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For all those of you who are visiting the Star Trek Dimension for the first time and have questions which haven't been dealt with in the introduction, I have compiled this FAQ (frequently asked questions) about the Dimension. It contains basic information, but also the rules regarding the use of material and copyright issues, facts and supplemental figures about this website worth to know, and is therefore also interesting for all who want to learn more about the Star Trek Dimension. To make the search for specific questions easier, the FAQ has been divided into the following sections:

The Star Trek Dimension
The Projects

 

 

The Star Trek Dimension

When was the Star Trek Dimension created?

The Star Trek Dimension is available in German since summer 1999, and this international version, (now at www.stdimension.org/int) since August 2000. However, work on the various information files and the first projects - the LCARS database, the Subspace Manual and the VOY and DS9 guide - was already started many months earlier. In fact, the first files for the Dimension were already created in autumn 1997; within two years the database was developed and many of its content written, so that this website had quite a lot of information to offer when it was put online on August 2nd, 1999. This is why the general copyright note on the main page, and the ones in the older projects, refer to "1997-2002" although the site has actually been online for a shorter time.

  Learn more about the history of the Dimension design in the extensive Making of  langde.gif (1207 Byte).

 

How large is the Dimension anyway?

When it was officially launched, the Dimension already consisted of hundreds of HTML files and had a size of about 25 MB. Until 2002, the project has considerably grown thanks to many new projects, the addition of this English language version and especially the massive amount of picture files and multimedia material, some of which are stored on other servers due to the limited space on the main domain. The archival edition now contains more than 4500 pictures, 1500 HTML files and 250 audio files, creating a total data volume of more than 180 megabytes.

 

How many people have created this web project?

Some think it's unbelievable but in fact I have created all pictures and texts alone in hundreds of hours of work, and I also administrated and organized this website on my own. However, I would lie if I didn't mention the persons who have helped me with their ideas, suggestions, information and other stuff in the last years, especially the web masters of my partner sites.

Therefore, I'd like to thank Bernd Schneider of Ex Astris Scientia, Timo S. Saloniemi, Masao Okazaki, Lance M. Nutter of The Trekker, Sebastian Lorenz, Heribert Ke�ler, Andreas K�mpel of Mc-Kinley-Station and Michael Seither of The Daily Trekker.

 

What does the Star Trek Dimension cost?

Of course, the visitor has to pay nothing. Even if I had the technical means - I despise the thought of a "pay internet". To my mind this would nix the very idea of the net as means to bring together people and cultures on a different than the usual level. I see it as a place there information can be exchanged freely, you can get information and material on virtually everything, and everyone contributes a little in return, no matter if by offering an own website, attending useful discussions in bulletin boards or other activities.
Yet, I have to pay money for keeping the Star Trek Dimension up and running. It used to be about 150 € p.a. for the domains and the webspace, formerly provided by the German company Strato. As a little thank you for all the costs and efforts, you can help me pay the running costs by doing your usual purchases at Amazon.com using the link on the main page (it'll cost you nothing!).

 

How did this international version came into being?

As mentioned at the beginning, the Star Trek Dimension was originally created as a German website only. However, already since late August 1999 I've worked on the translation of this website and the creation of a English language version. This international version which is independent from the German one (at least for the user), is available at www.stdimension.org/int. In this archival edition, almost all projects are available in English. Even for the LCARS Database, about 170 files are available in English. The episode guides for Deep Space Nine and Voyager are not completely translated to English, however at least the series and season overviews are available in an international version.

 

Now what does the supplemental "Archival Edition" mean?

This project has been concluded in autumn 2002. It has been transformed into a complete compendium about the science fiction saga from Star Trek to Star Trek: Voyager, keeping all information and projects in a reworked, finished version for your pleasure. It is therefore called "The Archival Edition".

 

Where did you get all the information, facts and pictures?

I took pure facts as well as un-retouched "raw" pictures and diagrams directly from television (via TV card), official books and CD ROMs as well as various internet sources, while I tried to maintain the copyrights by giving appropriate credits (directly where I used the information/material or on the sources page).
At the same time I want to state that I never take texts, no matter if complete or in excerpts, one to one from other websites or books. All pages have been created, the texts were written by me, and most often I have created, reworked or enhanced even the pictures and diagrams in hard work.
As visiting the Star Trek Dimension is completely free, my principal benefit is that I can - just as other the other Trekkers - take delight in my website.

 

Do you use only official information or also facts from novels and computer games?

Just as many other Star Trek sites, I had basically decided to use the actual series, movies and some official technical documentations (with Jeri Taylor's "Mosaic" as only exception) as "supreme instance" - however, with the understanding that these depictions of the Trek universe are fallible as well, and the books themselves often contain conjectural information.

That means: if the book contradicts with the episode, the episode is right. An example is the construction date of Deep Space Nine, which was built in 2351 according to all books (before the ST:DS9 TM), but which did exist already in 2346 according to season 6 episodes.
Furthermore this means that I as well did use assumptions and conclusions; especially if the official information were contradictive or flawed themselves (however, not if they were sketchy or incomplete). Other than the authors of the Star Trek Encyclopedia I was not happy with noticing that it's "odd" that the Ktarians of Voyager seem to be a completely different culture than in TNG, but I drew the self-evident conclusion that these are two different species. Therefore, the LCARS Database isn't a mere reproduction of the Trek universe as mentioned book, but always also tries to include an interpretation and examination of the gathered facts & figures.  The science fiction saga should be logical, comprehensible and coherent (this is the reason why projects like Investigating Trek or the Star Trek Cartography exist). This site does often present my own view of the topics dealt with anyway.

In most cases, of course, I limited such "own initiatives" to the background sections (Investigating Trek and others) and to projects clearly marked as "non-canon" (e.g. Utopia Planitia). If there were important reasons, that there can be no alternative, however, I did use such information "officially" as well (such as the Ktarians).

Moreover, I made the restriction that my own conclusions, which have to be strictly based on safe information, should never contradict any official material (up to the end of Star Trek: Voyager). For instance, all maps of the Galactic Atlas are based on approximate position data and the more imprecise official maps, and supplemental figures from the LCARS database chronology were calculated using the stardate rules.

  You will find a complete list of the used books etc. on the sources page.

 

What parts of the Star Trek Dimension can I use?

If we're talking about the copyright situation, basically, the same legal statements apply to the internet and the digital media in general as to the traditional (print) media. Therefore, I - as author and webmaster - have set the following rules for the Star Trek Dimension:

  • Star Trek and all related trademarks are of course the property of Viacom/Paramount Pictures. The same applies to large parts of the "raw material" used for the creation of this website.
  • Nonetheless, the work of this website, as far as it has been done by myself (and this applies to 99% of the texts and pictures, no matter if marked with a copyright notice or not - see the database, for example, where I've refrained from spoiling the authenticity with respective notes), is my own, personal property. As author of this website, I've put hundreds of hours of work into the various projects and therefore do not permit the use of my texts, or even the publication of complete / partial pages and page structures without my agreement. In this regard, an alteration of the the material of this website for the purpose of "avoiding copyright infringements" is, of course, not permitted either.
  • Prohibited as well is the use of navigation elements, logos, background pictures, 2D diagrams, 3D views, retouched photos and photo collages and all images belonging to the overall design of the Star Trek Dimension created by me, unless I've given an explicit permission. I ask you to keep this in mind, while as with the texts, an alteration or falsification of the pictures is not permitted again.
  • Limited quotation of the conclusions of my work, or the use of numbers, facts etc. as part of your own work is permitted, while you should not forget to include correct source information (www.stdimension.org) and send me a notification mail.
  • Photos scanned or grabbed by me which are explicitly offered for download may be used with proper notes regarding their source, but again for the further processing in your own work only and not to offer e.g. the complete screenshot archives or map archives. The wallpapers created by me may be used as background images for your desktop, but shall not be offered or published on the net.
  • Of course, material originating from the net that is offered in the same way here and is marked accordingly may be used freely.
  • I apply special rules for the Galactic Atlas of the Star Trek Cartography. If you have a RPG and wish to use it for your games, please do contact me.
  • For all other issues, please pay attention to the usage notes given in the various sections, and contact me to clear up the situation. Especially in the case of a planned use of material of the Star Trek Dimension in print media (magazines, books etc.), for which exceptions from the rules given here might be acceptable.
  • Source notes concerning the author/original website (lists of references) are always demanded, as already mentioned with regard to single cases, especially if you quote my work.
  • Please keep in mind that for all mail requests on the use of material / copyright issues, only a clear response from me possibly means an approval. No answer does not equal a "tacit agreement".

 

How did you create the breathtaking design of the Dimension?

With lots of patience, admittedly knowledge and skills obtained in many years, and powerful tools like Paintshop Pro, which I prefer because of its diversity of functions, the sophisticated mask, selection and layer techniques and its easy usage. Of course Microsoft Frontpage, which I used for the creation of every single of the many HTML files, shouldn't remain unmentioned. Additional 2D graphics and many of the 3D renderings added in the last months have been created with PhotoShop and the modeler/animator Soft F/X.

  More on designing the Star Trek Dimension in the Making of report

 

What prizes did the Star Trek Dimension receive?

This web project has been decorated not only with the private awards of other web sites. It was one of the five finalists of the Millenial Trek Award in early 2000, has been a recommended site in the section movie, cinema & culture in the German search engine Fireball and according sections of Lycos for some time, and was site of the day as well as site of the week at Yahoo! Germany. It was also mentioned in important German computer magazines like ComputerBild and Com!Online, and was listed in the 2002/2003 issue of the book "The best German internet adresses". By the way, even members of the Star Trek production staff have already visited this site.

 

The projects

LCARS Database: What does this "LCARS" mean anyway?

"LCARS" is the abbreviation for Library Computer Access and Retrieval System. It is a program that is used by the whole Federation in the 24th century to search for, display and analyze information. The LCARS Database project of the Star Trek Dimension tries to simulate the LCARS interface as realistically as possible by using HTML, JavaScript and according graphics, as the multimedia presentation of the data with high quality pictures and diagrams is regarded as very important.

     

LCARS Database: Why are most information listed in a "structured data sheet" format?

As mentioned, the database should be mainly a perfect simulation of a LCARS interface, and I doubt that e.g. the personal files of the Enterprise would contain trivial facts as the favorite food of the officers in long sentences with nice remarks ([TNG] Episode ...). Of course the preference of the one or the other style is a matter of taste, however, especially for technical files about ships etc. the "data sheet" format  is very advantageous to present a large number of facts in a clear and easy-to-use way.
By the way, many pages contain more or less long prose passages to provide additional information which could not be provided as keywords. For example, the class specifications always contain a summarizing description of the class, and the files of the astronomical and biographical databases are updated in a similar way soon.

   

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� 1999-2002 by Star Trek Dimension / Webmaster. Last update: June 11th, 2003