a. Ontologies

Ontologies are a list of related terms, both nodes (concepts) and links (relationships), which can be imported and added to a VUE map to provide semantic meaning. VUE can import ontologies defined in RDF-S or OWL formats allowing for the creation of concept maps from pre-defined object and relationship types. A defined mapping vocabulary scaffolds map creation and supports computer-assisted map comparison and assessment. The visual characteristics of objects and relationships defined in an ontology may also be styled via a CSS file (a default CSS file ships with VUE). Ontological terms are searchable.

Both ontological terms and ontological membership keywords can be added to nodes.

To import an ontology:

  1. From the menu bar, select Windows > Ontologies. The Content: Ontologies window opens.
  2. On the Ontologies tab toolbar, click the Add Ontology tool. The Add an Ontology window opens.
    Ontologies may be added from a local file or from the web.
  3. In the Ontology File location field, select a location, either local or web.
  4. Based on your selection of “on the web” or “in a local folder,” either type in an URL or select the file.
  5. Click Add. The ontology is added to the Ontologies window.
    To add an ontological node to the map:
  6. In the Content: Ontologies window, with the ontology visible, drag the term from the list to the map. The node is added to the map.

Nodes that contain an ontological term will display the star icon.

Ontological Membership (terms associated with the node) can be inspected by right-clicking a node, and then selecting Node Info.

Alternately, Ontological Membership may be added to an existing node.

To add Ontological Membership to an existing node:

  1. From the menu bar, select Windows > Info. The Info window opens.
  2. With the Ontologies window also open, click the node. Sizing handles appear on the node.
  3. In the Content: Ontologies window, click the ontological term.
  4. At the base of the Info window, in the Ontological Membership area, click the Add selected term button. The term is added to the node.

Other Ontology functionality:

  • Changing the node label does not affect the Ontological Membership term.
  • Multiple ontological terms may be added to a node.
  • Ontological terms may be removed from a node by clicking the Remove tool.
  • Style sheets may be added to an ontology for consistent formatting:
  1. From the menu bar, select Windows > Ontologies. The Content: Ontologies window opens.
  2. On the Ontologies tab toolbar, click the Add Ontology tool. The Add an Ontology window opens.
  3. In the Ontology Style Sheet File location field, select a location, either local or web.
  4. Based on your selection of “on the web” or “in a local folder,” either type in an URL or select the file.
  5. Click Add. The Style Sheet is applied.

To remove an ontology from the Ontologies window:

  1. In the Ontologies window, right-click (Ctrl-click on the Mac) the ontology to be removed. The context menu opens.
  2. Select Delete Ontology. The ontology is removed from the window.