FREELANG Dictionary - Installation Manual
Freelang dictionary runs with Windows only. It is a stand-alone program, it doesn't integrate into other applications like Internet Explorer or Microsoft Word. It is a simple bilingual dictionary, not an automatic text translator.
The dictionary is very easy to install: the program on one hand, and one or several word lists on the other hand, to be installed in the same folder. It is a clean installation, nothing is written in Windows registry. The program doesn't contain any adware or spyware, and no registration is required.
1. Quick guide
The installation process in short: download the program, download the wordlist, then double click on each file to launch the installation. Make sure they both install in the same folder. Then launch the dictionary by using the shortcut that was created in your Start menu (or on the Desktop, if you specified so). If you have any trouble during the installation, or if you are unsure how to proceed, please keep on reading this installation guide.
2. Download
There are two files to download: the program installation file, and a word list (or several word lists) installation file. These files can be deleted after the installation has been completed.
Tips for downloading:
- When you download a file, make sure you know where it goes in your computer, because you will have to find it and double-click on it. If you are unsure, download to the Desktop.
- Before downloading a file, please take note of the file size, so as to make sure that the downloading has completed successfully. Good websites (like this one :-)) always provide the size of the files to download.
- If the download was interrupted, try to download again. But be careful, sometimes the corrupted file is kept in memory (this is a common process, things you load are kept in memory so as to be displayed faster when you load them again) and you just download the incomplete file again. To solve the problem, delete your temporary Internet files, or just be patient before trying to download again.
3. Installation
Freelang dictionary is made of two components: the program, and at least one word list. You can install as many word lists as you want, with only one installation of the program. But the program and all the word lists must be installed in the same folder (same directory). We recommend that you accept the default directory suggested during the installation.
To install the program and a list:
- Download the program setup file (the link is on every page dedicated to a language) in a temporary folder (or on your desktop) and double-click on it to install.
- Do the same for the word list and make sure you install it in the same folder as the program (which is already the case if you accept the suggested folder).
- Use the icon created in your Start menu to launch the dictionary.
4. Note to Windows Vista/7 users
Our dictionary program was designed to run with Windows XP, but it is also compatible with all versions of Windows, from Windows 95 to Windows Seven. However, in order to run properly, the dictionary needs to write some data in some of its files. Vista doesn't authorize this under "Program Files", unless you log on as the Administrator (which is not quite recommended). That's why we had to change the default destination folder, from "Program Files" to "Documents and Settings". So, if you are running Vista or Seven, please do not modify the suggested folder, or install the dictionary in a folder on which you have full rights.
Another way to solve the problem is to modify the dictionary shortcut properties: right click on the shortcut, open the Properties dialogue box, go under the Compatibility tab and check the option to set the program permanently to administrator priviledges.
If you are under Windows Vista or Seven and you find that the dictionary program won't allow you to reverse the wordlists, add your own words or create personal wordlists, it's because the program was installed in a folder where you can't write anything, because you don't have the required rights. The solution is to uninstall and reinstall in the suggested folder.
5. Note to Windows 95/98 users
We don't support Windows 95/98 anymore, but the old version of our program is still compatible with these operating systems. Click here to download the program and click here to browse the wordlists directory.
We can't provide any wordlist updates for Windows 95/98, and we can't provide technical assistance either. Thank you for your understanding.
6. Installation of an update
Installing an update is as easy as installing a wordlist for the first time. But the new list will replace your old one, so if you had added some words to the list, or if you had corrected some entries, everything will be lost. If you want to avoid that, please contact us and tell us what language and how many words (approximately) are involved. We will then give you further instructions.
7. Installation: troubleshooting
8. Known bugs when using the program
If this solution doesn't work, here is something else you can try: go to Start menu, Run, then type win.ini. Notepad should now display the contents of your win.ini file. Scroll down if necessary, until you see the [Dictionary] section. Delete it entirely, that is until you find another section in [square brackets like this]. The whole section should look like this:
|
[Dictionary]
searchwindowsize=25 searchwindowminimal=0 PracticeMode=0 PracticeSound=1 StayOnTop=0 WinPosLeftMain=557 WinPosTopMain=340 WinPosLeftSearch=387 WinPosTopSearch=188 ClipSearch=0 AddNewWordsToList=1 WinPosLeftAdd=525 WinPosTopAdd=403 |
After the section has been deleted, run the program again.
9. Uninstallation of the dictionary
To remove Freelang dictionary, go to Start menu, Settings, Control Panel, Add/remove Programs. Find the two lines corresponding to Freelang, select one after another and click Remove button.
Personal word lists are not deleted automatically, so you may have to remove them manually, either from folder "C:/Program Files/Dictionary", or "C:/Documents and Settings/Yourname/Local Settings/Application Data/Freelang Dictionary". If the latter is not visible, open a Windows Explorer window and go to Tools, Folder Options, click on View tab and check "Show hidden files and folders".
10. Our recommendations for other products
Thanks to our sponsor, Ectaco, we also provide a shop where you can buy Electronic pocket dictionaries and Translation software for all platforms (including mobile phones, Pocket PC, Palm, Windows...).
11. Before contacting us...
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, just make sure you have read this page, as well as the FAQ (answers to frequently asked questions).
If you have a problem with the dictionary, please describe it precisely. Tell us what version of Windows you are using, what language list you are trying to install and how you have done so far. The more precise the description is, the sooner you will get an answer. Please also bear in mind that Freelang is a non profit website, and that we reply to the many emails we receive during our free time.
Thank you for your understanding!