents containing links to other text, graphics, video, and sound. The standard language for these documents is the HyperText MarkUp Language (HTML). These are simply text files with formatting codes that contain layout information and hyperlinks. HTML documents can be created with any text editor or with one of the publicly available HTML editors or convertors. HTML can also include links to available image formats. This presentation is available online. The URL is http://sti.larc.nasa. (followed by) gov/demos/workshop/introtext.html

Roper, Donna G.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

' x •
How To Use the WWW To Distribute STI
by Donna G. Roper
N95- 16465
This presentation explains how to use the World Wide Web (WWW) to distribute your scientific
and technical information (STI) as hypermedia. WWW clients and servers use the HyperText
Transfer Protocol (HTTP ) to transfer hypermedia documents, that is, documents containing links to
other text, graphics, video, and sound. The standard language for these documents is the
HyperText MarkUp Language (HTML). HTML documents are simply text files with formam'ng
codes that contain layout information and hyperlinks. To _ your scientific and technical
information available to the WWW as hypermedia documents, you must learn how to create HTML
documents and make them available on an HTTP server:You can create HTML _c_nts with
any text editor or with one of the p_licly available HTML editors or converters. YoU can also use
HTML to include links to image formats such as XBM, GIF, TIFF, JPEG, MPEG. Most of the
information that you need to get started is available on the lnternet. This presentation is avcaIable
on-line. The URL is http :/Isti.larc.nasa.govldemoslworkshoplintrotext.html
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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950010050 2020-06-16T08:51:26+00:00Z
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Using the WWW for STI Allows Users To
• Refer back to equations, figures, and text in previous sections
• Access references that are available on-line
• Attach personal, group, or public annotations to documents
• Download figures for manipulation or inclusion in other reports
• Download computer codes, programs, and documentation
• Access simulation models, data files, and videos
• Browse files in I-IDF (Hierarchical Data Format), a machine-independent file format that
allows arbiuary grouping and annotation of heterogeneous data elements.
• Send scientific data in a hypermedia document across the network for graphical and statistical
inspection and analysis on programs such as
• Collaae. NCSA's synchronous collaboration tool for scientific data analysis and
manipulation.
• Polyview, NCSA's collaborative tool for three-dirnensional geometric and polygonal
data analysis.
• Data Management Facility (DlVlF), NCSA's scientific data management and archival
system.
Distributing STI on the WWW as Hypermedia
• Learn How To Create HTML D0cument_
• Make Documents Available on an HTrP Server
• , _iI
d.g.roper@larc.nasa.gov
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Hypermedia Documents Contain Links To
• Text
(7-bit ASCII )
• Graphics
(e.g., Graphs, Photos, Line Drawings)
• Video
(e.g., Crack Propagation or Air Flow Over Wing Configuration)
• Sound
(e.g., Engine Noise, Narration)
HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
HTTP is a stateless search, retrieval, and manipulation protocol with the speed necessary for a
distributed hypermedia information system.
These HTTP Servers Are Available on the Internet
• NCSA httpd
• B$.DI Plexus
• GN (a gopher/http server from NWU)
• CERN HTI'P server
• MacHTrP - a Macintosh HTI'P server
• serweb - Windows 3.)/NT _ server (requires winsock)
• H'ITPS - Windows NT _ server (for PCs and Alphas)
• NCSA http_d for Windows
Your system administrator should be able m help you set up the http server. If not, contact
m.l.nelson@larc.nasa.gov about serving files from www.larc.nasa.gov
239
HyperText MarkUp Language (HTML)
HTML documents are 7-bit ASCII files with formatting codes that contain layout information and
hyperlinks to text, graphics, video, and sound.
How To Create HTML Documents
• Create HTML Documents With any Text or HTML Editor
• Create HTML Documents With a Word Processor and Export as ASCII
• Create Documents With a Word Processor and Convert to HTML
Sample HTML ,D9¢umgnt
HTML References
• A Be_aner'_ Guide tO HTML
• _ra,_h Course on Writing Documents for the Web
• Element_ of HTML Style
• HTML Tutorial
Tips For Writing HTML
• Save As HTML Option
• OpenLocalOption
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Sample HTML Document
<hl> Heading Level One </hl>
This text is a sample paragraph. Paragraphs must be separated
with the html paragraph tag because
blank lines and tabs are ignored.
:-:'::::::::::d;':::::::::i:i:i:i;i:
<p>
This text is another sample paragraph.
<h2> Heading Level Two </112>
This text contains an unordered list.
<ul>
<li> Item 1
<li> Item 2
</ul>
You can use html tags to display <i>italic text</
{
Heading Level One
This text is a sample paragraph. Paragraphs must be separated with the html paragraph tag because
blank lines and tabs are ignored.
This text is another sample paragraph. You can use html tags to display italic text and bold text.
i /: ,>
Heading Level Two
This text contains an unordered list
• Item 1
• Item 2
HTML Link To Another Document
You can link regions of text or images to another document or image as well as to a specific section
in a document. Here is a hypertext link (called an anchor) to the next document.
Here is the HTML tag:
<a href="image.html> next document </a>
241
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Mosaic Can Display Inline Images in Two Formats
• XBM (X Bimaap)
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• GIF (Graphic Image Format)
For example, here is the logo for our division
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alw_tmwlte
Here is the HTML tag:
<i.n_ src="http://sti.larc.nasa.gov/STID/stidlogo/stidsmall.gif">
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Mosaic Can Open External Images in These Formats
• XBM (X Bitmap)
• GIF (Graphic Image Format)
•HDF (HierarchicalData Format)
•PS (PostScript Format)
•TIFF (Tagged Image File Format)
• ;PEG (Joint Photographics Expert Group)
•MPEG (Motion Pictures Expert Group)
• Any Format For Which You Have a Viewer
/
Here is an inlined image (thumbnail) with a hyper_xt link to a higher resolution photo in JPEG
format.
242
iHere is the HTMLtag:
<a href="http://sti, larc.nasa.gov/photos/photo2, jpg'>
<img src= "http: //st i. larc. nasa. gov/photos/thumbnail2, gif "> </a>
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Displaying Scientific Equations
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Display Scientific Equations As Inline Images
Here is an example of an equation in XBM format:
= ) =  l/T2)l/zMlsi A
(14K)
Here is an example of the same equation in GIF format:
A separate ITIq'P connection must be made to retrieve each inline image, which is stored in a separate
File. Thus, documents with multiple images take longer to download and require more storage for the
document elements.
Sample Documents With 21 Equations
• Equations converted to X Biunaps: 229 KB total: 16 seconds
• Equations converted to GIFs: 13.8 K_B total: 11 seconds
(Source: "Thoughts On Scientific HTML Documenta" by M.C. Grant from Stanford University.)
Problems With Displaying Scientific Information
• HTML Does Not Support Greek & Mathematical Symbols.
• Equations Are Stored in Multiple Files.
• Some HTML Converters Ignore Equations.
• Equations Are Difficult To Align With Text.
• Equations Are Not Scaled To Match Text.
244
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• Superscripts & Subscripts Are Not Supported.
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• _Are Difficult To Format.
The next version of HTML (called HTML+) will address some of these issues.
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Sample Table
Table 6. Parallel Golden Block Method
No of No. of Time
Proc. Points (sec ) PGB
l 2 0.355 1.00
1 12 0. 540 i. 00
2 12 0.277 I. 95
3 12 0. 187 2.89
4 12 0. 144 3.76
Speedup for
GS
1.00
0.66
1.2 
I. 90
2.47
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5"
SESSION 7 Graphics and Image Processing
Chaired by
David C. Banks
7.1 Image Tools for UNIX - David Banks
7.2 From Computer Images To Video Presentation: Enhancing Technology Transfer -
Sheri Beam
7.3 Data Visualization and Animation Lab (DVAL) Overview - Bill Von Ofenheim,
Kathy Stacy
7.4 Data Visualization and Animation Lab Applications - Kurt Severance and Mike
Weisenbom
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How to use the WWW to distribute STI

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