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Dictionary tooltip. - Printable Version

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+--- Forum: Messenger Plus! for Live Messenger (/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+---- Forum: Scripting (/forumdisplay.php?fid=39)
+----- Thread: Dictionary tooltip. (/showthread.php?tid=75391)

Dictionary tooltip. by safrazz on 06-16-2007 at 02:10 PM

I don't know if this has been suggested before, but, i was thinking it'd be real handy to have a dictionary tooltip pop-up when a word is double clicked or something (like the firefox dictionary tooltip). Since i don't know how to write scripts, i thought i'd suggest it here... Well, what do the script writers (if that's what you call them) think?


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by Oxy on 06-16-2007 at 02:17 PM

It could be an idea, but writing a whole dictionary into a script must be hard. (and using a different program will lag it hugely)


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by joey on 06-16-2007 at 02:18 PM

especially for dial=up users! ;o


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by Oxy on 06-16-2007 at 02:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ICD
especially for dial=up users! ;o

..? I meant using a dictionary of a already installed program (such as maybe, microsoft office or something)
RE: Dictionary tooltip. by safrazz on 06-16-2007 at 02:22 PM

Well, not write a whole dictionary.. just open a pop-up with the definition from an online source which also can be opened in a separate browser window... Just like the one in firefox..


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by Matti on 06-16-2007 at 02:22 PM

It's not because the idea is horrible, it's because it'd be a pain in the arse to do it. This has been suggested before (search! :)), but it's just too hard...

First of all, you'll need a decent dictionary which can be used in a script. Therefore, you need a huge library of words and find a way to easily generate a list of suggestions.

Second, you'll need to detect on what word the cursor is pointed. This is almost impossible, because you can change your font and thus affect where the word is placed. However, Plus! did something similar with the Quick Emoticon, but therefore you'll have to ask Patchou how that has been done because I have no clue how. :P

I doubt this is going to be made any soon...


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by CookieRevised on 06-16-2007 at 10:37 PM

A double click can be detected by subclassing the chat window. Then you can use Plus! Script's functions do detect the selected word (when you double click a word it is selected), hence you can retrieve the word.

There are plenty of dictionnaries on the net you can use, there are even ActiveX dictionnaries and such which can do the looking up for you and which simply give back a list of words or whatever...

In other words, this is very doable. The question is if anybody is willing to spend some time to make it (and doing it in a proper decent way) as it apparently isn't considered very usefull by many people and the novelty would wear off quickly I guess.


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by Ezra on 06-16-2007 at 10:59 PM

there are also a lot of dictionaries from mozilla.


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by John Anderton on 06-17-2007 at 06:20 AM

I just feel that honestly, its way easier to search for a word you want the meaning to yourself. Way quicker and saves everyone a lot of time :)


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by safrazz on 06-17-2007 at 07:44 AM

Well, isn't this forum about suggestions to make the whole messenger plus experience a better and more easier one?! And, i think everyone would love to have a dictionary embedded within messenger. I didn't know how hard it would be to create one because i don't know how to write scripts. I was only suggesting.... :) So, if any genius out there knows to write such a script, i'm sure the whole messenger plus community would appreciate it...


RE: Dictionary tooltip. by CookieRevised on 06-17-2007 at 11:21 AM

quote:
Originally posted by safrazz
And, i think everyone would love to have a dictionary embedded within messenger.
Personally, I absolutely would not.... and especially not 'embedded', Messenger is already going in the bloated way more than enough...

If I want to know the meaning of a word I would quickly google it (which would be just as fast... and probably more accurate as you can look up the word in multiple places). EDIT: see what Volv said...

It is not like you would use such a tool everyday and in every sentence. If it was, it would indeed maybe be a bit more usefull. But for the very rare occasions that a word is used which needs looking up (and you can't simply ask your contact the meaning), I don't find such a thing usefull. As I said, the novelty would wear off very quick.

But that's my opinion though, and I have been wrong more than once in the past ;)

But if anybody wants to make it, by all means do it (...properly :p)...
RE: Dictionary tooltip. by Volv on 06-17-2007 at 12:58 PM

Type "define: <word>" and click the MSN Search button...