Zbedic Syntax
You can enter descriptions of the keywords using plain text, HTML or
zbedic syntax.
- Plain text You can enter text without any formating
tags. It will be displayed as it is, however new lines will not create
new paragraphs. To create new paragraphs, use either HTML or bedic
syntax.
- HTML You can use all simple HTML tags, such as <p>,
<em>, <h1> or <br>. Check any HTML tutorial on the Web
for more information on the HTML syntax.
- zbedic syntax You are encouraged to use zbedic syntax for
language dictionaries. It divides a description into several logical
items, such as part of speach, meaning, example, pronunciation. Such
division facilitates proper formating of the text and allows for
conversion of zbedic dictionaries to another dictionary format, such
as TEI XML.
Below follows an example entry for a word "book" that is given in zbedic syntax:
{s}{ps}n{/ps}
{ss}a copy of a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together); {ex}I am reading a good book on economics{/ex}{/ss}
{/s}
{s}{ps}v{/ps}
{ss}arrange for and reserve in advance; {ex}reserve a seat on a flight{/ex}{/ss}
{ss}record a charge in a police register; {ex}The policeman booked her when she tried to solicit a man{/ex}{/ss}
{/s}
Since the word "book" can be used both as a noun and a verb, it
has two part of speach items surrounded by {s} and {/s}
tags. {ps}n{/ps} is the name of a part of speach, such as n for
noun and v for verb. Even for a single part of speach, a word
has usually several meanings, which are surrounded by {ss}{/ss}
tags. To allow for better understanding, a meaning can be accompanied
with an example, surrounded by {ex} {/ex} tags.
zbedic syntax tags can be entered using one of the buttons in the
top row of the editor: pos - Part of Speach; mn -
Meaning; ex - Example.
Other useful tags:
- {ct} - category, such as 'math.' for mathematics or 'biol.' for
biology. Put a category entry inside {s} or {ss}.
- {pr} - pronunciation. Put pronunciation inside {s}.
- {sa}, {sa <link>} - see-also. <link> is another
keyword that should be shown when the text surrounded by this tag is
clicked. The {sa} tag is similar to <a href=link> in HTML.
- {em} - emphasize text.
- {de} - deemphasize text.
- {hw/} - headword (empty tag). This tag is substituted with the
keyword.
- {hw} - headword. This tag modifies keyword for the current part
of speach. Put headword tag inside {s}.
- {img src="image_file"/} - image. Insert image at the given
position. src must contain a relative path and placed
in the directory named the same as the dictionary file, but without
.dic.dz, .hdic or .edic extension. Such
directory must be in the same location as the dictionary file. This
tag has the same syntax as the <img> tag in HTML.
Types of Zbedic Dictionaries
Zbedic can handle three kinds of dictionaries:
- Non-editable with .dic.dz extension. Entries of these
dictionaries are well compressed, but they cannot be edited. On
trying to edit an entry in such a dictionary, zbedic ask whether it
should be converted to an editable dictionary.
- Non-editable converted to editable that consist of two
files, one with .dic.dz extension (non-editable part) and the other with
.hdic extension (editable part). Both files must reside in the same
directory.
- Editable with .edic extension. These dictionaries can be
edited, but they can take more space when they grow larger.
Creating New Entry
Editing Entries
Removing Entries