Thoughts on Source Configuration ================================ Since there has been a request for multiple back-end support inside MATE Dictionary, and since Gdict makes the addition of such back-ends a possibility, we need a way to configure these back-ends. My plan is to use .desktop files in a standard location, such as /usr/share/mate-dictionary and $HOME/.mate2/mate-dictionary. By dropping a correctly-formatted .desktop file inside these locations, you can enable a new dictionary source inside MATE Dictionary. * Syntax ======== ** General keys =============== A .desktop file is parsable using the GKeyFile class of GLib. Please remember that a .desktop file is case sensitive. A standard .desktop file for Dictionary must have the "Dictionary" group; only this group should be parsed, and other groups should be ignored. The mandatory name of the dictionary source is specified by the "Name" key; it may be localized. An optional description of the dictionary source is specified by the "Description" key; also this may be localized. The type of back-end to use is specified by the mandatory "Transport" key; at this moment, only the "dictd" value is permitted. An optional default database to be used with the dictionary source is specified by the "Database" key; if no default database is specified, assume the default database for the transport. An option default match strategy to be used with the dictionary source is specified by the "Strategy" key; if no default strategy is specified, assume the default strategy for the transport. ** Transport-specific keys ========================== These are the keys defined for the "dictd" transport: "Hostname" [mandatory] holds the hostname of the dictionary server to connect to; "Port" [optional] holds the port of the dictionary server to connect to; if omitted, the default port should be used. ** Example ========== Dictionary source for dict.org: [Dictionary] _Name: Default _Description: Default dictionary server Transport: dictd Hostname: dict.org Port: 2628 $ Last updated: 2005-12-07 19:00 (+0100) ebassi $