You can open any dictionary file by choosing the Open... option from the 'File' menu. The newly-open dictionary becomes the default dictionary file. It will open automatically next time the program starts up. If you work with many dictionaries you might wish to easily switch them. The Easy Open window lets you locate many dictionaries and open them with a single click when needed.
Backup
An unexpected crash of your Mac can occasionally damage the currently-open dictionary. You are strongly recommended to make backup copies of the dictionaries. Use Save Copy As... option or duplicate folder that contains database(s). Duplicating individual files using Mac OS menu item (竚魯) is not recommended since it leads to wrong naming of 'keys' file - in that case you have to rename it manually moving the word ' keys' after the word 'copy'.
Note. A single dictionary (database) consists of two files - main file and the corresponding 'keys' file. Both files are needed to access the dictionary.
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Dictionary
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Dictionary keys
Compacting and Rebuilding Dictionaries
If you change the dictionary contents then you should select Compact menu item form time to time. This will reduce the database size. Alternatively you can select Rebuild... menu item - this will check the dictionary integrity, rearrange data, and compact it.
Internet Configuration
If you use 'Internet Configuration' software then you can access URL links by double-clicking on them. This is particularly useful for Dictionary of Computing because it contains many URL references.
Text to Speech
'Speak' menu is a standard implementation for the Apple 'Text-to-speech' (it has nothing to do with the voice recording). If you set the check-box 'Use text-to-speech for sound?' in the General Preferences window then the program will use 'Text-to-speech' for voice exercises and browsing (i.e. when you (option-)click a word) instead of the pre-recorded sound samples.
Using the Program over a Network
The program has features which make it possible (by the use of file sharing) for several copies of the program to utilize a single database, or a set of databases for several languages, located on the apple-talk or ether-talk network server.
General Preferences
You can open the General Preferences window by pulling down the 'Show' menu and selecting 'Preferences...'.
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Editing Options - used in the Word Editor window.
窶｢ Clean window on enter word? - the text-boxes are cleaned automatically (ready to enter the new word) after clicking the 'Enter' button.
窶｢ Auto add irregular words? - it can save you a lot of typing if the paradigm for an irregular word resembles one of the regular pattern (refer to 'Adding and Changing Words' section for the details).
窶｢ Auto generate stems? - the 'Stem Procedures' are used for auto-entering the stems if checked.
窶｢ Add new words to My Vocab.? - you can decide into which list in 'Two Groups Split' the new words should be added (refer to 'Browse Window' section for the details).
窶｢ Allow making changes? - unchecking will disable all options for modifying databases (including adding comments).
Exercises Options - used in the Exercises window.
窶｢ Show again words you got wrong? - if checked then any word you got wrong can be presented again at any time, if left unchecked then every word is shown only once until all words from the chosen group are presented.
窶｢ Always show correct answer? - if checked then the program will show the correct answer when you press 'Check Answer' button.
窶｢ Auto update My Vocabulary? - if checked then the program will automatically move the words that you've learned into the 'My Vocabulary' list (in the two groups split).
窶｢ Timeout Sec. - select the timeout interval for the exercises (it does not apply to quizzes).
Sound Support.
窶｢ Incremental recording? - if checked then the new recording is appended to the old recording, if left unchecked then the old recording is replaced with the new one.
窶｢ Play sound on single click? - if checked then there is no need to press the option key to play sound associated with the chosen word.
窶｢ Use text-to-speech for sound? - if checked then text-to-speech manager is used for the 'voice' exercises and to generate speech when you click on word. If left unchecked then the pre-recorded sound samples are used.
Tips and Hints
1. Option-click.
You can option-click on the chosen word in the comments-box, Table window, Word Editor window (in the scroll-list), and the Correct Answer window to display the information about the clicked word in the Browse window. It works if the Browse window is open. If you option-click the word inside the scroll-list in the Browse window then the sound sample will be played. You can option-click on the chosen word inside the Translation Box to see the reverse translation.
2. Extra View.
Extra View window is helpful to generate the entire paradigm for all available 'T/M' and to browse the rules. You can open it by pulling down the 'Show' menu and selecting 'Extra View'. You should close this window if you do not use it because it takes some computer time to generate text in this window.
3. Import - Export.
If you set the option 'Allow User to Export Database?' (select 'Settings & Rules' and then 'Defects, Fonts & Switches') then you can import/export database from/to a text file. The format used for importing is the same as for exporting so to get a feeling about the format you can just export a small sample dictionary. You can also import sound samples (via Clipboard) as an alternative to record them yourself (refer to section 'Recording and Playing Sound' for the details).
4. Learning Rules.
You can easily learn the inflection rules. Open the Word Editor and the Extra View windows. Select the chosen word from the scroll list in the Word Editor window. If the chosen word is 'Regular' then you can see the complete inflection rule in the Extra View window. If the word is 'Irregular' then no information will be displayed. When you option-click the word then you'll see the paradigm in the Extra View window.
