Content Dictionaries vs. text to speech - Page 2

Doitsu · 08-31-2017, 05:37 AM

@knc1: Before making further educated guesses, you might want to download Java Mobi Metadata Editor and run some tests. Knowing a lot about the inner workings of the Kindle firmware, doesn't automatically make you an expert on Kindle file formats.
You also might find DumpMobiHeader_v022.py helpful.

@ntamas: Checking a check box in Java Mobi Metadata, will set the value to 1. Since the TTS check box was unchecked in your book, TTS should work.
If you want to be absolutely sure, simply delete the entry, because that'll automatically enable TTS.
However, since TTS was already enabled in your dictionary, your problem probably has another cause:

1. It might be a limitation of the Kindle Keyboard firmware.

2. The book that you used the dictionary with might have TTS disabled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntamas

Can you tell me how to enable the font changing option?

Font overrides might be controlled by the EXTH 528 entry. However, I haven't been able to test this because none of my books have font overrides. If you have a book whose font can't be changed, try removing this entry, if it's present.

ntamas · 08-31-2017, 09:17 AM

Quote:

The book that you used the dictionary with might have TTS disabled.

I just wanted to have TTS for the dictionary itself. But I think the product page of those dictionaries contain false information. It states that they have TTS enabled but none of my other dictionaries have TTS feature.

So it is very likely that the TTS feature is not supported by dictionaries at all.

Quote:

Font overrides might be controlled by the EXTH 528 entry.

There is no such entry in that specific book. Otherwise thank you!

Another question: How can someone make a Kindle dictionary? Is it difficult technically?

ntamas · 08-31-2017, 09:41 AM

Another question came into my mind regarding Kindle Keyboard.

Why did Amazon decide to cease producing ereaders with speakers?

And I also prefer the physical keyboard by looking words up in the dictionaries to the touchscreens.
And zooming is much more covenient than on touchscreens.

But when I want to look up a word from a book, touchscreen is better.

So I would really appreciate it if Amazon reconsider these features in a new way:

For example a sliding keyboard at the back of the device (or attachable via usb) or a firmware update to reenable the more accurate zooming options like: 150%, 200% and 300%.

Or a speaker again for your mp3s or audiobooks instead of this VoiceView thingy...

I'm just daydreaming... LOL

Doitsu · 08-31-2017, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntamas

Another question: How can someone make a Kindle dictionary? Is it difficult technically?

It's relatively easy, but nowadays rather pointless, because when you buy a used Kindle PW2 or better and register it, you can download high quality French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and Japanese dictionaries for free.

For more information on the dictionary format see this MR thread and the Kindle Publishing Guidelines. There's also a Python 3 script that'll convert tab-delimited word lists to mobi dictionary source files: tab2opf.py. (If you use this script, you'll need to save the input files as utf-8 files and use the -utf command line parameter.)

A minimal dictionary HTML file should look like this:

Code:

<html>
<body>

<idx:entry>
	<b><idx:orth>book
	<idx:infl>
		<idx:iform value="books"/>
	</idx:infl>
	</idx:orth> </b> 
	<i>Noun</i> <br/>
	a written or printed work consisting of pages
</idx:entry>
<br/><br/>
<hr/>
<idx:entry>
	<b><idx:orth>go
	<idx:infl>
		<idx:iform value="goes"/>
		<idx:iform value="going"/>
		<idx:iform value="went"/>
		<idx:iform value="gone"/>
	</idx:infl>
	</idx:orth> </b> 
	<i>Verb</i> <br/>
	move from one place to another
</idx:entry>
<br/><br/>

</body>
</html>

The .opf file also needs to contain a special non-standard section that defines the input and output languages.

Code:

<metadata>
<!-- more entries -->
<x-metadata>
    <output encoding="utf-8"></output>
    <DictionaryInLanguage>en</DictionaryInLanguage>
    <DictionaryOutLanguage>en</DictionaryOutLanguage>
</x-metadata>
</metadata>

Cinisajoy · 08-31-2017, 12:13 PM

Are you wanting to use the dictionary as a book?
Rather than to look up specific words found in the book you are reading.

ntamas · 08-31-2017, 12:13 PM

Quote:

you can download high quality French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese and Japanese dictionaries for free.

You are right, but I just want to create a Hungarian dictionary.

Orthographical dictionary.

ntamas · 08-31-2017, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Are you wanting to use the dictionary as a book?
Rather than to look up specific words found in the book you are reading.

Many times I just open the dictionary to look up words. So I'm OK with preserving the dictionary search function, I just usually use the dictionary outside of any books.

jhowell · 08-31-2017, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntamas

I've bought and downloaded three Collins dictionaries for my Kindle Keyboard and each of the book descriptions says: text to speech is enabled.

Though when I open the books, text to speech is not available for any of them. Why?

I picked one of the Collins dictionaries and also saw that it states "Text-to-Speech: Enabled". But there is an arrow for more information and when clicked it states: "Text-to-Speech is available for the Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire, Amazon Echo, Amazon Tap, and Echo Dot."

So TTS is supposedly provided in that dictionary, but it is not compatible with your Kindle Keyboard.

ntamas · 08-31-2017, 03:15 PM

I bought this one: Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus

Text-to-Speech is available for the Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle (2nd generation), Kindle DX, Amazon Echo, Amazon Tap, and Echo Dot.

jhowell · 08-31-2017, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntamas

I bought this one: Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus

Text-to-Speech is available for the Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle (2nd generation), Kindle DX, Amazon Echo, Amazon Tap, and Echo Dot.

It is odd that the dictionaries have different lists of supported TTS devices. At this point your best bet may be Amazon customer service. I doubt that they will be able to make it work with your device. But perhaps they can fix the description and offer you a refund.

ntamas · 08-31-2017, 09:14 PM

Refund? It's one of the best dicitionaries ever made for Kindle ereaders. I don't want a refund. I was just curious to know why the TTS doesn't work despite the fact that they states it works.

Tarana · 09-04-2017, 03:44 PM

Not all 'text-to-speech-enabled' books will work with the Kindle Keyboard. This is possibly due to updated technology for something large like a dictionary. I don't know. I had a book that would work fine on my Fire's text-to-speech, but not on the Kindle Keyboard.

ntamas · 09-04-2017, 05:29 PM

OK, and do they state on its product page that it works on Kindle Keyboard? Or don't you have the opportunity to give it a try on Keyboard as well?

salamanderjuice · 09-04-2017, 05:35 PM

How are you opening the dictionary? Are you opening it as actual book? Or just through search or word lookup? Maybe the TTS only works if you open it as a book? Just an idea.

ntamas · 09-04-2017, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Are you opening it as actual book?

Yes, exactly. I open, then type the word and the meanings appear.

I meant by this an ordinary dictionary search. While you are typing, you can see a wordlist and it changes in accordance with the already typed letters and if you have a hit you can press the enter button to show that specific word "article".

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08-31-2017, 09:41 AM	#18
ntamas Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 875040 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hungary Device: Kindle paperwhite 3 + Kindle keyboard	Another question came into my mind regarding Kindle Keyboard. Why did Amazon decide to cease producing ereaders with speakers? And I also prefer the physical keyboard by looking words up in the dictionaries to the touchscreens. And zooming is much more covenient than on touchscreens. But when I want to look up a word from a book, touchscreen is better. So I would really appreciate it if Amazon reconsider these features in a new way: For example a sliding keyboard at the back of the device (or attachable via usb) or a firmware update to reenable the more accurate zooming options like: 150%, 200% and 300%. Or a speaker again for your mp3s or audiobooks instead of this VoiceView thingy... I'm just daydreaming... LOL

08-31-2017, 12:13 PM	#20
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Are you wanting to use the dictionary as a book? Rather than to look up specific words found in the book you are reading.

08-31-2017, 03:15 PM	#24
ntamas Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 875040 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hungary Device: Kindle paperwhite 3 + Kindle keyboard	I bought this one: Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus Text-to-Speech is available for the Kindle Fire HDX, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle (2nd generation), Kindle DX, Amazon Echo, Amazon Tap, and Echo Dot.

08-31-2017, 09:14 PM	#26
ntamas Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 875040 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hungary Device: Kindle paperwhite 3 + Kindle keyboard	Refund? It's one of the best dicitionaries ever made for Kindle ereaders. I don't want a refund. I was just curious to know why the TTS doesn't work despite the fact that they states it works.

09-04-2017, 03:44 PM	#27
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,038 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	Not all 'text-to-speech-enabled' books will work with the Kindle Keyboard. This is possibly due to updated technology for something large like a dictionary. I don't know. I had a book that would work fine on my Fire's text-to-speech, but not on the Kindle Keyboard.

09-04-2017, 05:29 PM	#28
ntamas Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 875040 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hungary Device: Kindle paperwhite 3 + Kindle keyboard	OK, and do they state on its product page that it works on Kindle Keyboard? Or don't you have the opportunity to give it a try on Keyboard as well?

09-04-2017, 05:35 PM	#29
salamanderjuice Guru Posts: 922 Karma: 12671918 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: Boox Nova 2	How are you opening the dictionary? Are you opening it as actual book? Or just through search or word lookup? Maybe the TTS only works if you open it as a book? Just an idea.

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