{#- vim: set ft=htmldjango : -#} {% from 'docs/vis-documentation-macros.html' import full_documentation_link with context %} {% if show_figures %}
The location list. The confidence of location is indicated by a colored marker behind the place name. Places that match the search term at the top are highlighted in orange if their primary name matches, or in yellow if an alternative name matches. Names are shown in italics, darker, and desaturated if their level regarding confidence of location is not currently checked.
{% endif %}

In this view, all locations in the data are listed, using their main toponym as place name. Places can be searched, selected and filtered.

Contents

The view consists of several sections:

Detailed descriptions how to use the search field and the place filter are found below under {{ full_documentation_link('location-list-interaction', 'Interaction', true) }}. In what follows, the two lists are described.

The list Placed contains all locations for which a geographical position is known. The list Unplaced contains all locations for which a geographical position is not (yet) known; in this case, the confidence of location is attributed with no value and colored accordingly.

Note: Missing data is normal during research and while entering data is still in progress. However, missing data can severely affect confidence in the visualization if not properly communicated. We have therefore chosen to make missing geographical locations and time information explicit in separate views of this interface (apart from the section Unplaced in the location list, cf. the view {{ full_documentation_link('untimed-data', 'Untimed Data') }}). This also allows for searches directed at data in need of improvement.

The position of the two lists can be swapped by clicking on the swap button. The following is true for both lists: Each line in the lists represents one location. Locations are listed using their main toponym as place name. Accordingly, looking through the lists with a specific place name in mind, if this place name is not the main toponym, the location is not found and should be searched in the Search field. There, alternative names are considered as well (cf. {{ full_documentation_link('location-list-search-toponyms', 'further below', same=true) }}).

The place names are sorted alphabetically, disregarding a prefix of apostrophes (e.g., for the letter ʿain) or Arabic definite articles; for instance, Amid comes before 'Amman, and Jubayl comes before al-Juma.

In only active mode (cf. the {{ full_documentation_link('settings-all-data-only-active', 'Settings pane') }}), only places with pieces of evidence matching the current filters are listed.

When hovering over the line with the mouse, a tooltip (see {{ full_documentation_link('fig-location-list-2', 'this figure') }}) with additional information is shown, that is:

Also, while hovering, a link symbol appears at the very end of the line (see {{ full_documentation_link('fig-location-list-2', 'this figure') }}). Clicking the symbol opens an overview for this place, the so-called place URI page (cf. ###). Note: If the user has rights to edit the database, clicking the symbol leads to the respective entry of the location in the database instead.

Behind the place name, the confidence of location of each place is shown as a small, colored circle. The color scale is the same as in the confidence view. In all data mode (cf. the {{ full_documentation_link('settings-all-data-only-active', 'Settings pane') }}), when the filter set for confidence of location does not match the place’s confidence of location, this confidence circle is not filled. Also, the name is displayed in italics, darker, and in less saturated colors in that case.

{% if show_figures %}
A tooltip in the location list, for the place Antioch.
{% endif %}

Interaction

Selection

Individual locations can be selected by clicking on the respective line of the list. This will highlight the location, bring it to the top of the list and show a short vertical line to the left of the place name. Data related to the selected location will be linked in all other views, while non-selected data will be displayed in less-saturated colors.

Searching for Toponyms

It is possible to search for a specific place using different toponyms in the search field at the top. Non-Latin scripts can be used for searching, too.

Typing a search query in that field will highlight the search results in bold orange and sort them to the top of the list. The search matches not only the main toponym but also alternative names; for example, Edessa will find the respective place under its main toponym al-Ruha. Matches to alternative names that do not match the main toponym are sorted after main toponym matches and highlighted in bold yellow.

Apart from toponyms, external URIs can be entered in the search field. For example, syriaca:10 or syriaca.org/place/10 finds Antioch.

The search is partially case-sensitive: ask finds both Daskara as well as al-Askar Mukram, while Ask only finds al-Askar Mukram. The search field additionally supports JavaScript-style regular expressions. For example, searching for Bagh?dad would find Bagdad as well as Baghdad, because h followed by ? matches no h or exactly one h. For further reference, refer to the documentation here.

Filtering

The expandable section Place Filter at the top of the view allows to filter evidence by place. When expanded, a list of all places in the database is shown. If, however, something has been entered into the search field, only places matching the search are listed.

This list is used to include or exclude places from the so-called place set, that is, the set of places currently active. For instance, if Baghdad is excluded from the place set, all pieces of evidence attributed to Baghdad are filtered out. Keep in mind that, when all data mode is active, pieces of evidence attributed to places excluded from the place set are visible but displayed in less saturated colors.

A place can be removed from the place set by clicking on the red minus on its right, or added to the place set by clicking on the green plus. Note that the selection is not applied until the Apply button is clicked. This button is disabled if the selected filters are matching the data currently visualized.

A symbol to the left of the place name indicates the current state of the place:

Place sets can be saved using the Save button under the list. For users with access to the database, this will store a place set in the database under the name entered by the user. For users without access to the database, the place set will only be saved to localStorage. This feature is only available if the option all cookies is accepted in the cookie preferences (accessible through the menu bar on top). By clicking the Load button, a saved place set can be loaded back into the filter. Note:: Depending on your browser settings, cookies may be deleted after closing the browser, which leads to the loss of the saved place sets.

Buttons Facilitating Creating Place Sets

Buttons in the top left corner help in editing the place set on a larger scale:

The revert button
will revert the changes to the place set; that is, the place set will match the current filters.
Note: Because of the functionalities detailed below, the place set will not update from the database when other filters change; it changes only with the initial load and loads of the visualization state (cf. this feature in the {{ full_documentation_link('settings-persist-state', 'Settings') }}). Instead, resetting the place set is left to the user, which allows to build up a place set incrementally as illustrated by the example below.
The empty circle button
will uncheck all places; that is, no place would be included in the intended place set after application.
The exchange button
will invert the current marks; that is, all places that were marked are unmarked, and vice versa.
The button with dot inside
will check all places; that is, all places would be included in the intended place set after application.
The set union button
will extend the place set (PS) by all places currently shown in the location list (LL) (cf. {{ full_documentation_link('location-list-contents', 'the description above', true) }}). That is, all places that were in the place set before are still there, and additionally all places from the location list are checked. The result is the set union of the previous place set and the current location list:

PSnew = PSold ∪ LL

The set intersection button
will restrict the place set to contain only a subset of its current contents, namely those places that are also in the location list. The result is the set intersection of the place set set and the current location list:

PSnew = PSold ∩ LL

The set subtraction button
will remove all places currently in the location list from the place set. The result is the set difference of the previous place set and the current location list:

PSnew = PSold ∖ LL

These last three operations can be used to quickly create a complex place set from a number of criteria. Note: Since they use the contents of the location list, they only make sense when the only active visualization mode is active.

To illustrate the possibilities provided by these operations, consider the following case: We want to explore all pieces of evidence of Christianity in cities between 800 and 900, where there is evidence for Muslims but not for Jews:

  1. Clear all filters (everything is visible).
  2. Filter by time range (800–900) in the time line.
  3. Filter by religion using the religion view, choosing Islamic groups only, then click Apply.
  4. Restrict the place set to only those places currently displayed by clicking the set intersection button. The place set now contains all places where there is evidence of Islam between 800 and 900.
    Important: Do not yet apply the place set. This would affect the other views.
  5. Filter by religion using the religion view, choosing Jewish groups only, then click Apply.
  6. Remove the shown places from the place set by clicking the set subtraction button. The place set now only shows places where there are pieces of evidence of Islam between 800 and 900, but not of Judaism.
  7. Apply the place filter by clicking on the Apply button. Note: The map is blank; this is normal as you have just filtered out all places with presence of Judaism while the religion view is still set to show Judaism only.
  8. Filter by religion using the religion view, choosing Christian groups only, then click Apply.