Description:

An experimental Applescript utility for calculating leaf totals from bibliographic collational formulae (click here to view the interface in .jpg format).

System Requirements:

The script can be used on most Macintosh computers running OS7.x or later. The freeware Dialog Director scripting addition (ver. 0.7) must also be present in the machine's Scripting Additions folder.

Input Supported:

Formula notation used to represent regular collations is generally supported. Exceptions include prefixed index numbers (which are of no mathematical significance) and any signings not represented in the standard keyboard character set as a single key (e.g. chi). Unsupported characters, including spelled-out characters or signatures expressed as multiple characters (e.g. "[par.]" or "*A"), should be replaced with some arbitrary, non-numeric keyboard character (e.g. use "*" for "[chi]" or the Greek letter chi).

Suffixed index numbers should be input on the same line as the signatures they follow -- for example, A-Z2 (where 2 is not a superscript).

Notation showing insertions or cancellations cannot be used. These should be accounted for by entering (in the box provided) an integer value representing the net number of leaves by which the leaf count should be adjusted (+ or -).

Examples of valid input:

*4 or ***4 or *-***4 (or *-3*4)

A-Z8 or A-U8 Y-Z8 or A-U8 W8 X-Z8 (24-letter alphabet)

A-2E4 or 2A-3P4 or 2A-3A8/4 (alternating quires of 8 and 4)

Formulae of any length can be used (subject to the memory limits of your computer) with elements separated by spaces, or by commas and spaces.

Examples of invalid input:

[pi]4 or [A]4 or *A4 or (*)4

A-W-Z8

F4(-3F)

2A4 to represent [superscript 2]A4

In actual practice, the majority of collational formulae can be copied from a source document (e.g. a MARC record) and processed by the calculator after only light editing.

Availability:

To download the script (Binhex format), including the required Dialog Director scripting addition, click here. Drag the Dialog Director icon into your Scripting Additions folder, which is located inside your System Folder (system 8.x) or inside the Extensions folder of your System Folder (system 7.x). Then reboot your computer and launch the Quire Calculator application.

Feedback:

This calculator is experimental and does not represent finished software. User feedback is actively sought. If you use the script, please share your suggestions, complaints, and other comments by mailing these to me (Christopher Handy) at charta@pop.netdirect.net.

  URL for this page: http://www2.inetdirect.net/~charta/QuireCalc/about.html
  Created: January 30, 1999