The K Desktop Environment

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4. Using Kdict

4.1 Getting Started

Before you can make your first query, you have to check if the preset server settings work with your setup. You can modify the settings in the preferences dialog. The preset server is dict.org, which is a public server, so you don't have to change anything if you have a working internet connection.
You can test your configuration by using "Server->Server Information", this displays some status information about the server.
Now you should use "Server->Get Capabilities", this will fetch a list of all available databases and strategies from the server. Kdict is now able to show you all features of the server in its menus. (You should always call "Get Capabilities" after switching to a new server)

4.2 Basic Queries: Define

A define-query will search for words/phrases in the selected database(s) that match the given text exactly. The definitions belonging to these words are displayed in the main view. If the server finds nothing suitable, Kdict will use a search strategy optimized for spell checking to display a list of of similar words.
In most databases some words (especially synonyms) are marked with brakets "{}". These words are highlighted and by left-clicking on them you start an new define-query with this word.
You can select a part of the text with the left mouse button. The selection is automatically copied into the X-clipboard. This is very convient, because you can use the middle mouse button anywhere in the main view to define the content of the X-clipboard. So, if you want to get a definition for a word/phrase that is not tagged as synonym, you just mark it with the left mouse button and get the definition when you press the middle mouse button.
The right mouse button shows a popup-menu, where you can choose to start queries with the selected text, the X-clipboard or the tagged synonym under the mouse pointer. The menu has also two entrys "Back" and "Forward". You can use them to browse through the results of previous queries.

4.3 Advanced Queries: Match

A match-query uses the currently selected search strategy (the strategy selector is is located above the match list) to search in the selected database(s) for words similar to the given text. The result is a list of similar words that appears in the match list on the right. The entrys are grouped according to the database they belong to. Now you have multiple options:
  1. You can use "Get All"-button (located below the match list) to fetch all definitions.
    Please note that the number of listed words and fetched definitions may differ, because in some cases two or more words share one definition and Kdict removes the duplicated definitions.
  2. You can use the mouse (left button) or the keyboard (space) to select the most interesting words in the list and then press the "Get Selected"-button (located below the match list) to fetch only them. If you want to get all definitions from one database just select the list-item witch contains the database name.
  3. When you press Enter (keyboard) or double-click (mouse) on a list item, Kdict will ignore the selection and fetch the definition for this item. When you do this with a "root"-item (an item that contains the database name), you will get all definitions belonging to this database.
  4. You can use one of the words as a starting point for a new query, this is done via the popup-menu (right mouse button).
A click with the middle mouse button anywhere in the list will start a new match-query with the content of the X-clipboard (similar to the main view). The right mouse button calls the popup-menu for a list item, which has the following entrys:

Get
Shows the definition for the current item
Match
Define
Starts a match/define-query with the current item
Match Clipboard Content
Define Clipboard Content
Starts a match/define-query with the content of the X-Clipboard
Get Selected
Get All
Same functions as the buttons below the list
Expand List
Collapse List
(Un)folds all databases

4.4 Database Sets

Sometimes it's usefull to restrict a query to a subset of the available databases, for example all english-german dictionaries. This achieved by defining "database sets", these sets appear in the database selector as virtual databases.
You can access the configuration dialog via "Server->Edit Database Sets" or the toolbar-icon. The dialog has the following elements:

Set
You must use this selector to select the set you want to modify. You can also rename a set here by entering a new name and pressing the "Save"-button.
Save
Saves changes you made in the current set. You must use this button before you select another set or leave the dialog, because otherwise all changes will be lost.
New
This button creates a new database set.
Delete
Deletes the currently selected set.
Close
Closes the dialog without saving your changes


The two lists ("Selected Databases" and "Available Databases") show which databases are currently in the database set. You can use the arrow-buttons between the lists to transfer items from one list to another.
By the way, you can leave this configuration dialog open and continue your work with Kdict. This is a nice way to test your changes immediately.

4.5 Preferences

You can modify many aspects of Kdict's behavior in the preferences dialog. (Access: "Settings->Configure Kdict" or the the toolbar-icon)
The dialog is divided in serveral pages. The "Default"-button restores the default values for the current page. The "Apply"-button will apply your changes on all pages. The "OK"-button will apply the changes and close the dialog. The "Cancel"-button does this without saving the changes. By the way, you can leave this configuration dialog open and continue your work with Kdict. This is a nice way to test your changes.
Detailed description of all pages:

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