Need help to create a dictionary

sjheiss · 12-27-2011, 03:07 AM

I've been trying for hours to figure out how to decrypt the Oxford Dictionary of English, but all the ways to decrypt books seem to be out of date. I want to decrypt it so I can use it as an example to create a dictionary just like it, out of some HTML files/a delimited text file of a Basque dictionary. I've tried making the dictionary myself, but the only guide I could find relies on StarDict files, TAB files specifically, and I can't get those since my dictionary is not a StarDict one, rather from a CHM file compiled from a website. The post says that tab2opf.py can use TXT files, but if you try it says that it requires TAB.

I could easily create a PDF or similar, and I have, but I want it to function like the two dictionaries that come pre-installed on Kindles (on my K3G at least).

Mobipocket won't work, because if I try to build a file with a table of contents, it says that the hyperlink(s) were not resolved.

I've tried almost everything I can think of, and my brain hurts so much from doing this and other Kindle hacks and things for over 12 hours straight, and my attention span is extremely short because of that.

So, I'd be extremely thankful if someone could tell me something I could do to get what I desire, or to complete it for me (although I prefer learning to do it myself.

osnova · 12-27-2011, 03:37 AM

We can't help you break DRM on the Oxford Dictionary, but what you need is:

http://www.mobipocket.com/dev/articl...e=indexing.htm
They also have an sample dictionary there for download.

Example of a very basic article from OSNOVA edition of ISBE:

Code:

<idx:entry><idx:orth><a name="FAR HOUSE"><h2>FAR HOUSE</h2></a></idx:orth>
	<p>The marginal explanation in the Revised Version (British and American) of Beth-merhak (beth ha-merchaq, "house of distance"), which is given in the text of <a href="#2Sam.15.17">2Sa 15:17</a> instead of "a place that was far off."</p>
	<p>See <a href="#BETH-MERHAK">BETH-MERHAK</a>.</p></idx:entry>

When you compile you have to identify it as a dictionary. Also note that Kindle Fire and software Kindles don't let users select a non-Amazon dictionaries as a default dictionary.

If your head hurts trying to figure out the Mobipocket format, read the Mobipocket tutorials on their site and this book. I am not affiliated with the author but like this work even though it is dated.

Oh, and there is no point in using toc.ncx with dictionaries (if you get a red error from unresolved links, it may be because of a link in toc.ncx leading nowhere, yellow warnings you could ignore at the beginning and then you need to fix them before publishing) because Kindle ignores it anyway for dictionaries. Dictionaries use the index function. You can make a hyperlinked TOC at the beginning of the book.

Doitsu · 12-27-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjheiss

I could find relies on StarDict files, TAB files specifically, and I can't get those since my dictionary is not a StarDict one, rather from a CHM file compiled from a website.

You don't have to use tab2opf.py. Since .chm source files are .html files, you could use Microsoft HTML Help Workshop to decompile the .chm file and do a global search and replace to create .html files that you can compile with Mobipocket Creator.

A dictionary entry must be enclosed by <idx:entry> and <idx:orth> tags.
(<a name/> tags are only required if the dictionary contains cross references.)

A minimal Mobipocket dictionary source file with two entries looks like this:

Code:

<html>
	<body>
   
		<idx:entry>
			<a name="apurtu">
			<idx:orth>apurtu</idx:orth><br />
			to break, smash, shatter 
		</idx:entry>
		<hr />

		<idx:entry>
			<a name="adiskide">
			<idx:orth>adiskide</idx:orth><br />
			friend 
		</idx:entry>
		<hr />

		<!-- more entries-->

	</body>
</html>

If you format your dictionary in this way, Mobipocket Creator will automatically create a search index.
For more information on dictionary source files, see the Mobipocket Developer Website.

sjheiss · 12-27-2011, 01:57 PM

Thanks for the replies! I cannot test anything right now since I am on my kindle
(first time I have had my own internet access everywhere!) but especially Doitsu's
post seems very promissing. It should not be hard to format the file like that I think.

iatheia · 12-30-2011, 09:35 PM

http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15767 - A thread on Russian forum dedicated to dictionaries creation. There are plenty dictionaries already converted, as well as a script for converting dsl dictionaries to mobi

12-27-2011, 03:07 AM	#1
sjheiss Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 26 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: K3G, KF2	Need help to create a dictionary I've been trying for hours to figure out how to decrypt the Oxford Dictionary of English, but all the ways to decrypt books seem to be out of date. I want to decrypt it so I can use it as an example to create a dictionary just like it, out of some HTML files/a delimited text file of a Basque dictionary. I've tried making the dictionary myself, but the only guide I could find relies on StarDict files, TAB files specifically, and I can't get those since my dictionary is not a StarDict one, rather from a CHM file compiled from a website. The post says that tab2opf.py can use TXT files, but if you try it says that it requires TAB. I could easily create a PDF or similar, and I have, but I want it to function like the two dictionaries that come pre-installed on Kindles (on my K3G at least). Mobipocket won't work, because if I try to build a file with a table of contents, it says that the hyperlink(s) were not resolved. I've tried almost everything I can think of, and my brain hurts so much from doing this and other Kindle hacks and things for over 12 hours straight, and my attention span is extremely short because of that. So, I'd be extremely thankful if someone could tell me something I could do to get what I desire, or to complete it for me (although I prefer learning to do it myself.

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12-27-2011, 03:37 AM	#2
osnova Kindler of the Flame Posts: 582 Karma: 646016 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US of A Device: K DX,3,KT,KP,KF, KFHD; Nook C, PRS600, iPad, Xoom, N900, N810, Zaurus	We can't help you break DRM on the Oxford Dictionary, but what you need is: http://www.mobipocket.com/dev/articl...e=indexing.htm They also have an sample dictionary there for download. Example of a very basic article from OSNOVA edition of ISBE: Code: <idx:entry><idx:orth><a name="FAR HOUSE"><h2>FAR HOUSE</h2></a></idx:orth> <p>The marginal explanation in the Revised Version (British and American) of Beth-merhak (beth ha-merchaq, "house of distance"), which is given in the text of <a href="#2Sam.15.17">2Sa 15:17</a> instead of "a place that was far off."</p> <p>See <a href="#BETH-MERHAK">BETH-MERHAK</a>.</p></idx:entry> When you compile you have to identify it as a dictionary. Also note that Kindle Fire and software Kindles don't let users select a non-Amazon dictionaries as a default dictionary. If your head hurts trying to figure out the Mobipocket format, read the Mobipocket tutorials on their site and this book. I am not affiliated with the author but like this work even though it is dated. Oh, and there is no point in using toc.ncx with dictionaries (if you get a red error from unresolved links, it may be because of a link in toc.ncx leading nowhere, yellow warnings you could ignore at the beginning and then you need to fix them before publishing) because Kindle ignores it anyway for dictionaries. Dictionaries use the index function. You can make a hyperlinked TOC at the beginning of the book. Last edited by osnova; 12-27-2011 at 03:47 AM.

12-27-2011, 01:57 PM	#4
sjheiss Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 26 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: K3G, KF2	Thanks for the replies! I cannot test anything right now since I am on my kindle (first time I have had my own internet access everywhere!) but especially Doitsu's post seems very promissing. It should not be hard to format the file like that I think.

12-30-2011, 09:35 PM	#5
iatheia Zealot Posts: 139 Karma: 21754 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle 3, Icarus Illumina XL, Boyue T62	http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15767 - A thread on Russian forum dedicated to dictionaries creation. There are plenty dictionaries already converted, as well as a script for converting dsl dictionaries to mobi

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