Crap! I found a nasty bug in the windows installer today. By default, zdt installs its database (chinese.script) in the C:\Documents and Settings\user\zdt directory. If the chinese.script file already exists, then it should just leave it and create a new file called chinese.new that contains the “latest” database. Unfortunately, the installer was creating the new file and also overwriting the old one. Which of course means all your word lists, etc are lost. Doh!
I’ve deleted the existing files off of sourceforge and I’m in the process of re-uploading zdt 0.4.5 with a fix. While I’m at it, I’ve also made the new cedict database file the default one with this latest distribution.
Update:
I tested on my windows desktop machine and it doesn’t overwrite the file. Only on my laptop. Very weird especially since nobody ever complained before. I’m now confused. 
Update #2:
Ok, mystery solved. It had to do with the timestamps on the file. If the date of the existing file was older than the one in the installer, it would overwrite the file. It works on accident because if you’re actually using the chinese.script file, the timestamp on it gets updated after each use. Anyway, the new build of 0.4.5 is on SourceForge now and it fixes this problem.
February 2nd, 2006
I’ve put up updated Adso and Cedict databases online.
Download Adso.
Download Cedict.
Please read the readme.txt files included with each zip for usage instructions. You’ll need to export your existing categories from your current database and import them back in to the new one. Hopefully I’ll have a more automatic way of updating in the future.
I’ve already talked about the Adso database in a previous post. The updated Cedict database contains about 7000 more entries then the old one.
February 2nd, 2006
It’s that time again. Another new version of the zdt is upon us. Files are available on Sourceforge right now. Webpage should be updated tonight.
Here’s some highlights of the new features. Please see the changelog for a list of all the fixes.
Navigation in flashcards. Navigation was added to Pinyin Recall mode in 0.4.2. However, now all flashcard modes support navigation. Plus, you can now “skip” ahead using the forward button if there are words you don’t want to be tested on. Keyboard shortcuts tip: Ctrl-left arrow moves back a card, and Ctrl-right arrow moves forward a card. In Self Review mode, Ctrl-up toggles flipping the card.
Copying externally works better. You can now select multiple entries and copy them. Copying pinyin and pasting now shows the tonemarks instead of numbers. There are now added options to Copy individual characters, pinyin, or definition from the right-click menu on a table.
Annotation view accepts traditional and simplified characters at the same time. No longer need to use the ‘Toggle traditional mode’ (Ctrl-T) function to switch between the two modes in the annotation view.
Annotator tooltip improvements. Got the same treatment as the table tooltips. They should now wrap properly.
Dictionary Test now restricts choices. Instead of using random definitions from the database, it now uses the definitions from the flashcards you’re testing from. This actually seems to make the test more challenging.
Hooks for sound. I’ve added hooks to play sounds in certain views. When the sound plugin is released later this week, you’ll be able to hear sounds play. More details in a few days.
February 1st, 2006