Howto: offline / local dictionary the easy way

[jon.reeve]

I searched all over to find an offline dictionary solution to meet my needs, since I'm often in need of a dictionary and thesaurus I can use offline. Having not found an adequate solution in OpenDict (its dictionaries are only for foreign languages like Latvian and its website is inundated with spam), Stardict (it's bloated, written in bad English, and generally annoying to use) or other programs, and not always having access to the internet whenever I need a dictionary, I figured out how to set up a local DICT server and thereby use the Dictionary program that's already included with Ubuntu to access locally stored dictionaries. It's not all that difficult, it turns out.

First, install DictD:

sudo apt-get install dictd

this installs a DICT server. now you can install whatever dictionaries you want. Dictionaries are in the repos, here's a list I found using a package search:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?su...&keywords=dict

so to install a thesaurus, for example, use

sudo apt-get install dict-moby-thesaurus

Now to configure Dictionary, open the Dictionary program (in <Hardy it's in Accessories, in Intrepid it's under Office), go into Edit -> Preferences, click on "Add" to add a source, then under "Description" give it a name like "Local Dictionaries," under "hostname" type "localhost" [EDIT: In Jaunty and later you might try putting "127.0.0.1" (without the quotes) instead; see below] and leave the port number the same. Now click "add" and now whenever you're offline you can choose "Local Dictionaries" from "Dictionary Sources" and access your dictionaries offline!

[pennygov]

Thanks! I just spent an hour trying to edit my config files which was rather confusing since the setup was nothing like the old way. Dah ... so simple!

[ghotighongers]

Thanks, you just saved me so much trouble...

*kudos*

[binbash]

Thanks

[joemun]

Artha is a dictionary like wordweb on windows, for linux download de deb packages and just double click.IMHO it is the best dictionary for linux so far.
http://artha.sourceforge.net.

[binbash]

Artha is a dictionary like wordweb on windows, for linux download de deb packages and just double click.IMHO it is the best dictionary for linux so far.
http://artha.sourceforge.net.

It depends on tcl tk which just suck :/

[kickwin]

I concur joemun. Artha kicks ###.

[Noobs*McGee]

I can't get this to work for me

I followed the instructions to the letter: installed the dictd and dict-gcide packages via synaptic, opened Dictionary from the apps menu, added the new source with localhost in the hostname, made sure the new source was selected, and tried to look up a word, but every time I try, I get the error "Connection failed to the dictionary server at localhost:2628"...

I'm a fairly recent convert from WinXP, and I'm not particularly Linux saavy, so I apologize if I'm making a stupid mistake and the solution is very obvious, but I'd appreciate any help you can give...

[Noobs*McGee]

Help?

[legends2k]

@Noobs*McGee:
You can try this:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1065384