This means that anyone using the format 'offline' doesn't need to access some resource storage (i.e. the net) to make a successful identification.

My use of "external resource" was rather unclear. I am thinking in terms of a database information system, so external resource means any URL or file based document. Thus external in my use could just as well be a local resource as a internet resource. If an information system is distributed on CD, all images, formatted text, and audio etc. would be on that CD.

Any better terms than "external resource"? I don't like media resource/hypermedia etc., because I feel this is not very adequate for resources like a query/identification interface.

Yes, rendering a graphical representation of (say) a leaf onto the screen would be a good application for vector graphics. However again some additional text describing the image/shape would be useful - for those applications that don't support vector graphics, or indeed visually impaired users.

A resource in my model has specific attributes (which are different from characters), esp. indication of scope (to which items/character/state it belongs + flags whether it is to be used as default resource for this scope), a caption, which contains the description, media types, etc.

Gregor ---------------------------------------------------------- Inst. for Plant Virology, Microbiology, and Biosafety Federal Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry (BBA) Gregor Hagedorn Net: G.Hagedorn@bba.de Koenigin-Luise-Str. 19 Tel: +49-30-8304-2220 14195 Berlin, Germany Fax: +49-30-8304-2203

Often wrong but never in doubt!