Maths / Science Dictionary for highlighted phrases?

Natekj · 11-09-2015, 09:39 AM

Hi,

The method of selecting a word or phrase brings up the meaning from the built in dictionary for many ebook readers. Is there a built in version available for maths and science?

For example, highlight 'Momentum' or 'Coulombs Law' and it would bring up the multiple equations relating to this phrase.

HarryT · 11-09-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natekj

Hi,

The method of selecting a word or phrase brings up the meaning from the built in dictionary for many ebook readers. Is there a built in version available for maths and science?

For example, highlight 'Momentum' or 'Coulombs Law' and it would bring up the multiple equations relating to this phrase.

The Kindle Store shows a number of different dictionaries of science and mathematics as being available for the Kindle.

eschwartz · 11-09-2015, 10:20 AM

Aside: Please do not post the same message in multiple threads/forums.
cf. the Posting Guidelines point #3.

Your identical post in the Kindle forums has been deleted.

-- eschwartz (Kindle moderator)

Natekj · 11-09-2015, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kindle Store shows a number of different dictionaries of science and mathematics as being available for the Kindle.

Those are books. I want in addition to the built in dictionary, a dictionary to show scientific explanations when I highlight a word in a book

HarryT · 11-09-2015, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natekj

Those are books. I want in addition to the built in dictionary, a dictionary to show scientific explanations when I highlight a word in a book

Yes, I understood what you meant, and I'm pretty sure that at least some of the ones in the Kindle Store are dictionaries.

Natekj · 11-09-2015, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, I understood what you meant, and I'm pretty sure that at least some of the ones in the Kindle Store are dictionaries.

I spoke to an amazon support person in an online chat.
They confirmed its not possible and the kindle only supports certain languages

HarryT · 11-09-2015, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natekj

I spoke to an amazon support person in an online chat.
They confirmed its not possible and the kindle only supports certain languages

I wouldn't place much faith in what Amazon's support tell you - they often know little about the subject.

You say "the Kindle only supports certain languages". That's true, but what language do you want the dictionary to be in? I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that it was English. A dictionary is a Kindle book with special formatting. Provided that a book is formatted as a dictionary, you can install as many additional dictionaries as you wish on a Kindle.

Natekj · 11-09-2015, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I wouldn't place much faith in what Amazon's support tell you - they often know little about the subject.

You say "the Kindle only supports certain languages". That's true, but what language do you want the dictionary to be in? I assumed, perhaps wrongly, that it was English. A dictionary is a Kindle book with special formatting. Provided that a book is formatted as a dictionary, you can install as many additional dictionaries as you wish on a Kindle.

It is english and the dictionary i tried to use is the same format as the english dictionary on the device, azw. Its a physics dictionary and thr settinga options in the kindle does not allow me to pick it as a possible dictionary.

I also placed the file in the dictionary folder on the kindle

susan_cassidy · 11-09-2015, 01:49 PM

Does the product description say that it can be used as a (default) dictionary? If not, it isn't formatted properly.

Natekj · 11-09-2015, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

Does the product description say that it can be used as a (default) dictionary? If not, it isn't formatted properly.

I see some actually have this comment in their book store. Is it possible to format files in this manner?

susan_cassidy · 11-09-2015, 04:11 PM

Yes, you can format your own files that way, but it is very complex.

Natekj · 11-09-2015, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

Yes, you can format your own files that way, but it is very complex.

Any software that does it? I'd be willing to spend a hour or two editing a file

susan_cassidy · 11-09-2015, 04:57 PM

Any software capable of converting to mobi format should work. Mobipocket Creator certainly will. It will take more than an hour or two, unless you only have 25. - 50 words in the dictionary, and you do a good job. See http://www.mobipocket.com/dev/articl...ancedbooks.htm.

eschwartz · 11-09-2015, 06:17 PM

See our Dictionary FAQ for instructions on creating a MOBI dictionary.

Question #6

Shouldn't be hard, once you have a tab-delimited dictionary.
Although that might take work.

Or you can do it the harder way by writing the XML yourself as susan_cassidy pointed you to.

Either way, it's going to be a lot harder than just converting an ordinary book.

P.S. You will need either mobpocket creator or kindlegen, because calibre doesn't support dictionaries.

Little.Egret · 11-09-2015, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natekj

Those are books. I want in addition to the built in dictionary, a dictionary to show scientific explanations when I highlight a word in a book

Some ereaders provide a shortcut to use Wikipedia in this manner (if you have an internet connection).

11-09-2015, 09:39 AM	#1
Natekj Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Device: Kindle	Maths / Science Dictionary for highlighted phrases? Hi, The method of selecting a word or phrase brings up the meaning from the built in dictionary for many ebook readers. Is there a built in version available for maths and science? For example, highlight 'Momentum' or 'Coulombs Law' and it would bring up the multiple equations relating to this phrase.

11-09-2015, 06:17 PM	#14
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	See our Dictionary FAQ for instructions on creating a MOBI dictionary. Question #6 Shouldn't be hard, once you have a tab-delimited dictionary. Although that might take work. Or you can do it the harder way by writing the XML yourself as susan_cassidy pointed you to. Either way, it's going to be a lot harder than just converting an ordinary book. P.S. You will need either mobpocket creator or kindlegen, because calibre doesn't support dictionaries. Last edited by eschwartz; 11-09-2015 at 06:20 PM.

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11-09-2015, 10:20 AM	#3
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Aside: Please do not post the same message in multiple threads/forums. cf. the Posting Guidelines point #3. Your identical post in the Kindle forums has been deleted. -- eschwartz (Kindle moderator) Last edited by eschwartz; 11-10-2015 at 12:26 PM.

11-09-2015, 01:49 PM	#9
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Does the product description say that it can be used as a (default) dictionary? If not, it isn't formatted properly.

11-09-2015, 04:11 PM	#11
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Yes, you can format your own files that way, but it is very complex.

11-09-2015, 04:57 PM	#13
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Any software capable of converting to mobi format should work. Mobipocket Creator certainly will. It will take more than an hour or two, unless you only have 25. - 50 words in the dictionary, and you do a good job. See http://www.mobipocket.com/dev/articl...ancedbooks.htm.

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