TOPIC: Built in Glossary of Terms?

Maybe I'm the only one interested in a feature like this, but how 'bout adding an automatic "Glossary of Terms" to HIP?

I'll try to describe what I am envisioning in my flu-induced stupor.  I add a narrative or comment to my report that says something like "Aerator missing at kitchen sink". The "Glossary" function of HIP recognizes the word "aerator" and automatically starts a Glossary of Terms page at the back of the report.  (The page could be turned on or off) The page would automatically add all of the terms that would be pre-loaded in to HIP that it recognizes from the comments/narratives within each report.  So the Glossary of terms page would add "Aerator: An apparatus that mixes air into flowing water. It is screwed onto the end of a faucet spout to help reduce splashing."  Ideally the terms would be alphabetized.  But a typical report could easily have 20, 30, 40 or more terms that could automatically be added at the back of each report.  The definitions of each term would be there for the client to read in case they don't know what the term/item happens to be.  It would just be another enhancement that helps the client understand the report better and makes us (the Inspector) look even better than HIP already makes us look!

NACHI has a great Glossary of Terms list available that contains thousands of terms.  I realize what a pain this would be to load in to HIP but the good thing is that I don't have to do it! ;D I'm just the idea guy!

Whatcha think?  Am I the only one who thinks this has potential?  Thanks for your time!

Toby

Hmm, that's definitely a possibility though I think it would add a good 3-4 pages to the report as there would be a LOT of terms to add in. Would anyone else be interested in this?

From my perspective the added pages wouldn't be a problem.  Whether I print out the report or email it as a .pdf I think the benefits are worth the extra pages.

Oh - and within the report could the terms that will show up on the glossary page automatically be a different color or highlighted or have a asterisk* to signify that there is more info in the Glossary?  We could add our own verbiage telling the client that "More information can be found on all blue (or whatever) colored terms in the Glossary of Terms at the back of the report".

Ok guys, Dominic didn't say "no" so please add your 2 cents worth on this topic.  It involves no extra work (the way I envision it) on our part.  Any word that you add within your comments/narratives that is in the "Master" Glossary would automatically be placed in the Glossary in the back of the report.

It's good info for the client and your report will look like you spent a lot of time building the glossary.  It's all about educating the client.

Have at it!

Toby

That's an interesting idea. I like the auto insert feature because I would not include a glossary if it was going to have hundreds of unused words at the end of a report. If the inspector could control which words were in the glossary so that the potential list of words HIP was scanning for was limited, now THAT would slick.

Then your glossary would be limited by HIP Only including used words and the inspector controlling the list of words to draw from. I would use that.

Good Morning Cameron,

Your description is pretty much what I have in mind.  It would basically be a database built in to HIP.  As we build a report any word that we use (i.e. "Step Crack" or "Mortar Pack" etc.) in the report would automatically trigger the Glossary of Terms page.  And only the words that are in the database would be used in the Glossary so it would limit the glossary to the words we use in each individual report.  My thought is that the database could start with a basic set of terms such as those found in the NACHI Glossary HERE But that makes me think that it would also be really nice to be able to add/edit the database ourselves to give it a local flavor.  For example here in Arizona we talk about things like scorpions and haboobs (major dust storms) that other areas of the country don't deal with and vice-versa.  So if we had the ability to add our own terms and definitions to the database that would be awesome.

Of course it's very easy for me to visualize all of this but the reality is that Dominic has the headache of putting this together and making it a reality.  But I'm very glad you like the idea Cameron! ;D I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Anyone else?

Yep, I have no need for "Scorpion" in my glossary...  Thank the Lord.    I would probably shrink the NACHI glossary to fit my own needs as well, but having it or a similar glossary as a starting point would be great.  There are some terms that are defined in our State SOP and I would probably also defer to those definitions in some cases. 

I'm not as big a fan of automatically changing the color of glossary terms, but some designation might be nice.  I can see color being a challenge for guys who already use different colors for different comments and summary items. I personally would also not want an asterisk since I already use it as a footnote for my comments needing general maintenance or minor repairs. If any designation were to be used to make glossary terms "pop", I think users should have the choice of turning it off if they choose.