simplest dictionary format?

[mishu]

i have several dictionaries, and i am a programmer, so i can convert them to almost anything.

what is the simplest format that GoldenDict is using?
I'd like to write a conversion script that GD will read and will index.

i've read the other topic ("custom dictionaries") but there was no specific detailed format description, there was just an example which i didn't understand.

thanks

[ikm]

The simplest for non-programmer is Dsl, since it's a text-only, bbtags-like file format. However, the simplest for a programmer might probably still be StarDict -- I find myself easier to make those dictionaries, since no escaping etc is involved. It's mostly binary though, so it's hard for a non-programmer.

StarDict file format is documented here.
Dsl file format is documented as part of the ABBYY Lingvo program's documentation. You could probably google yourself a copy of "Lingvo0.chm" -- there's an appendix there with a subchapter called "DSL Compiler", it should have all the details.

Another option is to take stardict-tools and use any input format (e.g. csv, |-separated etc), then convert to stardict.

[C2BlEv]

Just my two cents. There has grown a significant community around dsl-format dictionaries due to its simplicity and ease of comprehension for non-programmers. So, any dsl-aware tool that you create could also be a boon for that community.

[dg333]

Right, there is a bulk of DSL dictionaries created by the community. But DSL is a dead end, because, as ABBYY clearly expressed in their support forum, was meant for visualizing dictionaries rather than for structuring them. XDXF or something similar would be a better option. Alas, few people show interest in it…

[MaximeB]

A simple format is tab separated plain text.
Each entry is made of a line beginning with key word followed by a tab followed by a definition.

keyword{tab}Definition

To get a Stardict dictionary, you can compile it using stardict-editor.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/stardic ... /stardict/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/stardic ... r/download
This is a Windows application with a graphical interface.

[mishu]

A simple format is tab separated plain text.
Each entry is made of a line beginning with key word followed by a tab followed by a definition.

keyword{tab}Definition

funny, that's the format i came up with.
all my dictionaries are in this format.

thanks everybody!

[levent]

i have several dictionaries, and i am a programmer, so i can convert them to almost anything.

what is the simplest format that GoldenDict is using?
I'd like to write a conversion script that GD will read and will index.

i've read the other topic ("custom dictionaries") but there was no specific detailed format description, there was just an example which i didn't understand.

thanks

I have MSAccess dictionary databases. I wished to use them with my GoldenDict program.

1) I used OpenOffice.org and OxygenOffice Professional, I exported data to an Excel file. Babylon bgl builder program did not accept this Excel file.

2) I used MSOffice2010 Beta, I exported data to an Excel file. Babylon bgl builder program accepted this Excel file and I created my bgl dictionaries for my Goldendict program.

http://www.babylon.com/support/step-by- ... ilder.html

Download bgl builder program:
http://www.babylon.com/products/glossary-builder.html

[mlvpf]

i have several dictionaries, and i am a programmer, so i can convert them to almost anything.

what is the simplest format that GoldenDict is using?
I'd like to write a conversion script that GD will read and will index.

i've read the other topic ("custom dictionaries") but there was no specific detailed format description, there was just an example which i didn't understand.

thanks

Please, I succeeded in converting Stardict Wordnet Dictionary to the text file which I want to convert to .pml format to be used with Dropbook for the final conversion to .pdb format for use with eReader Pro. How do I convert the various tags in the text file the get the \I PML tag used to delimit an index item in the dictionary. Example: \Iaardvark\I as explained in http://www.ereader.com/ereader/help/dropbook/pml.htm? Sorry, I don't have knowledge in programming. Your assistance would be highly appreciated. Thanks.

[C2BlEv]

Wordnet you say? You should start with Gloggy's version in dsl format (http://prdownload.berlios.de/goldendict ... .0_1.0.zip). It is light years ahead of any other Wordnet out there. Since dsl is a text format, you should be able to convert it to anything else you please without any difficulty using any advanced text editor, like emeditor, and regular expressions.