Source-oriented data processing

Kleio-Forum

A Kleio Forum has been in existence since April 2009. This is where Kleio users can exchange ideas. Link
 

Preliminary remarks

The first attempts at data processing in the fields of history and cultural studies in Europe date back to the 1960s. In 1978, Manfred Thaller began developing a subject-specific database management system (CLIO, known as Κλειω from 1988 onwards) at the Max Planck Institute for History in Göttingen, based on the principle of semantic networks. The software package was deliberately designed for power rather than user-friendliness. It has its own command language, which initially consisted of Latin commands and, from the early 1990s, English commands. Until the mid-1990s, the documentation was kept up to date thanks to numerous collaborative projects (the ‘Historical Workstation Project’) and a well-organised project team. After that, this was no longer possible. In particular – with the exception of close project collaborations aimed at further developing the software – there is no support!

The material provided here is difficult or impossible for beginners to use without attending a multi-day introductory course.

This page also provides access to ‘grey’ literature intended to enable the use of undocumented features. It should be noted, however, that course notes or internal brief documentation do not meet the standards of published documentation!
 

Software

The Κλειω (kleio) database management system
 

 *This is the latest version that allows for differing definitions of the `database` command across multiple databases within a single logical environment.
 **This archive file contains three versions of the programme: the standard version with a graphical user interface (kleio), a batch-only version (kleiob) and a CGI version for use with dynamic web servers (kleioc).

Note: There is no setup file. You will need to carry out the installation steps yourself, one by one (copying the files, setting environment variables, creating a desktop shortcut, etc.). The installation guide  will help you with this. For Linux, there is a guide available online: Linux Installation.
 

Documentation

The system description and tutorial for the database programme Κλειω, dating from 1993, as PDF files (right-click, Save target as...):

Manfred Thaller: Κλειω. A Database System (Halbgraue Reihe zur Historischen Fachinformatik, Serie B: Softwarebeschreibungen, Bd. 11). St. Katharinen 1993. 
Matthew Woollard/Peter Denley: Source-Oriented Data Processing for Historians: a Tutorial for Κλειω (Halbgraue Reihe zur Historischen Fachinformatik, Serie A: Historische Quellenkunden, Bd. 23). St. Katharinen 1993. 

 

The two cover pages (scanned in high resolution) are stored in a separate file (as the originals are workbooks, they unfortunately have coffee stains and dog-ears). Note: If you are using a printer with a duplex unit (double-sided printing), the files can be printed as a booklet and bound in book form (DIN A5).
 

WWW-Documentation

The Κλειω server in Cologne hosts a WWW-Documentation. that is currently under development. Some commands, parameters and functions are described in detail here (marked with an *). This applies in particular to newer features that were not yet part of the database management system’s functionality in 1993.
Even where no explanatory text is available, the information provided can be used to identify the relevant parameters for each command, the valid parameter values for each parameter word, and the existing functions. Together with the benchmark tasks (see the relevant section), advanced users can work out how undocumented features operate.
 

Benchmark

The benchmark contains test tasks which serve as examples to illustrate how individual components of the command language work correctly. The current version is hosted on a server in Cologne. As access cannot always be guaranteed, the files have been mirrored in Trier [this area is password-protected and accessible only to authorised users].
 

Materials

Introductory course:
The sample databases and exercises from the tutorial (HGR A23): kleiokurs.zip
Κλειω-formalities (overview): kleio-Formalia.pdf
Example of relational networks: Relationale_Netzwerke_in_Kleio.pdf
Example of wills: probate.pdf

Course “Dynamic Web Server”:
Lecture notes by Ursula Kümpel (2003/04): Kuempel-Webserver_kleio.pdf
 

Bibliography

In addition to the system description and tutorial, reference should be made here to the other volumes of the “Halbgraue Reihe für Historische Fachinformatik” (HGR) [see link in the “Further Information” section], even though many volumes still use the Latin command language. Furthermore, the tutorial (HGR B23) contains a bibliography of English-language works by Manfred Thaller, as well as Κλειω literature by other authors in English. For the “Auschwitz Project”, see the text in the section “Projects (Selection)” and Thomas Grotum: The Digital Archive. Development and Analysis of a Database on the History of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Frankfurt am Main/New York 2004.

 

Further Information


Further information can be found on the following websites:

 

Projects (selection)

 Instructions for mounting shared drives

Shared drives (including the personal U: drive) can be accessed from a computer outside the university. To do this, you must connect to the university network via VPN in order to be temporarily assigned a university ID. The software can be downloaded from the University Computing Centre (URT) website. Detailed Instructions are also available there.

Incidentally, once you have logged into the university network, the library’s digital media (databases, DVDs, CDs, etc.) will also be available from your home computer.

Problem: In some cases, error messages appear when mounting a drive (This network folder is currently connected using a different name and password. ...). Solution: Instead of the server name “naf1”, the following alternatives can be entered: “naf1.uni-trier.de” or “136.199.199.44”.

 

MAXqda

The MAXqda Reader has been available since July 2007. It allows users to open MAXqda projects at any time and view their content without needing a MAXqda licence. Similar to Adobe Acrobat Reader, the MAXqda Reader ensures that data is displayed accurately and consistently. It supports analysis functions such as text searches, activations, word frequency displays, visualised analyses in the Code Matrix Browser and similar features. However, it is not possible to edit or modify the MAXqda data in any way. Download and use are free of charge!

Current books on the subject:

 

  • Kuckartz, Udo / Grunenberg, Heiko / Dresing, Thorsten (Hg.): Qualitative Datenanalyse: computergestützt. 2., überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage, VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften 2007. 263 S., ISBN: 978-3-531-34248-1  [UBT: bestellt]
  • Kuckartz, Udo / Dresing, Thorsten / Rädiker, Stefan / Stefer, Claus: Qualitative Evaluation. Der Einstieg in die Praxis. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften 2007. 119 S., ISBN: 978-3-531-15366-7  [UBT: 39= DP/sn48621]
  • Kuckartz, Udo: Einführung in die Computergestützte Analyse qualitativer Daten. 2., aktualisierte und erweiteret Auflage, VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften 2007. 268 S., ISBN: 978-3531342474  [UBT: 39= DC/sn45739A(2) und (2):a]

 

Endnote

The EndNote reference management programme allows you to search external databases and import the bibliographic records found into your own database. This requires a Z39.50 connection. The programme comes with a number of such connections included, although these are mostly for American libraries. Further connections can be added using the Connection Manager [File – Connection Files – New Connection]. The connection settings are crucial. Here is an example for the Library of Congress (no User ID or Password is required):

ServerLibrary of Congress
Server Address140.147.249.38
DatabaseLibrary Catalog
Database NameVOYAGER
Element SetFPort ID7090
Record SyntaxUSMARCTextLatin-1
 Store Password ...
User ID 
Password 
Group ID 
Custom 

 

A number of Z39.50 profiles can be found on the web, containing all the information required to access a third-party database.

The information entered via the Connection Manager is stored in a file with the extension “enz” in the “connections” subdirectory of the EndNote programme (usually: C:\Program Files\EndNote\Connections).

However, enz files can also be copied into this directory. This has the advantage that tested library access details can be used without any issues arising from omitted details or typing errors. The following enz files are currently available:

Research (List of links)

The following list of links points to important and key websites that are useful when researching literature, sources and other materials. It is currently under construction.