FAQ for Wandora user

Revision as of 21:08, 28 January 2009

This FAQ is targeted to Wandora user and contains answers for some common problems you may face while experimenting with Wandora. There is also another FAQ answering more general questions about Wandora. See also Wandora forum for additional help.

I get java.lang.NullPointerException while opening a project in Wandora

The exact exception is

java.lang.NullPointerException
   at org.wandora.application.tools.project.LoadWandoraProject.loadProject(LoadWandoraProject.java:88)
   at org.wandora.application.tools.project.LoadWandoraProject.execute(LoadWandoraProject.java:72)
   at org.wandora.application.tools.AbstractAdminTool.run(AbstractAdminTool.java:192)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Couldn't find options.xml in package. Aborting load. 

This happens if you try to open XTM or LTM Topic Map (or unsupported file) with Open Project option. Plain XTM and LTM Topic Maps are not Wandora project files. Wandora project file is a zip collection of XTM files with special options.xml. To import XTM and LTM Topic Maps to Wandora you should use File > Import > Merge topic map feature.

The layer is red!

This happens only with database topic map layers. Wandora is not able to connect the given database. Right click the layer, select Configure layer... and correct database settings.

When I try to edit a topic Wandora throws org.wandora.topicmap.TopicMapReadOnlyException

You have locked current layer. To resolve this just unlock current layer or select another (unlocked) layer and try again.

I try to unlock a layer but it doesn't unlock!

This happens with database and query topic map layers.

Wandora notices automatically if the database user has no write rights to the database and keeps the layer locked even if the user clicks the lock icon in layer stack. To resolve problem reconfigure your layer and change the database user or change the database user rights.

Query topic maps are always locked as they contain algorithmically generated associations and topics. To edit query topic map edit the query that generates the topic map or edit topic maps used as a source for queries.

I can't see topic's associations, classes, instances, names, occurrences in topic panel

Check that you have toggled the topic element visible in View menu. Check also that you are using a Topic panels|topic panel that views the elements you are missing. Some topic panels may not contain visual representation for the missing element. For example Graph topic panel does not view topic's subject identifiers. Topic panels are listed in View > Topic panels. Traditional topic panel is a safe choise as it views all elements of a topic (unless you have toggled some elements invisible).

Wandora does not delete topic

Wandora does not allow topic deletion if the topic is a role in any association or an occurrence (text data) type in any occurrence. Delete such associations and occurrences first and try again. Another reason for unsuccessful deletion may be the selected layer. Check that the topic is included in selected layer. Check also that any other layer does not contain merged topic. Layer distribution may help here. You have to delete the topic separately in every layer.

Wandora does not change topic's base name, variant name or occurrence data

Check if there exists a merged topic in layers above. Check also if the topic above already has a base name, variant name or occurrence data with the same type and scope. Topic's layer distribution may help here. Change the base name, variant name or occurrence data of the top layer or remove base name, variant name or occurrence data of layers above.

Base name is red!

The base name locates in merged topic but not in current layer. Changing the base name now does not change viewed base name but adds base name to the topic in current layer. Depending on the layer order the effect is

• Base name does not change but stays red. The merged topic above overrides the topic in current layer.
• Base name changes and the color of the base name changes to black. The merged topic is below current layer and you have overriden the base name in merged topic. Toggling the visibility of current layer changes the base name to the base name found in layer below.

Base name does not change when I make base name with subject identifier

Generating base name with subject identifier does not change existing base names. To force base name generation, remove old base names before base name generation. To remove base names

• Select topics
• Start Topics > Base names > Remove base names...

Topic is red!

Topic is not located in current layer! Editing the topic now creates merged topic to the current layer.

I am not able to delete topic's subject identifier

Wandora does not allow SI deletion if topic has only one SI. Add second SI to the topic and remove the first one. Ensure also that you have selected same topic map layer where the topic locates.

Topic is [null]

This happens with association tables when association has no player with expected role. Wandora tries to optimize association visualization by placing multiple similar (=same association type) associations into a single topic table. Now, if you have two associations with same type but different roles, the association table has columns for all roles found in these associations and the column contains [null] if association has no player with column role.

Topic is [removed]

You probably see this most often in Finder's result set. When topic is shown as [removed], the topic table cell contains removed topic. Topic may have been removed explicitly by Delete topic operation or implicitly by merging the topic to another. If you perform the Finder search again the result set is updated and should not contain [removed] topics.

I try to add association but the association editor window doesn't work

Updated 2008-03-07: This should not be an issue anymore as association editors have been merged! Current Wandora distribution has only one association editor that resembles old schemaless association editor.

Old answer: Wandora has two association editors. You probably opened the schema association editor and have not defined required schema associations. Try starting the schemaless association editor selecting Add schemaless association.

I live in Sweden and would like to see Swedish as the first variant name type (occurrence type)

Variant name types are arranged in alphabetical order by default. To change the order, open topic Language SE under Wandora language and add _Swedish (Note the underscore character prefix) as the Sort name for the topic. Now Swedish sorts before English, Finnish, and Language independent.

I would like use language X in variant names and occurrences

See documentation at How to add another variant name language.

Oops, I made a mistake. Is there any kind of Cancel or Undo in Wandora?

Sorry. Not at the moment. Although we have been thinking it over. Maybe in future releases. Remember to save your project frequently.

How do I add my topic to topic tree

Topics are arranged in topic tree along super-subclass and class-instance relation. Tree root is Wandora class with subject identifier http://www.wandora.org/core/wandoraclass.

You can add your topic to the topic tree by

• Adding Wandora class as a class (type) to your topic.
• Associating your topic to Wandora class with super-subclass association.

How do I export topic map in LTM format

Start topic map export and give export file name extension LTM (extension can be in lower case). Wandora chooses file format automatically using the file extension. By default Wandora exports topic map in XTM 2.0 format.

How do I export topic map in XTM 1.0 format

Start topic map export and give export file name extension XTM1 (extension can be in lower case). Wandora chooses file format automatically using the file extension.

I am using regular expressions to modify X. What kind of regular expressions Wandora uses?

Wandora uses Java's native regular expressions that resemble Perl's regular expressions. Read more here:

• http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/util/regex/Pattern.html

Wandora application window doesn't open

Wandora remembers application window's last location on screen. If you change screen resolution between use sessions, it is possible that Wandora opens application window outside your current screen area. To restore the application window location:

• Close Wandora application
• Open Wandora options file resources/conf/options.xml in any text editor (or in XML editor)
• Find elements window > x and window > y and change their content to 0.
• Save changes and
• Run Wandora application

If you have not changed screen size, I suggest you start Wandora with shell script (bin/wandora.bat for example) and check if application generates any debug log to shell console during startup.