Windows VOX Manual

Introduction

About the program

You evidently made the right choice by purchasing this Paragon Software group Product!

This program is a part of the famous and widespread line of dictionaries with many advantages such as:

Regularly updating dictionary databases with a high data compression ratio from all well-known publishers
User-friendly interface which makes working with the dictionary easy
Language identifier that inverts translation direction according to the language of typing, and along with the morphology module, lets you input words in any form and make your search smart.
3 operating modes: Extended Mode, Compact Mode and Pop-Up Translation
Quick changing of translation direction by changing the layout on your keyboard.
Virtual keyboard containing a lot of national layouts, which allows you to work with languages without changing your computer settings.

This program provides many helpful tools for your better language studies:

Similar Words. If you are unsure of the correct spelling of a word you are trying to lookup, use "Similar Words". Once you press Search, you will receive a list of words from the dictionary, which are similar in spelling to your original entry.
Wildcard Search. With this function you can search for the words that you are unsure how to spell. Enter symbol “*” for several characters or “?” for one and you will see the list of corresponding words from the dictionary.
Morphology Module (for Russian, English, French and Spanish languages). Now you can get the translation of the words inputted in any form. (e.g. plurals, different verb forms etc). This new feature allows you to work with foreign texts more efficiently and is extremely useful both for users who have just started learning foreign languages and for experienced linguists.
Pop-up translation. This function allows you to find a translation without leaving the application you are working in. To see the translation simply place the cursor of your mouse over any word you need.
The Table of Irregular Verbs (for English and German languages) is also added to the dictionary with several sorting possibilities.

This version of the program is for the use on desktop computers based on Microsoft Operating System and is a new part of a widespread and well-known line of dictionaries for desktop and mobile devices developed by Paragon Software Group.

Useful information

Other well-known products of Paragon Software Group:

SlovoEd Dictionary for MAC OS is a series of best-selling PC dictionaries for Mac OS, that provides high translation rate, easy-to-use interface, detailed and up-to-date dictionary bases with numerous usage and sound samples.

Dictionaries for iPhone/iPod touch is a series of best-selling bilingual and monolingual dictionaries for iPhone/iPod touch from the world’s most famous publishers.

PenReader for Windows XP/2000/Vista is a multilingual handwriting recognition system for MS Windows 9x/NT/ME/XP/Vista.

SlovoEd Dictionary for Windows Mobile is a series of best-selling bilingual and monolingual dictionaries from the world’s most famous publishers for your Windows Mobile-based device. New user-friendly interface lets you browse the dictionary with the touch of your finger.

General information about the program

Installation

Installation of the new version

To be able to install the dictionary you need to possess the rights of administration of your PC.

Attention, please!!!
Unfortunately are not able to install the dictionary, if you do not have administrative rights for your computer.

To run the install wizard you need to left click the setup.exe file twice and follow the instructions provided below:

Choose the interface language from the list of available ones (English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian) and press “OK”
Press “Next” in the `Welcome` window of the program.
Then review the license agreement of the dictionary and in case you accept it press «I Agree».

Attention, please!!!

If you do not accept the license terms, you will not be able to continue the installation of the program.
Then choose components of the program, which you would like to install on your PC. Simply check them in the opened window. Click “Next”

Choose the folder to install the dictionary to. By default the application will be installed to the folder located on the system disk of your computer. If you want to change the default location, click “Change”, select a folder and press “OK”.

Attention, please!!!
If you have any dictionaries for Windows, which have been developed by Paragon Software, you won’t be able to change the location for installation, as they will be placed to the same folder, where the first product is located. Thus, the button “Change” will be disabled.

Choose the location of shortcuts of the program on your computer. By default, they will be located:
- On the Quick Launch toolbar
- On the desktop
- In the Start menu
Click “Install” and wait for a few moments till the dictionary will be installed on your PC.
As a result of successful installation you will pass to the window of completing the dictionary setup. After you need to check the actions, which you would like to take place after the installation of the dictionary:
- Run the application
- Show the User Guide
These two actions are checked by default, but you can uncheck them if it is required.
To complete the set up process click “Finish”.

Reinstallation of the application

This version of the dictionary allows 2 possibilities to update the application:

Automatic Online Update from our web-server every 2 weeks (you may accept or reject updates)
Total reinstallation of the program using the new version of Installation Package available on our web-sites.

Installation of additional dictionary databases

Using the dictionary engine you can install several dictionary databases on your PC. This option will allow you to find several meanings for one word. The additional databases can be installed in the following way:

Open the Dictionary Catalogue, choose the dictionary you would like to have and click either Download (in this case only demo-version will be installed) or Buy to purchase the new database. Then you need to fulfill the installation by following the directions described above. (see Installation of the new version)

Language pairs and editions of the dictionaries

Paragon Software Group (SHDD) constantly improves existing programs in addition to developing new ones. As a result we can provide you with a wide range of explanatory and bilingual dictionaries for various language pairs such as:

English<>German
English<>French
English<>Italian

English<>Spanish
English<>Russian
Russian<>German

Russian<>French
Russian<>Italian
Russian<>Spanish

You can always get more information about the dictionaries available for your language on Paragon Software (SHDD) official web sites.

Each dictionary for a particular language pair may have several editions:

SlovoEd Deluxe includes the most full and detailed translation articles with samples, synonyms and antonyms, references and other useful information. It is an excellent solution for professional linguists, translators and advanced users.

SlovoEd Classic includes extended dictionary articles with basic references. It will become an irreplaceable comprehensive assistant for business, travel and study.

SlovoEd Compact occupies the minimum of your device’s memory space and includes the most common translations with clear concise definitions. It will be useful during a trip abroad and while reading.

Operating modes of the dictionary

The dictionary has 3 main operating modes:

Extended Mode
Compact Mode
Pop-Up Translation

You can switch between first two modes by means of the buttons .When clicking the button a window of the dictionary article appears and you pass to Extended mode. By clicking the button a window of the dictionary article disappears and you are switched to a simplified Compact mode. Using Pop-Up Translation is especially useful when you are working with other applications.

Extended Mode of the Dictionary

This mode is the most convenient as it enables you to see the list of the words and the window of the dictionary article. So your screen will be free of any additional windows and moreover you will be able to translate unknown words right from the dictionary article in case you run across those.

Compact Mode of the Dictionary

Thanks to its compact size this mode allows you to work in other open applications without any difficulties, remaining on the monitor of your PC. It is especially useful if you do not use Pop-Up Translation mode but you still need to translate words from other applications.

Pop-up Translation Mode

You may find the translation of any unknown word without leaving your active application. This is possible thanks to the Pop-Up Translation mode. Simply place the cursor of your mouse over a word to get a quick and precise translation right in the current application without opening the dictionary. Use this feature for unknown words in e-mails and documents, web pages and other programs. You can select a convenient method for you to open the Pop-Up Translation in Pop-Up Translation Settings.

Registration and Demo Mode

Registration of the dictionary after the installation

On the start of the demo-version of any dictionary you’ll get a notification with an option to enter the registration code. You can also choose Registration option on the Help toolbar of the dictionary to register it with the Registration Code you received after the purchase. You need to input the Registration Code in the appropriate field to fulfil the registration procedure.

If there are any versions of the program installed in demo mode to your PC and you do not have Registration Code for them yet, choose Help> Registration and click Buy. In this case you will be directed to a web page where you can purchase the selected product. Then you need to repeat the registration procedure.

Demo-Version limitations

The longer you use an unregistered copy of the dictionary, the more often you will receive message that your version of the dictionary is not registered instead of translations. To stop receiving the message you’ll need to register your dictionary.

How to get a registration code

If you want a reliable, friendly and helpful dictionary, please, visit our official web site and select the dictionary you want to have. After you complete the purchase, you will get the registration code. Do not worry, we never get your credit card information, ordering is proceeded through specialized American and European e-commerce systems.

This way of payment provides the "real-time fulfillment", that means that your Registration Code will be emailed to you immediately.

Dictionary functions

Interface of the program

Interface of the program in the Extended mode looks like a window divided into the list of words in the left part and the dictionary article on the right. While you are selecting new words from the list of words, the content of the article in the neighboring part of the window is also changing showing the translation of the word. This window includes the buttons: Copy, Paste, Print and Cut and four tabs, which activate the following toolbars: Translation, Dictionaries, Settings and Help.

If the Translation toolbar is activated, the following buttons are available:

Select/Invert Translation direction
Search
Wildcard Search
Similar Words
Start Quiz
Irregular Verbs
Word Forms
Add Card
Add Bookmark
Find in the Article

When you use the simplified Compact mode the number of buttons available in the main window is smaller. The last four buttons from the list above will not be visible, but they are to be shown in the additional window with the dictionary article.

If the Dictionaries toolbar is active, the following buttons are available:

Manage Dictionaries
Catalogue
Create an Article

In case the Settings toolbar is used, you can see the following buttons on it:

Font Size
Pop-up Translation
General Settings

When the Help toolbar is actively used, the following buttons will be located there:

Help
Installed Dictionaries
Registration
Update
About

The Input Field is located under the toolbar; the following buttons are located nearby:

Forward
Back
Search
Virtual keyboard

Dictionary Icon in the System Tray

If during the set up process you chose the location of dictionary icon in the system tray, you would have an additional possibility to operate the dictionary easily and efficiently. You can right-click the icon and you will see the menu with the following items:

Pop-up Translation. To enable/disable the feature of pop-up translation, check/uncheck this menu item.
Pop-up translation by pressing the combination of keys. Having checked this menu item, you will be able to invoke the pop-up translation by pressing the keys combination on your keyboard. You can choose most appropriate for you combination from the list of available ones. (see Dictionary Settings> Pop-up Translation Settings).
Pop-up translation by pressing your own combination of keys. Here you can set your own combination of keys for invoking pop-up translation. For detailed directions see Dictionary Settings> Pop-up Translation Settings.
Translation direction. To set the translation direction, left-click this menu item and choose one, which you need, from the list of available language pairs.
Settings. Pressing this menu item, you will pass to the window of General Settings of the application.
Open the dictionary.
Exit. Press this button to leave the application. In this case the dictionary icon in the system tray will be deleted and next time you need to launch the application, you will be able to open the program only through the Start menu >Paragon Software or using an icon on your desktop (if you have one).

Input Methods

To find translations in the new version of the dictionary, you can input words by means of:

Virtual keyboard
Keyboard of your PC
Paste/Copy Operation: copy the word you want to look up to the clipboard, start the dictionary and choose Paste
Handwriting recognition systems, such as PenReader

Using new language identifier, you can input words without changing translation direction each time. The translation direction will be set automatically according to the language of typing. Moreover, morphology module of the new version allows you to type words in any form and makes the words input smart. Apart from this, if you doubt the correct spelling of a word, you may use the Wildcard Search or Similar Words function.

Attention, please!!!
The feature of language identification is available ONLY for languages that have different alphabetic structure. If the languages that you use belong to the same family, there are very few chances that the automatically chosen direction will be correct (for example, in case with German and English languages).

Translation methods

Before working with the dictionary you need to select the translation direction. You can change it using Translation Direction button .

The button is available in the Translation toolbar, by clicking it the current translation direction changes into the opposite one. In case several databases are installed in your dictionary and you have several language pairs to translate to and from, click and hold on the button to see the list of all available translation directions. Choose one by clicking on it. Apart from these possibilities current version of the program lets you change translation direction to the opposite one by changing keyboard layout.

You can also change the translation direction using the dictionary menu in the system tray

Translation from Input Field

If you have entered a word into the input field, click ENTER and the program will automatically begin the search for the entered word, and as a result you will see a dictionary article corresponding to your enquiry (if there is any).

When entering a word, the list of words automatically scrolls to the most similar word in spelling, meaning that you do not even need to enter the whole word; you may simply choose it from the list. Moreover you can anytime look through Search History to see the translations again.

Pop-up Translation

Using pop-up translation you may translate words without leaving the active application you are working in, for example when you are reading foreign books or navigating through the Internet. Simply place the cursor of your mouse over a necessary word or use a selected combination on your keyboard. You may set your own way to open a Pop-Up Translation Mode. (see Pop-up Translation Settings)

Full-Text Search

Full-text Search shows you the translation of a whole phrase, searching them through the entire dictionary of active translation direction (heading, translation and examples). To apply this type of search enter a word or a phrase into the Input Field and click Search or follow the command Help> Search.

Word-for-Word Translation

In case you entered a phrase into the Input Field but it was not found by means of Full-text Search, the program will automatically fulfill the procedure of Word-for-Word Translation, which launches the full-text search through all available dictionary entries for each word of that phrase. As a rule the Morphology Module plays an important role in this kind of Search to find basic forms of words from the original entered phrase.

Crossed-up Translation

If you find any interesting or unknown word in a dictionary entry you can easily translate it by clicking it and the program will find its translation for you. This function is especially useful for looking through translation articles. So if you run across any unfamiliar word in any dictionary entry- feel free to translate it!

IntraArticle Search

Thanks to a new feature of the application, you can search for words right in the dictionary article. Thus you can find any word even in the longest and most detailed dictionary article. To launch this search, open an article and click “Find in the Article” to input a word in the opened field. Press the button. If the article contains the entered word, it will be automatically highlighted.

Management of the dictionary

User’s Dictionaries

Thanks to the manager of the dictionaries, now you are able to create your own dictionaries and constantly fill them with new articles. This feature is especially important if you are located in a foreign county and surrounded with vivid language units. Now you are sure that you will memorize all useful words and phrases, because you can create the whole dictionary with as many articles as you need. In order to do this:

Press the button “Manage Dictionaries” on the Dictionaries toolbar.
Click the “Create” button in the opened window of the dictionary manager.
Add the name of the dictionary, set the language of its headwords (“Article Language”) and the language of translation (“Translation Language”) in the window of a new user’s dictionary.
Click “OK”.

In the very same way you can create a lot of your own dictionaries and constantly enlarge them with new articles:

Click “Create an Article” on the Dictionaries toolbar
Enter the headword for this article. The headword is a word or phrase, which you are going to save translation for in the article.
Input the headword again and enter the corresponding translation below in the window “Article Text”. To make your work even easier, simply follow tips of the program.

Furthermore, you can format test of the created articles. Especially for this purpose following font styles are provided in the Dictionary Editor:

Title
Translation
Example
Comment
Transcription
Number
Other

To format any text you need, highlight it and click the corresponding button of style.

You also can create your own styles of formatting. Press the “Create” button in the window of the Dictionary Editor and set the style (bold, italic, underlined), size (normal, large, small) and color of the font. The created style will be saved in the “Other” menu.

Import and Export of the Dictionaries

If you have your own dictionary databases, you can use them even without the dictionary engine developed by Paragon Software. To do this you need to export them following the command Dictionaries>Manage Dictionaries>Export. Exported in this way dictionaries will be saved in HTML format.

You can also use your own dictionaries that you created before within the application engine. This feature is especially useful for professional linguists, who develop dictionaries. Within the dictionary engine developed by Paragon Software, you can easily fill, test and use all dictionaries created on your own. In order to import a dictionary press “Manage Dictionaries” button on the Dictionaries toolbar and click “Import”. Only HTML, DSL MLX formats are supported for import.

Dictionary Manager

You may manage your dictionaries and set priorities for them in the window “Manage Dictionary” by clicking the buttons Upper/Lower. The article from a dictionary given higher priority will be located higher in the translation list and words that you search will initially be searched here. The dictionary articles found for your queries will also correspond to the dictionary priorities.

Switching Dictionaries On/Off

You may also switch on new dictionaries or switch off the ones that you do not use through the “Manage Dictionary” window. If you need to switch a dictionary on, please put a mark beside the name of the dictionary in this window or delete the mark if you are going to switch a dictionary off. Also you may set priority for newly added dictionaries.

Deleting Dictionary Databases

You can delete dictionaries in the window of the dictionary manager (Dictionaries>Manage Dictionaries) pressing the “Delete” button. To delete articles created (or imported) on your own, click the button located in the window of a particular dictionary article.

Catalogue of the Dictionaries. Updates

In case you want to update your version of the dictionary or to purchase a new one you may use “Catalogue” menu item. Click this item and you will see the list of all available dictionaries from our company, and in the Product Description you will find all the technical requirements. Once you open Catalogue the list of products will automatically be updated in order to show you all latest versions available.

Dictionary Settings

There are three buttons on the Settings toolbar that allows you to customize the dictionary to your most efficient, convenient and quick work with this program:

Font size
Pop-up Translation
General Settings

Fonts Size settings

Using the button “Font size” you can easily select the most appropriate for you font size of the dictionary articles for most comfortable reading. Shift slider to set the size. There are 5 different font sizes available:

Tiny
Little
Medium
Large
Huge

General Settings

You can easily adjust the following settings of your dictionary to personalize it and make it more convenient for use:

Interface Language. You may change the interface language of your dictionary by clicking “General Settings” button on the Settings toolbar and choosing “Interface Language” or right-clicking the dictionary icon located in the system tray and selecting the menu item “Settings”.
Automatic startup. If this setting is applied, the program will be started each time you start Windows, i.e. each time you switch on your PC.
Show the dictionary icon in the System Tray. This setting is applied by default, but you can change it, unchecking this item in the Settings window. Note, please, that this icon in the Windows System Tray eases your work with the application significantly, as in case you don’t have it, you will have to follow the command Start>Paragon Software to launch the application or use an icon on your desktop.

Pop-up Translation settings

Pop- up Translation is the function of the dictionary that enables you to get the translation of any word without leaving another active application. There are 4 methods to invoke Pop-Up Translation available:

Hovering a mouse cursor over a necessary word
Hovering a mouse cursor with a particular keys pressed. You need to choose any key from the list of available ones. Pressing this button and hovering mouse over any text, you will invoke pop-up translation of it.
Selecting text and pressing a combination of keys. If you check this menu item you need to select a combination of keys from the list of available ones.
Selecting text and pressing your own combination of keys. If you check this menu item, you need to click “Change” and press the combination of keys on your keyboard, which you are going to use to invoke pop-up translation.

By default you may open pop-up translation by placing the cursor of your mouse over a word. If such method is not suitable for you, change it! To change the settings, open the following window choosing Pop-up Translation Settings from the Settings toolbar. In the opened window you can set the way of invoking pop-up translation using either mouse or keyboard. To do this, you need to check the most appropriate menu item for you. To apply the selected settings click “OK”

You can also change these settings using the dictionary icon in the system tray. Right-click it and check the most appropriate for you method of invoking pop-up translation.

Attention, please!!!
If there are several dictionary engines installed on your PC, you need to set different methods of invoking pop-up translation for all of them. Otherwise, you will get a program message asking you to change them.

Morphology Module

All our dictionaries allow you translate words entered in any form thanks to the Morphology Module, which is available for English, Spanish, Russian and French translation directions. For example you may enter nouns in different cases, adjectives in any degree or verbs in different aspects and tenses etc.

If you enter any form into the input field, the corresponding information in the dictionary article will be marked with “Morphology Module” sign.

You may also enter a whole phrase into the input field and will get the morphology module articles for each word from the phrase (for English, Russian, Spanish and French translation direc0tions).

You can use the button “Word Forms” on the Translation toolbar (in the Extended mode) to see morphological data about the headword of a currently opened article. In case you use the Compact mode of the dictionary, the button will be located on the toolbar of a dictionary article.

Sound Module

Now thanks to Sound Modules of the dictionary you can listen to words pronounced by professional native speakers, which enables you to improve your language skills and train you pronunciation.

Sound modules are available for English, German, Spanish, Italian and French.

After the installation of the Module you will see the icon in the article and near a word in the list, this symbol shows that the Sound Module installed contains the pronunciation of that word exists.

Similar Words

If you are unsure of the correct spelling of a word you are trying to lookup, use "Similar Words". Once you press Search, you will receive a list of words from the dictionary that are similar in spelling to your original entry. This function facilitates your learning of new words and even if you slightly misspelled a word, you will not have any difficulty finding it in the dictionary.

Wildcard Search

Use Wildcard search if you are not sure how to spell a word or if you want to find words with the same structure (for example, while solving a crossword you need to think of a 6-letter word beginning with un-).

To start the search, enter the query (the wildcard that consists of letters and special symbols) into a special field, which will open once you click “Wildcard Search”.

The following special symbols can be used in a query:
*-represents any number of characters
?-represents one character

Click search to see the list of words, which correspond to your query.
Click a word to go to the dictionary entry.

Table of Irregular Verbs

The table of Irregular Verbs is available for all editions of the dictionaries with English or German translation directions. To see it open the menu of the dictionary and follow Translation> Irregular Verbs. This is an important opportunity to have the table of Irregular Verbs in a dictionary, as it is extremely difficult to form your own sentences without appropriate grammar categories of words.

Flash Cards Quiz

Paragon Software Group (SHDD) developed an algorithm for a Quiz based on an effective time-proven method of studying foreign words with cards. The foreign word is written on one side of a card and its translation on another. To learn the translation you take any card from the pile and look at the foreign word while trying to remember its translation. Then you turn the card over and see if you remembered the word correctly.

Flash Cards Quiz in the dictionary works the same way.
The program will save your results and show the statistics on your screen: the number of correct answers, the total number of cards and number of words learned.

If you work with Flash Cards you can use Menu, which provides the following actions:

Show translation. Here you need to recall the translation of the shown word and choose either Right or Wrong in case you memorized the word correctly, incorrectly or did not memorize it at all.

The program will register the result and afterwards you will be shown your statistics: the total number of words, the number of correct answers and the number of learned words. A word is considered to be learned if you recalled it correctly at least 10 times or if you were shown the word 20 times and you had 4 times more correct answers than incorrect.

Bookmarks

If some words are difficult to memorize or if you use the corresponding dictionary article often, add it to bookmarks and you’ll be able to call for its translation very easily. To add a bookmark open a dictionary entry for that word and click “Add a Bookmark”. If necessary any bookmark may be deleted by clicking in the window with the list of bookmarks.

Uninstallation of the program

You can uninstall the program in a conventional way through the Windows control panel: Start>Settings>Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs. In the list of all programs installed find the required product and press “Remove”. You can also use the uninstallation shortcut in located in the menu Start > Paragon Software.

System requirements to use the dictionary

This version of the program is specifically developed for computers based on Windows 7/XP/Vista, 32/64 bits operating systems.

Conclusion

In case you initially faced some difficulties using this dictionary, please, look through our Knowledge Base or in order to find a possible solution of your problem within frequently asked questions. Our Knowledge Base contains answers for all possible questions about the Purchase, Registration, and Downloading of our software, its Update and Use. If you cannot fix your problems yourself, please contact Customers Support Service of Paragon Software using any kind of contacts from the Support page on our official web-sites.

Dear customers!
Thanks again for your interest in our software.
We hope that you will evaluate our program, and buy a commercial version of the dictionary. It is your support of unique high-tech software for PDAs, Smartphones and PC’s that facilitates the constant development of our company and we appreciate it greatly.

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