Event Selector

Purpose

This screen is used to browse the entire Events list and then select an entry, e.g. to attach it to any fully-fledged object type supporting it, thereby helping you tell the story of that object. It is always displayed as a pop-up dialogue (that is to say that it opens as a new window or tab).

Getting There...

Selectors are purpose-built screens that are not reachable through the general navigation of the application, but only by clicking on specific action links on certain screens. Here are the places and actions that will trigger the display of this selector, and the context of its use:

On the Events Edition Page, in the Relative Dating section, clicking on the Link action link to create a new relative dating record. Selects an event and specifies whether it predates, follows or is contemporary with the current event.
On the Sequences Management Page, in the Events section, clicking on the Link action link. Selects an existing Event record to include in the currently selected Sequence.
On the Object - Event Edition Page, clicking on the Link action link. Selects an existing Event record and attaches it to the currently selected object.

Modes

This selector has two modes of operation, detailed below.

Link mode

This is the primary mode of operation. It is used to link an event to other kinds of fully-fledged (like Slides, Sources or Individuals) or lesser objects (like Sequences) that support it. The goal of this link may be to help tell the object's story (in the case of fully-fledged objects), or as a way to manage membership in the case of Sequences.

Relative dating context

This mode is only used to link multiple Event records together for the purpose of establishing relative dating between them. In principle, it operates in a way very similar to the main 'link' mode, but the controls to use in order to make the selection are a bit different. We'll cover these below.

Fields

Each entry in the list will use the following layout:

evt_id

RDsel

date

AE mark

LOCATION. Description

[event type]

For the description, format and meaning of each field, please refer to the Events Edition Page. A few words on those that are not defined there or need extra clarification:

RDsel ./buttons:: (Only in Relative Dating context). Relative dating selection controls -- see below.
date:: The event start date. If an end date has been provided for the event, it is printed in this column after the start date, separated by a dash.

Controls

Sort order bar

The first row of controls beneath the page header allows the user to select the desired sort order for the list. The currently active sort order is rendered as text, whereas all other available choices are rendered as HTML links. Here are the three available choices:

by event#: ordered by increasing object ID.
by date (default): ordered by increasing start date, then by object ID.
by location: ordered by increasing location + country + description #1 + description #2.

Selecting a different sort order always returns you to the top of the list (as defined by that order).

Navigation bar

The second row of controls beneath the page header allows the user to navigate the Events list based on the currently selected sort order (see above). Some action links (prev and next) may be rendered as text when not applicable.

Here are the available actions:

First: jump to top of list (first record).
Prev: show previous page (i.e. previous chunk of 'N' records, where 'N' is a value defined in the Global Definitions File).
All: show all records on a single page. Depending on the length of the list, this may be more than your browser can handle, and it may make it crash.
Next: show next page (i.e. next chunk of 'N' records, where 'N' is a value defined in the Global Definitions File).
Last: jump to bottom of list (last record).

Event actions

In 'link' mode

For each event listed on the screen, simply click on its ID (first column) to select it. If the event is not eligible (because it is already linked, for instance), its ID is rendered as regular text and can't be clicked.

In 'relative dating' mode

In a relative dating context, it's not enough to select an event, you still have to specify it's chronological relationship with the event you're currently editing. Specifying this is done using the three arrow controls in the second column of the table.

: the event listed in the pop-up selector window is older (= predates) the one you are currently editing.
: the event listed in the pop-up selector window is contemporary to the one you are currently editing.
: the event listed in the pop-up selector window is newer (= follows) the one you are currently editing.

The meaning of these selection ./buttons is also made clear by tooltips displayed when you hover the mouse over them.