How To Use The EDICT, etc. Dictionary Files

Using the EDICT Files

Introduction

This page provides a brief overview of how to use the EDICT project files (EDICT, ENAMDICT, KANJIDIC, etc.) on various platforms to obtain a dictionary service.

Windows

Sadly, a really good dictionary client is not available. While I do not have a lot of direct experience (I don't use Windows much), the following appear to be the options:

use the JquickTrans program available from the Monash ftp site. Despite its name, it appears to be a dictionary client. (I haven't tried it, so I cannot comment.)
use the JWPce freeware wordprocessor, also available from the ftp site. It has a good built-in dictionary function. The author, Glenn Rosenthal, has promised a stand-alone dictionary version soon.
use the old WinJDic program, also available from the Monash ftp site. It has the limitation of not being able to handle more than one dictionary file.
use the DOS JDIC mentioned below.

All of the above work with just "English" versions of Windows.

Unix (X-Windows)

My own xjdic (V2.3) is available from the Monash ftp site. It needs to run in a kterm window, and has been used successfully on virtually every type of Unix & Linux system.

Macintosh

Mac users have two options if they have Japanese support with their OS:

the old MacJDic V1.3.4, available from the Monash ftp site. It is freeware, but can only handle one dictionary file.
the commercial UniDict package. (I don't know how you obtain it; try a WWW search.)

The Japanese WordMage package, which does not need Japanese OS support, seems to provide access to the files, but I cannot confirm this.

WWW

There are two main WWW options:

my own WWWJDIC server, which has a number of mirrors.
Jeffrey Friedl's server.

There are some others, but these are the most functional.

DOS

The very original JDIC program was the first to use these files. It can also be obtained from the Monash ftp site.

Others

There are also programs for Amiga, BeoS, Palm Pilots, etc. Most can be obtained from the Monash ftp site.

I hope this helps.

Jim Breen
June 2000