CD Versions of the Practical Dictionary

[Guest guest]

Phil, all,

 

There are three electronic versions of the Wiseman and Feng Practical

Dictionary. The first, the EDCM which Z'ev has mentioned on this list, is

part of a larger system that is used to investigate the molecular structures of

drugs. I understand that it will be available as part of the subscription to

the molecular structure database and will be targeted to those engaged in

molecular research. It is a wonderful project that has already contributed

to the credibility of Chinese medicine by relating patterns and disease states

to the substances used to treat them, and thus to the molecular qualities of

those substances.

 

The second is our shared internal database of the " great dictionary of

Chinese medicine, " specialized Chinese terms, and the formulary and

materia medica of the People's Republic. It is a highly open system that

requires technical expertise and works under a non-graphic interface. It is

both too large, too unwieldy, and too difficult to support to be distributed.

It is more a UNIX-style set of tools than a PC-style system.

 

Finally, we have a working edition of a version of that database that

operates from a graphical user interface and can be successfully maintained

without full-time technical assistance. It is searchable in Chinese, pinyin

and English, and is capable of printing mixed Chinese-English text. It is

maintained by an automated update system. To do this, however, we need

to use a technical database engine the licenses of which are at minimum

$400.00 (one user, one machine) and the printing features are unlikely to

work on any but post-Win2X and OS X systems. Thus, we are currently

thinking that allowing access via the internet is the best way to make the

information broadly available.

 

I cannot say when it will be ready; it is possible that we could have the data

set of the Practical Dictionary ready by the end of 2003. It is hard to

estimate because the data is being programatically transmitted to the new

system and will need to be proof-read and the textual sources such as term

definitions will need to be added. Second, to move from the LAN

environment to a WAN environment is non-trivial, requires an active

webmaster, and is unlikely to be commercially viable for some time. It is

more my personal project than a commercial venture. I dragooned my

colleagues and the occasional technical expert into it time-on-time and make

what progress we can.

 

Bob

 

bob Paradigm Publications

www.paradigm-pubs.com 44 Linden Street

Robert L. Felt Brookline MA 02445

617-738-4664

 

 

---

[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus]

[Guest guest]

Bob,

I poorly understand computer terminology, but if this means that one

might be able to use the Practical Dictionary along side or

incorporated into a programme like Wenlin, for instance, it would be

wonderful.

Simon

 

, " Robert L. Felt " <bob@p...> wrote:

 

 

> I cannot say when it will be ready; it is possible that we could

have the data

> set of the Practical Dictionary ready by the end of 2003. It is

hard to

> estimate because the data is being programatically transmitted to

the new

> system and will need to be proof-read and the textual sources such

as term

> definitions will need to be added. Second, to move from the LAN

> environment to a WAN environment is non-trivial, requires an active

> webmaster, and is unlikely to be commercially viable for some

time. It is

> more my personal project than a commercial venture. I dragooned my

> colleagues and the occasional technical expert into it time-on-time

and make

> what progress we can.

>