{"id":508,"date":"2017-04-20T18:48:01","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T18:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/software.sil.org\/wesay\/?page_id=508"},"modified":"2024-07-19T20:26:52","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T20:26:52","slug":"printing-dictionaries-with-wesay","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/software.sil.org\/wesay\/printing-dictionaries-with-wesay\/","title":{"rendered":"Printing Dictionaries with WeSay"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many ways to make a print dictionary using WeSay. Below, they are ordered from most powerful\/flexible down to the most simple. You might end up using a combination of methods. For example, you might use the \u201cMake PDF Dictionary\u201d for regular printouts used to include a wider group of people in the process of spell checking, example checking, etc., using paper. Later, when you want to actually publish a dictionary, you\u2019re likely to want to import the WeSay dictionary into our Linguist-oriented power tool, FLEx<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FLEx+PathWay (most powerful)<\/h2>\n

This has many steps, but it is best path for serious dictionary layout. You\u2019ll be using two other free programs from SIL International: FLEx<\/a> and PathWay<\/a>. You may also need some supported word processor, depending on how you want to publish.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Install FieldWorks Language Explorer<\/a> (FLEx).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n

    Install the Pathway<\/a> add-on to FLEx.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Create a new project. (NOTE:<\/strong> In FLEx<\/a> 7.3, you will be able to do steps 3 & 4 together.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Do a Send\/Receive to synchronize your WeSay dictionary with FLEx<\/a>. (You can also just do an import, but then any changes you make in FLEx<\/a> won\u2019t get back to WeSay.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    In the Dictionary<\/em> area of the FLEx<\/a> lexicon, configure to your heart\u2019s desire. At this point you can do some printing if you want.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  6. \n

    Choose File | Export\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  7. \n

    Select Dictionary, Reversal Index<\/em>, and click Export\u2026<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This will open Pathway, which will let you create files for Adobe InDesign, Word, Open\/Libre Office, PDF, and E-Book.<\/p>\n

    Make OpenOffice Document<\/h2>\n

    One advantage of using OpenOffice\/LibreOffice is that you can add a cover page and make other changes. Another is that it supports a wide range of scripts, including those in Southeast Asia. The downside is that the code that does this was contributed to us, and tends to not get much attention from the WeSay programmers. It does not support custom fields. To use it, just make the the \u201cMake OpenOffice Document\u201d button visible in WeSay, using the WeSay Configuration Tool | Actions tab.<\/p>\n

    Lexique Pro via SFM<\/h2>\n

    Lexique Pro<\/a> is a separate free program (Windows Only) which can export to word processing programs, and also to make static web pages. In this method you use WeSay\u2019s Export a SFM (Toolbox) file<\/em> button, and then open the the SFM file it produces in Lexique Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    The Open in Lexique Pro<\/em> Button<\/h2>\n

    This is a simple, one-button way to get into Lexique Pro<\/a>. Unfortunately, as of writing this in Jan 2013, several of Lexique Pro<\/a>\u2019s features have not yet been upgraded to work with LIFT dictionaries (the XML format used by WeSay).<\/p>\n

    The Make PDF Dictionary<\/em> Button (most simple)<\/h2>\n

    The advantage of this approach is that it is fast, easy, and fairly good-looking. Disadvantages include:<\/p>\n