2. Import a file

A draft often refers to things that exist already: a vocabulary, a list of codes, an ontology. You import such a file. Catenary copies it into the workspace and locks the copy. You can refer to its elements, but you cannot change them.

This step imports a SKOS scheme of cities. Save this text as cities.ttl outside the workspace:

@prefix skos: <http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#> .
@prefix cities: <http://example.org/cities#> .

cities:Cities a skos:ConceptScheme ; skos:prefLabel "Cities" .
cities:Tangamandapio a skos:Concept ; skos:prefLabel "Tangamandapio" ; skos:inScheme cities:Cities .
cities:Macondo a skos:Concept ; skos:prefLabel "Macondo" ; skos:inScheme cities:Cities .
cities:Comala a skos:Concept ; skos:prefLabel "Comala" ; skos:inScheme cities:Cities .

Import it

1. Select File → Import RDF Files….
2. Select cities.ttl.

Catenary writes a Turtle copy to imported/cities.ttl and locks it. The Explorer shows the new folder. The import adds the cities prefix to the workspace prefixes.

Place the scheme on the canvas

1. Press F8 on the Main canvas.
2. Type Cities and press Enter.

The scheme appears as a card with its three concepts.

A locked file is read-only. If you try to change one of its statements, Catenary asks whether to unlock the file. Statements that you add about its subjects go to your own files.

Or paste a snippet

Import is for files that you keep as they are. For a quick sketch, you can also paste RDF text straight onto a canvas: copy a Turtle snippet, click the canvas and press Ctrl+V. Catenary adds the statements to your files and places the new elements as cards. This is often the fastest way to start a draft from an example that you found somewhere.

Next: Draw the shapes.