Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Ed.) PDA-friendly

Alexander Turcic · 09-14-2004, 06:32 AM

I needed mobile access to OED for a project I am currently working on.

You can query the Oxford English Dictionary with your PDA from the following link:

Mobileread OED Lookup

In case you didn't know: The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books.

ignatz · 09-14-2004, 11:05 AM

Alex, how did you do this? I recently found a similar tool (though the link is now dead). I thought that the OED was subscription based. (Not that I'm complaining, mind you!!)

Alexander Turcic · 09-14-2004, 11:12 AM

My html form uses the script from U of Waterloo which is accessible without subscription.

ignatz · 09-14-2004, 11:15 AM

Sweet! I think that I can reprogram Firefox to sub this search for the standard "dict xxxx" address bar search. OED rules!

Montalvo · 09-14-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ignatz

Sweet! I think that I can reprogram Firefox to sub this search for the standard "dict xxxx" address bar search. OED rules!

Hi! Im interested on this. I tried to pass parameters into Alex's script, but it doesnt work as I was expecting. Also, when I go and use the URL of this search:

http://db.uwaterloo.ca/OED/search/oed-local/lookup.cgi

it reports a "403 error - Forbidden"

But when I use Alex's script, it works very well. (very, very well - Thanks Alex!)... what does Alex script to work without that 403 error??

Maybe it's too early for my neurons to work..

Let me know how you can do this on FireFox...

Alexander Turcic · 09-14-2004, 11:34 AM

Samuel, if you look at the html source code (especially the form part) of https://www.mobileread.com/avantgo/lookup.html, you see what parameters the script exactly needs.

Montalvo · 09-14-2004, 11:42 AM

Help me a little here, because every parameter I pass to your script is cleared (converted to blank, none).

Should it works as:

?word=pants&scope=HL&quantity=10

??

Alexander Turcic · 09-14-2004, 11:47 AM

Almost yes. You are forgetting the (hidden) start parameter:

start=1&word=righteous&scope=HL&format=Full+entry& quantity=10

Montalvo · 09-14-2004, 12:14 PM

Nop. Maybe I need more cofee...

If I use your script, I cannot pass any parameters. It just shows me the search form... and I need to type everything.
If I use the URL: http://db.uwaterloo.ca/OED/search/oed-local/lookup.cgi then it shows me a 403 error...
If I type the data into your search form, then everything works...

Any idea?
(Yes, Use my form and forget everything else

)

Alexander Turcic · 09-14-2004, 12:19 PM

Hm I think I know what you are doing. Are you trying to pass the variables to http://db.uwaterloo.ca/OED/search/oed-local/lookup.cgi by attaching the parameters to it? That wouldn't work. The script expects the variables in a _POST array, not _GET (as it is the case when you add parameters to the url).

Montalvo · 09-14-2004, 12:29 PM

Do you see how sharing this experiences let us LEARN?
That was my mistake.

Ok. Now comming back to IGNATZ idea...

Thanks!

Alexander Turcic · 09-19-2004, 09:06 AM

Well it didn't last very long

ignatz · 09-19-2004, 10:21 AM

Hey what happened?? They shut it down? Or just shut us out?

Alexander Turcic · 09-19-2004, 10:57 AM

They shut us out.

BasilC · 09-19-2004, 08:36 PM

I'm not really surprised you got shut out! After all, it was really an illegal way to access the dictionary.

Incidentally, a Mobipocket version of the Concise OED is now available. I've bought it, and it takes Palm OS dictionaries onto a higher plane (that said, it's a pity it doesn't have resident or DA functionality like A-Lex).

09-14-2004, 06:32 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Ed.) PDA-friendly I needed mobile access to OED for a project I am currently working on. You can query the Oxford English Dictionary with your PDA from the following link: Mobileread OED Lookup In case you didn't know: The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books.

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09-14-2004, 11:05 AM	#2
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Alex, how did you do this? I recently found a similar tool (though the link is now dead). I thought that the OED was subscription based. (Not that I'm complaining, mind you!!)

09-14-2004, 11:12 AM	#3
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	My html form uses the script from U of Waterloo which is accessible without subscription.

09-14-2004, 11:15 AM	#4
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Sweet! I think that I can reprogram Firefox to sub this search for the standard "dict xxxx" address bar search. OED rules!

09-14-2004, 11:34 AM	#6
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Samuel, if you look at the html source code (especially the form part) of https://www.mobileread.com/avantgo/lookup.html, you see what parameters the script exactly needs.

09-14-2004, 11:42 AM	#7
Montalvo Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 252 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mexico Device: TT	Help me a little here, because every parameter I pass to your script is cleared (converted to blank, none). Should it works as: ?word=pants&scope=HL&quantity=10 ??

09-14-2004, 11:47 AM	#8
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Almost yes. You are forgetting the (hidden) start parameter: start=1&word=righteous&scope=HL&format=Full+entry& quantity=10

09-14-2004, 12:14 PM	#9
Montalvo Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 252 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mexico Device: TT	Nop. Maybe I need more cofee... If I use your script, I cannot pass any parameters. It just shows me the search form... and I need to type everything. If I use the URL: http://db.uwaterloo.ca/OED/search/oed-local/lookup.cgi then it shows me a 403 error... If I type the data into your search form, then everything works... Any idea? (Yes, Use my form and forget everything else )

09-14-2004, 12:19 PM	#10
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Hm I think I know what you are doing. Are you trying to pass the variables to http://db.uwaterloo.ca/OED/search/oed-local/lookup.cgi by attaching the parameters to it? That wouldn't work. The script expects the variables in a _POST array, not _GET (as it is the case when you add parameters to the url).

09-14-2004, 12:29 PM	#11
Montalvo Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 252 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mexico Device: TT	Do you see how sharing this experiences let us LEARN? That was my mistake. Ok. Now comming back to IGNATZ idea... Thanks!

09-19-2004, 09:06 AM	#12
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Well it didn't last very long

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09-19-2004, 10:21 AM	#13
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Hey what happened?? They shut it down? Or just shut us out?

09-19-2004, 10:57 AM	#14
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	They shut us out.

09-19-2004, 08:36 PM	#15
BasilC Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 60 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London England Device: Palm Tungsten T3	I'm not really surprised you got shut out! After all, it was really an illegal way to access the dictionary. Incidentally, a Mobipocket version of the Concise OED is now available. I've bought it, and it takes Palm OS dictionaries onto a higher plane (that said, it's a pity it doesn't have resident or DA functionality like A-Lex).