View source for Research:Data Model - Concept Guide

= Data Model – Concepts Guide =

This page explains, in simple language, how information is organized in our research system.

It is written for club members and contributors.

No technical or ICT knowledge is required.

The goal is only to understand:

''How do we describe our history in a clear and structured way?''



== Why do we need a structure? ==

During research we collect many things:

* photographs
* letters
* reports
* names of people
* buildings
* cities
* events

Without structure:

* information gets lost
* files are duplicated
* relationships are unclear
* searching becomes difficult

The system simply helps us:

* name things consistently
* connect related information
* keep sources organized
* make everything searchable

It does NOT change how we do research.

It only makes it clearer.



== The basic idea ==

We separate different kinds of things.

For example:

* the building itself
* the people involved
* the city
* the photos and documents

Each of these is treated differently.

This avoids confusion.



= The main concepts =



== HeritageObject — what we study ==

A HeritageObject is the main subject of research.

It answers:

''What is the thing we are talking about?''

Examples:

* a sanatorium
* a building
* a room
* a hospital
* a railway line
* a tram network
* a historical site

If something existed in history and we want to describe it, it is probably a HeritageObject.



== Person — who was involved ==

A Person is a historical individual.

Examples:

* doctors
* sisters
* teachers
* architects
* patients

Persons act and make decisions.



== Organization — which group acted ==

An Organization is a group or institution.

Examples:

* congregations
* companies
* foundations
* government bodies

Organizations act collectively.



== Place — where things happen ==

A Place is a location.

Examples:

* a city
* a region
* a building site
* a country

Places describe location only.

They are not actors.

Many photos, maps, and documents may belong to the same place.



== DigitalAsset — our sources ==

A DigitalAsset is a source that documents something.

Examples:

* a photograph
* a scan of a letter
* a newspaper article
* a postcard
* a PDF
* a plan or drawing

DigitalAssets are the evidence for our research.

Each source gets its own page and description.



== File — storage only ==

A File is just the stored JPG or PDF.

Files provide storage.

They get meaning only through DigitalAssets.

In short:

File = storage  
DigitalAsset = meaning



== ResearchChapter — telling the story ==

ResearchChapters help organize interpretation.

They structure the narrative.

Examples:

* Early years
* War period
* Reconstruction
* Daily life

Chapters explain the story but are not historical objects themselves.



== Keywords — helping search ==

Keywords are simple tags that help find things quickly.

They do not define structure.



= How things connect =

In practice:

* HeritageObjects are documented by DigitalAssets
* Persons and Organizations are linked to HeritageObjects
* Places tell us where things are located
* Chapters organize the story
* Files store the actual data

Everything is connected, but each concept has a clear role.



= Hierarchies (things inside things) =

Some things can contain smaller parts of the same kind.

For example:

* a building contains rooms
* a city contains neighborhoods
* a chapter contains subchapters

This is natural and helps us describe complex structures.

(See also: [[Research:Recursive Structures Explained]])



= Numbering and file names =

DigitalAssets receive automatic identifiers such as:

  CH03-ROM-0007

These numbers are created by the system.

Contributors do not need to invent names.

Files simply use the same name as their DigitalAsset.

This keeps everything consistent and easy to find.

(See also: [[Research:Numbering and File Naming]])



= What contributors need to remember =

You do not need to think about the technical side.

Simply:

* describe things clearly
* choose the correct type (object, person, place, source)
* upload files with the suggested names

The system handles the rest.



= Summary in one sentence =

We separate:

* what we study
* who was involved
* where it happened
* which sources document it
* and how we tell the story

This keeps our history organized and easier to understand.



== Status ==

Conceptual guide for contributors