Termbase with a Twist

French documentation company LCI tests the waters of the linguistic software market.

Billed as a multilingual, multimedia terminology database, Lexpro is a attractive new software package developed by Linguistique Communication Informatique (LCI), an innovative translation and technical writing firm based in the Paris area. Rather than providing a shell for people to define their own database structure (as exemplified by MTX or MultiTerm), Lexpro offers an extensive, fixed structure which users can interactively configure using the program’s “style sheet” function to display the information they want to see. Entries can include fields for usage, syntax, translation, domain, concept, sector, source, status, nomenclature, and links. These are accessed by a button-bar at the top of the screen.
    While development of commercial software is a risky business not usually categorized as one of the core competencies of a documentation company, LCI has minimized its exposure by building the system using some sophisticated tools. One is the object-oriented database system POET, developed by a German software house. Another is a multi-platform interface development tool called Open Interface, from Neuron Data. Both system support Windows, Mac, and Unix, meaning that LCI can offer, right from the start, versions of LexPro for all of these systems, across mixed networks, a handsome achievement. The only aspect of the system which is not portable across platforms is the OLE function found in the Windows version. All development was done in,house under the direction of LCI’s linguist’programmer Matthew Gertner.
Thanks to the POET database engine, Lexpro’s field lengths are variable, meaning no space limitations in fields — always a plus in dealing with text’ based information. Moreover, Lexpro can not only text but also still images, video images, and sound files, provided you have the necessary hardware.
The object-oriented nature of the package makes it possible to link entries in a one,to,many relations, hip, even though the basic structure of the underly, ing database is flat, something difficult to grasp if you are accustomed to traditional flat or relational databases. LCI will be marketing Lexpro together with well,known terminology publishers La Maison du Oictionnaire. The latter will be making Lexpro significantl y more attractive by offering. upwards of fifty of its specialist terminology lists Lexpro format.
For companies requiring both pre,fab lexicons and multi’platform support, Lexpro is about the only choice around.But even if the package is not an immediate commercial success, LCI does have a staff of seventeen in,house translators, including a half, dozen native English speakers who can put the system through its paces. Who knows: with some industrious termbase building, LCI may one day discover that such data is more valuable than the software.

Prices: Standalone PC, Mac: FFR 4,800; Unix FFR 14,800; Network PC, Mac FFR 12,500, Unix FFR 39,000

LCI, 5, Rue du Petit-Robinson, F-78350 ]ouy-en-]osas, France; TeL- + 33 1 34 65 77 77, Fax: + 33 1 34 65 90 97

La Maison du Dictionnaire 98, blvd. du Montparnasse, F-75014 Paris, France; Tel: +33 1 43 22 12 93, Fax: +33143220177