CompuServe Thread

#DICTIONARY

5 messages in this thread
#29494From: DAVID JUSTICEOct 26, 1992 6:52 PM
Hi, I am looking for a good dictionary on CD. Since it will often be used "stand-alone", one of the needed features is the ability of the access program to allow misspellings, phonetic spellings, or wildcard searches. Is there any dictionary out there with this type of search capability?? tia David Justice
#29498From: Rich Bowers/OPAOct 26, 1992 7:22 PM
What platform do you use? Is this your basic adult dictionary o children's? Merriam Webster's Dictionary from Highlighted Data runs on the Mac with audio pronunciations. Microsoft Bookshelf runs on the PC. And there's an MPC product from Macmillan for children. Don't know about find misspelled words, et al.
#29506From: DAVID JUSTICEOct 26, 1992 8:19 PM
Thanks for your reply, Rich. Yes, I should have mentioned that it must run on an MS DOS machine. No Windows… no OS/2. Oh yes, no child's dictionary. And, while I'm not willing to take out a loan for it, the price is not terribly important. I've used MicroSoft's Bookshelf. It works fine, as long as you don't use it to look up the spelling of a word (something you can do with a paperback dictionary). I found it amazing that an electronic dictionary would not allow the user to easily look up the spelling of a word as well as the meaning. I hope that some others on this forum might be able to point me towards a product which has what I believe to be an essential part of an electronic dictionary. Thanks again for your reply. David Justice
#29542From: Jim ClementsOct 27, 1992 5:21 AM
David, why not consider — or re-consider — one of the HD dictionary programs such as American Heritage Dictionary or Webster's, they allow wild-card searches and much more. While I have four versions of Bookshelf, I really prefer Webster's on my HD for most information, easiest access widest possibly covereage for "look-ups" that I want. Just a thought, and hope it isn't an intrusion. Cheers!
#29591From: DAVID JUSTICEOct 27, 1992 5:53 PM
Hi Jim, Not an intrusion at all. I'm open to help and suggestions from any and all. Thanks for your reply. While I'm not closed to the idea of an HD version, I am concerned about (1) how much space one of these requires, and (2) how limited they are in coverage. CDs can hold well over 600Meg, while my current hard drive (which is 90% full) holds only 130Meg. However, I would be willing to get more HD space if it was the only way I could get a dictionary which would allow me to look up a word I couldn't already spell. Could you tell me more about either of the two you mentioned–including prices, sources, requirements? Thanks again. David Justice