DICT/LX FAQ

(1) HOW DO I INVOKE DICT/LX?

(2) WHAT DATA DOES THE CONFIGURATION FILE NEED?

(3) WHAT FILES DOES DICT/LX USE FOR WORD LISTS?

(4) CAN I USE DICF FILES?

(5) CAN I RUN A SIMILAR PROGRAM ON MY DESKTOP OR UNIX MACHINE?

(6) I GOT A DICTIONARY FOR LANGUAGE X FROM http://www.freedict.com
OR http://dict.hplx.net BUT I DON'T HAVE A CONFIGURATION FILE. WHAT
DO I DO?

(7) AND IF I DON'T HAVE PERL ON MY DESKTOP?

(8) WHY IS THIS APPLICATION SO CHUBBY?

(9) HOW DO I USE "CHECK INTEGRITY" AND "PROBE CHARSET"?

(10) HOW DO I LOOK UP A DEFINITION?

(11) HOW DO I REQUEST FOR CROSS TRANSLATION?

(12) HOW DO I CHANGE TO THE OPPOSITE DICTIONARY?

(I) CONTACT DETAILS

(II) LEGAL NOTICE



(1) HOW DO I INVOKE DICT/LX?

DICT/LX will be probably too big to operate from the application
manager. Easiest way would be to exit to DOS, CD to the directory
where LXDICT.EXE and the dictionaries are (we recommend to have
them in the same dir), and type:

LXDICT <configuration file>

Configuration files usually end with .ini, and you should get your
configuration file together with the language package, or use the
wizard to create your own. (See section 6)

(2) WHAT DATA DOES THE CONFIGURATION FILE NEED?

The configuration file holds the name of the two languages it maps,
the filenames for the wordlist, or optionally (and recommended) two
word lists for translation in opposite directions, the keyboard
mapping (if you intend to run DICT/Console, see section 5), and the
charset definitions.

Charset definitions define the alphabet order for the specific
language, and the mapping between standard ASCII to the DOS
display.

If you intend to import dictionaries, be warned that the automation
can merely try to make a fair guess as to the charset.

(3) WHAT FILES DOES DICT/LX USE FOR WORD LISTS?

Each wordlist file format has a driver associated which is
statically linked to the program. Currently there is only one
driver, but more will be supported in future versions. Current
version is a multiple key, fixed length, null padded text file,
sorted according to some idiosyncratic rules.

(4) CAN I USE DICF FILES?

DICF files (see http://www.dict.org) are going to be supported in
the next major version, but most probably will be supported only on
the console version and not on the HP/LX version.

(5) CAN I RUN A SIMILAR PROGRAM ON MY DESKTOP OR UNIX MACHINE?

DICT/LX is a functional subset of DICT/Console, which is GNU-C++
compliant. DICT/LX was compiled under Borland C++ on the medium
memory model, and therefore has a few features disabled. Its added
value is the GUI, created with the PAL libraries, which make it
handy as a portable dictionary for the traveller.

DICT/Console can be run correctly on DOS compiled on the DJGPP or
CYGWIN architectures. Your distribution might contain the DJGPP
version on a file called DICT.EXE. It was also tested on Debian
Linux, and will run correctly on most modern UNIX flavours.

Don't try to upload this file to your palmtop, as it requires an
Intel 80386 processor, while the HP/LX uses 80C186.

The console version uses Gnu Readline Library, and features auto-
completion for dictionary words and commands, keyboard mappings for
typing foreign languages on regular DOS US keyboard, and the "probe
charset" function that you will need to import new dictionaries.

If you need sources for compilation on UNIX platform, please
contact the authors.

(6) I GOT A DICTIONARY FOR LANGUAGE X FROM http://www.freedict.com
OR http://dict.hplx.net BUT I DON'T HAVE A CONFIGURATION FILE. WHAT
DO I DO?

You will need a PC running Windows(R) and a port of Perl for
Windows. Repeat the following steps.

(In our example we will assume you installed the Swedish-English
package, this is just for illustration purposes)

a) Run the installation dict_swe.exe and install it on your
desktop.

b) In DOS, go into the directory where DICT/Console is installed,
and type: perl wizard.pl <the directory where you installed the
dictionaries> For example, if you installed the dictionary on
c:\dictionary, type perl wizard.pl c:\dictionary

c) If the wizard found the directory, you will be presented with a
list of dictionaries installed. For example

1) English - Swedish

2) English - French

Type the number of the chosen dictionary (in this example: 1) and
wait. The wizard will make new copies of the *.wb files in your
directory, with short names that suit old FAT systems. (Like the
one the HP/LX uses).

d) Choose a name for your configuration file, in our example:
swe.ini

e) After copying the files, the wizard will invoke DICT.EXE to
probe the charset.

*************************************************
*                                               *
* IMPORTANT * IMPORTANT * IMPORTANT * IMPORTANT *
*                                               *
*************************************************

The charset probing algorithms are not perfect, and there is a
small chance that the charset will need to be edited by hand.
DICT.EXE will check (when invoked from the wizard) that the probed
charsets were correct before installing them into the configuration
file.

f) Try to run DICT/Console with the new dictionary. In out example,
try: DICT SWE.INI

and try to search for some words.

g) Transfer the files swe.ini, eng_swe.wb and swe_eng.wb to your
palmtop, to the same directory where LXDICT.EXE is installed.

Other dictionaries will result in different filenames. Before the
wizard starts probing the charset, you can the filenames displayed.

h) You can now type on your palmtop:

LXDICT SWE.INI

(7) AND IF I DON'T HAVE PERL ON MY DESKTOP?

A stand alone version for DOS of that wizard will be included in
one of the next minor versions.

(8) WHY IS THIS APPLICATION SO CHUBBY?

DICT was originally written for UNIX machines, hence written in
C++. This provides readable powerful code, but large binaries that
consume lots of memory. We currently intend to develope DICT/LX
only in C++.

(9) HOW DO I USE "CHECK INTEGRITY" AND "PROBE CHARSET"?

Don't use them on the HP/LX, they might hang the system.

After creating an .ini file, you can verify it was created
correctly by typing: DICT -C <file> (Switches *ARE* case
sensitive!)

For help on the probe options, type DICT -h

We recommend to probe new files with: DICT -P -C -s -S -V -a

(10) HOW DO I LOOK UP A DEFINITION?

That was supposed to be number 1 ;)

Type your word, and press ENTER or F10.

The dialog will reappear, and the definitions will appear in the
list box. The searched word will appear under the list box, and a
new button, "Cross" will appear. If nothing was found, you will get
just an error message.

(11) HOW DO I REQUEST FOR CROSS TRANSLATION?

Choose the relevant definition on the list box, and choose the
"Cross" button.

(12) HOW DO I CHANGE TO THE OPPOSITE DICTIONARY?

Press the "Swap" button.



(I) CONTACT DETAILS

Core of DICT was written by Simo Blom, sbl@alpha.hut.fi

LX and Console interfaces were written by Ariel Brosh,
ariel@atheist.org.il. This software is pure GMT+2 coded. d:^)

(II) LEGAL NOTICE

This program is copyrighted freeware. You do not need to pay for
using this program on your palmtop or desktop, and probably this
will not change with future versions. We are still not sure if the
software will be GPL'ed or remain as copyrighted freeware. Notice
that we don't take any warranty regarding the quality of the
software, and we don't have any connection to the maintainers of
the dictionaries themselves.

Feel free (or morally obligated :-)) to send a postcard to:

Ariel Brosh
16 Wolf st.
Kfar Ganim A.
49641 Petach Tikva
Israel
