Dictionary Add-In for Word 2003?

Hello,

I’m writing a document in which I use a lot of technical terms (which aren’t well understandable for the people I write this document for). I explain every word and write this explanation at the end of the document in the chapter titled “Dictionary”. Now, I must manually sort all the words from time to time (or later when I’m finished).

What I’m searching for is the following: An Add-in for Word (2003) to enable me to mark the word I just entered and by right-clicking it/using a key-shortcut enter an explanation. The dictionary at the end of the document will be automatically built. Does something like this already exist (or must I build it in VBA)?

REMARK: I’m NOT talking about user dictionaries in Word in which you can enter the words which Words dictionary doesn’t know.

Brian

PS – I googled, but found nothing.

NNL
Thursday, April 29, 2004

Can't use use notes?

Mr Jack
Thursday, April 29, 2004

Notes? What do you mean? (Post-It's?)

NNL
Thursday, April 29, 2004

I see now that you mean with "notes". But that's even worse solution than the one I now have as all the explanations are scattered all over the document.

Other ides?

NNL
Thursday, April 29, 2004

>I’m writing a document in which I use a lot of technical >terms (which aren’t well understandable for the people I >write this document for).

Simplify. Simplify.

This should sound a warning signal. If your intended audience does not understand what they are reading you might want to rethink the language used in the document.

Most people are more impressed with documents that explain complex stuff in a way they can understand, so they feel intelligent and all, than a document that they will not get.

Writing stuff that makes the reader feel stupid is a bad idea every day of the week.

If you need to go into deep technical detail, break that part out in a separate document and give it to the tech people that understand it.

Patrik
Thursday, April 29, 2004

I think you're talking about a glossary, not a dictionary.

a
Thursday, April 29, 2004

Yes, searching for glossary finds tons of stuff.  Alternatively, you may want to consider Latex or some other typesetting program.  They will take care of such things for you so you can concentrate on typing instead of layout and sorting of terms, etc.

Elephant
Thursday, April 29, 2004

@Patrik:
I know what you mean but:
1. In some situations (like mine's right now) there are words I must use. For example I'd say "network protocol" instead of saying "TCP/IP". Most people don't understand what that means so I must explain it. Further simplification is not possible.
2. In other situations (like functional specification of a software system) I need to define the meaning of the word for that specific project. "Product" entity can have different meaning in different companies.

@a:
You're right: I mean glossary.

@Elephant:
LaTeX is not the alternative. I've used it during my academic years, but it's too complicated for the most of my colleagues (who are too working on this and other document).

Still searching....

NNL
Thursday, April 29, 2004

"or some other typesetting program"

Quark, InDesign, PageMaker . . .

It sounds like you're writing a book.  It's okay to type text in a word processor like word, but when you're making a book, you don't use Word; you use software designed for making books.

It sounds like you're really trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole.  Best of luck to you.

Elephant
Thursday, April 29, 2004

@Elephant:
No I'm not writing a book (in that case I [and my eventuall co-authors] would use something like DocBook) so all applications you suggest are a bit oversized (and expenssive) for a 80 to 90 pages document.

This feature was something I needed for a lot of other documents (like already mentioned software spec). For years I'm rather trying to hammer round peg into a round hole with a screwdriver which was sold to me as a hammer. I still don't understand why MS didn't implemented this feature yet?

NNL
Thursday, April 29, 2004

Will Smart Tags work?

apw
Thursday, April 29, 2004

Try this Google search:

http://www.google.com/search?q=glossary+%22microsoft+word%22+%22addin%22+OR+%22add-in

You'll find a shareware utility called "Personal Glossary for MS Word," which might be what you're looking for.

Robert Jacobson
Thursday, April 29, 2004

@Robert Jacobson

"Personal Glossary" is nice but it's not what I need. Thanks anyway.

NNL
Thursday, April 29, 2004

>I'd say "network protocol"

I see what you are saying, but when I get stuck in such situations I tend to use bullshit words like means of communication or network infrastructure or some such....

Like this:

"The different technical platforms that make up the system are all interconnected to enable data transfers"

or some such bullshit, with pointers to documents explaining in detail what goes on.

Works most of the time with non-techies :)

Good luck.

Patrik
Friday, April 30, 2004

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