Pre-installed dictionaries: KeyStrokes now comes pre-installed with a number of dictionaries in several major languages, including US and UK English, French and German. These contain some of the most frequently used words in that language. More dictionaries will be made available for download on our web site in the coming weeks. Dictionaries of 15000 words are included with the PPC version and dictionaries of 5000 words with the 68K version.
More dictionaries available for download: More dictionaries will be made available on our web site for download. These dictionaries can be downloaded from http://www.niemconsult.com/KSdownload.html. Before the end of 2000 we hope to make available Italian, Spanish and Dutch dictionaries.
How to install dictionaries: You can install new dictionaries by putting them in the KeyStrokes folder next to the KeyStrokes application. Next time you start KeyStrokes the dictionaries will appear at the bottom of the prediction menu. If word learning is turned on words not in the dictionary will automatically be added as you type them.
About the dictionary sizes: The dictionaries that come with the 68K version are smaller (5000 words) than those included with the PPC version (15000 words) because the large dictionaries would slowdown program-loading, program-quiting and dictionary-switching too much on 68K Macs. It is possible to use the large 15000 word dictionaries on 68K Macs, but you should increase the memory setting for KeyStrokes. You can do this by going to the Finder. Selecting the KeyStrokes application, choosing Get Info from the File Menu and increasing the memory setting. To do this you must first quit KeyStrokes.
How the dictionaries were made (and how you can do it too): The dictionaries were made by downloading so-called eTexts from the internet. Good starting points for such texts are http://www.lib.virginia.edu/wess/etexts.html and http://promo.net/pg/. KeyStrokes can learn new words to add to the current dictionary by choosing “Dictionary options…” from the Prediction menu. In the Dictionary options dialog you can select the language you want to work on. Next you click on the “Learn words from TEXT file…” button which allows you to select a text-only file from which KeyStrokes will learn words to add to the active dictionary. KeyStrokes will not only add words it encouters but also store information on the frequency of their use to improve prediction. Next you should click the “Export dictionary…” button to export the active dictionary to a text file that you can open in your favorite text editor or word processor. You can then correct spelling, add or delete words. Be careful though not to mess up the file because it should have a fixed structure to be able to later import it again through the “Import dictionary…” button in the Dictionary Options dialog. A dictionary import/export file should contain one line per word or phrase. Each line starts with a number indicating the frequency of the word/phrase, followed by a tab and the word itself or the abbrevation in case of a phrase. This followed by a tab and a return if a simple word is concerned and by a tab, a phrase and return if a phrase is concerned. After you have corrected spelling of your export file you can import it again and start using your new dictionaries. Please contact KeyStrokes@niemconsult.com if you want to share your dictionary with other KeyStrokes users. Please take care when making very large dictionaries because you may need to increase the memory setting for KeyStrokes. In general extremely large dictionaries are not that useful because only the most frequently used words will be suggested when word prediction is turned on.
Dislaimer: Niemeijer Consult cannot be held responsible for any errors or ommissions in the supplied dictionaries. YOU USE THE SOFTWARE AND THE ASSOCIATED DICTIONARIES AT YOU OWN RISK. Under no circumstances shall David Niemeijer or Niemeijer Consult be liable for any incidental, special or consequential damages whatsoever (including, but not limited to, damages to your software, hardware or person) arising out of the use of or inability to use these disctionaries, this software or related documentation, even if David Niemeijer or Niemeijer Consult have been advised of the possibility of such damages. We provide KeyStrokes, KeyStrokes Extension, the KeyStrokes Dictionaries and the related documentation “as is” without warranty of any kind and David Niemeijer and Niemeijer Consult expressly disclaims all other warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall David Niemeijer and Niemeijer Consult be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the dictionaries and software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the dictionaries and software.
