From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Structured wikis provide
database-like manipulation of fields stored on pages, and
usually offer an extraction and presentation language or markup
with functionality somewhat similar to
SQL.
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Contents
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1
Introduction
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2
Comparing Plain Wikis,
Database Systems and Structured Wikis
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3
Structured Wiki Engines
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4
See also
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Introduction
Wikis are typically used as shared whiteboards that
allows users to add, remove, or otherwise edit all content very
quickly and easily. The ease of interaction and operation makes
a plain wiki an effective tool for collaborative writing and to
share knowledge.
Database systems are not so much suited to
collaboratively maintain content, but they contain highly
structured data, offer easy reporting, and support workflow.
A structured wiki combines the benefits of - as it
seems like - contradicting worlds of plain wikis and database
systems. This gives you a collaborative database environment
where knowledge can be shared freely, and where structure can be
added as needed. In a structured wiki, users can create
wiki applications that are very specific to their needs,
such as call center status boards,
to-do lists,
inventory systems,
employee handbooks,
bug trackers,
blog
applications and more.
Comparing Plain Wikis, Database
Systems and Structured Wikis
| Feature |
Plain wikis |
Database systems |
Structured wikis |
| Content creation: |
Collaborative, organic |
Highly structured, predetermined format |
Both (case by case) |
| Structure: |
Simple:
Hyperlinks, hierarchy of pages, page
markup, categories |
Tables, rows, relations |
Both (case by case) |
| Reporting: |
Fixed reports (recent changes etc) |
Extensive reporting capabilities, also user
generated reports |
Both |
| Security: |
Community based "soft
security" |
Access control |
Both (case by case) |
| Application created by: |
N/A |
Programmers, database analysts (IT department) |
End users ("Visual Basic
paradigm shift") |
| Design methodology: |
N/A |
Top down "cathedral
style" |
Bottom up "bazaar
style", user centric; iterative application development |
Structured Wiki Engines
See also
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Wiki
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Wiki application
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Situational application
Categories:
Wiki |
Groupware |
Internet terminology