Hierarchical category systems like
the ODP traditionally have been called classification systems. Taxonomy
and ontology are additional terms used to describe the work of organizing
categories. The goal in developing a category structure is to create
a system that allows people to easily find material.
The ODP follows a peer review process,
so no individual editor owns his or her category. Even if you are
the only editor listed in a category, there will be other editors
who will be able to edit and add sites there. These
editors include parent category editors, editalls, metas and
staff.
Editors have learned from experience
that communication (e.g., by e-mail or by posting proposed changes in the
appropriate editor forum) is critical to a successful editing process. When you want to make changes such as creating subcategories, or moving sites between categories, you should communicate with other editors before going ahead. Even if you are the sole editor of
a category, you should communicate changes to parent category editors.
Creating Subcategories
Generally, subcategories may be helpful
when the number of links exceeds 20, but creating subcategories when
there are fewer than 20 links generally will hinder users' ability to
find the desired information. Once a category has 20 or more links, editors
may see groups of links that can be easily organized by subtopic.
If you edit outside of the Regional
branch, you should subcategorize and organize sites by topic
whenever possible. When you have exhausted all possible ways of organizing
sites by topic, you may organize sites by geographic
area
or by an alphabet bar,
whichever is appropriate. Generally, organizing sites into alphabet bars
should be done as a last resort.
If you are listed as editor of a
category, you can automatically also edit in any subcategories or sub-subcategories
underneath it, as a "parent editor". You don't need to name yourself as editor
of subcategories that you create, and it is recommended that you not do
so, unless it is a "pet" category or special interest of yours, where you
expect to lavish lots of time and attention on building it up, or if you
are acting as part of a planned reorganization that will lead to the subcategory
being moved elsewhere, and you wish to continue to maintain the category
after it is moved. Leaving smaller categories without a listed editor serves
to attract new editors to join the ODP, and current editors to branch out into
new areas. In extreme
cases editors may be asked to resign from over-extensive lists of categories
that they have editing access to "from above."
Choosing Subcategory Names
The ODP currently does not use a
prescribed thesaurus for assigning subcategory names, however it is suggested
that you utilize the Preferred
Terms
list where possible. The following guidelines may
be useful in assigning names that will ensure consistency across the
ODP and prevent duplication of categories.
Note: Regional editors have developed their own
prescribed and recommended list of subject subcategories to be used under
geographic locations in the Regional branch only. Please see the
Regional Guidelines for more information.
Duplicate and Related Categories
An effective editor will search and/or browse
through the ODP in areas inside and outside his or her top level category
to find areas of potential duplication. Questions editors have
found useful to consider include the following: Is my subcategory
cross-disciplinary, and if so, what other areas could resources in my
subcategory be classified under? If there is a subcategory in
another area of the ODP that is similar to my subcategory, should I
create a Related Categories link? Should I create an @link (See also
@Links
below)
Topical Subcategory Names vs. Form Subcategory Names
Where a category's resources are related to one another by
their topic (e.g., Civil War sites, Venture Capital sites), a good subcategory
name meets the following criteria:
The subject is expressed using an English language term,
or English equivalent of a foreign language word, whenever possible and
appropriate. For some categories, it is appropriate to use non-English language
words, such as scientific sites where the subject may be most commonly identified
by a Latin word.
Words to describe the topic appear in a subject-specific
dictionary or widely used thesaurus or are typically used by the news and
media covering the subject area. The name should use the word(s) by which
the topic is most commonly known. (e.g., E-Commerce instead of Electronic
Commerce).
Where a category’s resources are related to one another
by their form (e.g., Chat Rooms and Message Boards, News sites, Directories),
a good subcategory name usually uses the word that is used most frequently
in other areas in pertinent top category.
Characteristics of Helpful Subcategory Names
Helpful subcategory names
Do not use acronyms or abbreviations unless they are commonly
understood
Do not repeat the name of the parent category
Collection of business
news sites under Top: Business Don't use: Business News Use: News and Media
Collection
of TV production company sites under
Top: Arts: Television Don't use: Television Production Companies Use: Production Companies
Are not called "General," "Miscellaneous," "Other Topics,"
or any other variation that implies a collection of general or unrelated
links. Links in these general, or catch-all categories should be placed at
the top of the most appropriate topical category or moved to an appropriate
topical subcategory.
The sites in a category such
as Recreation: Outdoors: Backpacking: General Sites should
all be moved to Recreation: Outdoors: Backpacking. All
general backpacking sites should be listed in the upper most
relevant category in a subject branch. If there was a site
in General Sites that was a site for a backpack
manufacturer, then it should be moved to the Recreation:
Outdoors: Backpacking: Manufacturers subcategory rather
than the main Recreation: Outdoors: Backpacking
category.
Do not use abbreviations or symbols (such as &, +, `n,
or etc.) to represent words.
Don't use: Periodicals, magazines, etc. Use: Magazines
Do not use terms for subcategory names that would incorrectly
suggest a category contains links to illegal content (e.g., Warez or Bootlegs)
Directories and Resources
Several
categories in the ODP have been created in order to list sites that
are web directories or contain resources covering a particular subject
area. The terms resources and directories are at times used interchangeably;
however, they should be used to classify two types of sites that are
quite different. The following is how the ODP defines the scope of
Directories and Resources categories.
Directories
Use to classify sites that
contain alphabetical or classified lists of resources covering a particular
subject area.
Only editors with catmv (category move) permissions can rename and move categories. Simple changes, such as typographical errors and those that bring category names in line with templates and category guidelines, can be requested by posting to the "Category Move/Rename/Delete Requests" thread in the appropriate forum.
Complex changes such as those affecting hierarchy and ontology should be discussed and agreed upon by the editing community. Follow these tips and advice when reorganising category hierarchies: Reorganising Categories.
Do not manually make category changes by creating a new category, moving sites from the old category to the new destination category, and then deleting the old category. The ODP loses valuable logs and category navigation integrity when this happens. A catmv by an editor with appropriate permissions is the most efficient way to move large numbers of links. Editors found making manual category moves (manual catmvs) may have their editing permissions revoked. For further information, see The Perils of the Manual Category Move (catmv).
Regional Subcategories
The Regional branch of the ODP is
the place to list sites focusing on a specific geographic region.
In general, the subject branches of the ODP contain sites that do not
have a particular geographic focus and/or the sites are of global
interest. If you are interested in creating a directory for regional
and local resources, then you should consider becoming an
editor in the Regional branch. A local resource is
one that covers a limited area, usually within a country's state,
province, or other equivalent administrative area (e.g. locality, metro
area, county, region). Editors may create regional subcategories
when no other type of organization will work. Please read the
FAQ -
Creating and Maintaining Regional Subcategories Under Topical
Categories
for more detailed instructions.
Last update: 2004-09-30
