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As most Wittgenstein scholars and enthusiasts are well aware, the [https://wab.uib.no/ Wittgenstein Archives at the University of Bergen] maintain a rich collection of online resources related to Ludwig Wittgenstein's ''Nachlass''.
As most Wittgenstein scholars and enthusiasts are well aware, the [https://wab.uib.no/ Wittgenstein Archives at the University of Bergen] maintain a rich collection of online resources related to Ludwig Wittgenstein's ''Nachlass''.


In particular, since 2012, the WAB's [https://wab.uib.no/sfb/ "Semantic faceted search and browsing" (SFB) website] allows readers and researchers across the globe to search, filter and display individual remarks from the ''Nachlass'', or collections thereof, based on their content or relevant metadata. Moreover, since 2016, the WAB's [https://wab.uib.no/transform/wab.php?modus=opsjoner "Interactive dynamic presentation" (IDP) website] makes it possible for users to view entire manuscripts or typescripts, or collections thereof, in a linear or diplomatic style, while dynamically selecting which sets of information to display. In addition, since as early as 2009, the WAB offers a static ''Nachlass'' edition in facsimiles and transcriptions on the [https://wittgensteinsource.org "Wittgenstein Source"] website.
In particular, since 2012, the WAB's [https://wab.uib.no/sfb/ "Semantic faceted search and browsing" (SFB) website] allows readers and researchers across the globe to search, filter and display individual remarks from the ''Nachlass'', or collections thereof, based on their content or relevant metadata. Moreover, since 2016, the WAB's [https://wab.uib.no/transform/wab.php?modus=opsjoner "Interactive dynamic presentation" (IDP) website] makes it possible for users to view entire manuscripts or typescripts, or collections thereof, in a linear or diplomatic style, while dynamically selecting which sets of information to display. In addition, since as early as 2009, the WAB offers a static ''Nachlass'' edition in facsimiles and transcriptions on the [https://wittgensteinsource.org "Wittgenstein Source" website].


All three websites display their human-readable output by using dedicated software to index and parse the WAB's machine-readable transcriptions of Wittgenstein's manuscripts and typescripts. These transcriptions of the handwritten or typewritten material are encoded in the [[wikipedia:XML|XML]] format following the [[wikipedia:Text Encoding Initiative|TEI guidelines]]. While the transcriptions were originally published as part of the CD-based Bergen Electronic Edition (Oxford University Press 2000), the SFB, IDP, and Wittgenstein Source websites now allow anyone who has an Internet connection to easily browse them.
All three websites display their human-readable output by using dedicated software to index and parse the WAB's machine-readable transcriptions of Wittgenstein's manuscripts and typescripts. These transcriptions of the handwritten or typewritten material are encoded in the [[wikipedia:XML|XML]] format following the [[wikipedia:Text Encoding Initiative|TEI guidelines]]. While the transcriptions were originally published as part of the CD-based Bergen Electronic Edition (Oxford University Press 2000), the SFB, IDP, and Wittgenstein Source websites now allow anyone who has an Internet connection to easily browse them.


The ''Nachlass'' contains approximately 3000 graphics and figures. Until 2022, these were represented in the Bergen ''Nachlass'' editions either as character transcriptions, facsimile snippets or redrawn visuals stemming from different sources. In this task, the WAB had received invaluable help from its transcribers and editors as well as from Michael R. Biggs and, since 2014, also from Hans Biesenbach.
The ''Nachlass'' contains approximately 3000 graphics and figures. Until 2022, these were represented in the Bergen ''Nachlass'' editions either as character transcriptions, facsimile snippets or redrawn visuals stemming from different sources. In this task, the WAB had received invaluable help from its transcribers and editors as well as from Michael R. Biggs and, since 2014, from Hans Biesenbach as well.


In 2022, on the initiative of Alois Pichler, director of the WAB, the WAB and Michele Lavazza, coordinator of the [https://wittgensteinproject.org/ Ludwig Wittgenstein Project], started a cooperation intended to redraw all graphics and figures that then were represented by redrawn visuals or facsimile snippets, following a uniform style in "normalized" format.
In 2022, on the initiative of Alois Pichler, director of the WAB, the WAB and Michele Lavazza, coordinator of the [https://wittgensteinproject.org/ Ludwig Wittgenstein Project], started a cooperation intended to redraw all graphics and figures that then were represented by redrawn visuals or facsimile snippets, following a uniform style in "normalized" format.
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It soon started to seem desirable that the image files should also become available – ''i.e.'', browsable and searchable – in and of themselves, and not only as an integral part of the manuscripts. Thus, Michele Lavazza built this website ([[Main Page|{{SITENAME}}]]) to host the files and used data from the WAB's XML transcriptions, combined with a database-like infrastructure powered by [https://semantic-mediawiki.org Semantic MediaWiki], to make it possible to search and filter them by description tags as well as by manuscript number. In this task, he received help from Frederic Kettelhoit and continued working in cooperation with Alois Pichler.
It soon started to seem desirable that the image files should also become available – ''i.e.'', browsable and searchable – in and of themselves, and not only as an integral part of the manuscripts. Thus, Michele Lavazza built this website ([[Main Page|{{SITENAME}}]]) to host the files and used data from the WAB's XML transcriptions, combined with a database-like infrastructure powered by [https://semantic-mediawiki.org Semantic MediaWiki], to make it possible to search and filter them by description tags as well as by manuscript number. In this task, he received help from Frederic Kettelhoit and continued working in cooperation with Alois Pichler.


Finally, at this stage, it became clear that an added value would be provided by the fact of also offering the visuals that had been encoded in the WAB's transcriptions by the abovementioned combination of XML tags and Unicode characters and their semantic tags. These visuals are currently represented by grey placeholders that merely serve the purpose of bearing the semantic tags (more on this topic in the ''[[#User guide|User guide]]'' section below). It is our hope that in the future, with the evolution and continuous improvement of the transcriptions, it will become possible to also include their visual appearance in this website.
Finally, at this stage, it became clear that an added value would be provided by the fact of also offering the visuals that had been encoded in the WAB's transcriptions by the abovementioned combination of XML tags and Unicode characters and their semantic tags. These visuals are currently represented by grey placeholders that merely serve the purpose of bearing the semantic tags (more on this topic in the ''[[#User guide|User guide]]'' section below). It is our hope that in the future, with the evolution and continuous improvement of the transcriptions, it will become possible to also include their visual appearance in this website.


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