WLCP to PlecoDict Flashcards

andrew_c
 December 20, 2008, 05:27 PM posted in General Discussion

wlcp_to_pleco for Mac and Linux

This program converts WLCP XML to PlecoDict2 Flashcard XML.  If someone wants it to work on Windows, please let me know, and we'll figure something out.

Instructions:

  1. Unzip wlcp_to_pleco.zip such that both wlcp_to_pleco.py and wlcp_to_pleco.xsl are in the same folder as your WLCP-provided XML files.
  2. Run wlcp_to_pleco.py just as you would welovechinesepod.py
  3. It will ask you for a lesson name, type it in just as you would with welovechinesepod.py
  4. Advanced: You can avoid typing in the lesson names by typing all of the lesson names in a file called lessons.txt just like with welovechinesepod.py

What you get:

  • For example, with the lesson called night-cat, it will read the WLCP-provided XML file night-cat.xml and create the file night-cat-pleco.xml.

Let me know if the XML files work with Pleco.  I don't have Pleco, so can't test it myself.

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andrew_c
 December 21, 2008, 12:37 PM

There were some problems, which have been fixed, and  wlcp_to_pleco has been updated

Brent: I sent you a private message (twice), but it didn't say whether or not the messages were successfully sent to you.  In short, can you please try it again?

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calkins
 December 21, 2008, 01:25 PM

Andrew, so awesome, it works!  And the way you built the xml file is really great...it shows both traditional and simplified characters, something I didn't know you could do with the flashcards.

I tried all 6 "Test Types" and they all worked perfectly.

This is really going to reinforce the vocabulary after studying a lesson.

Thanks so much!

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andrew_c
 December 21, 2008, 01:28 PM

I'm glad :-D   Would it be possible to share a screenshot?  I'm curious as to what it looks like.

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calkins
 December 22, 2008, 05:04 AM

If I can figure out how to take screenshots on a Palm TX, I'll take one of each of the tests when I get home from work tonight.

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calkins
 December 22, 2008, 11:04 AM

Here are some screenshots of PlecoDict (version 2.0) on a Palm TX, using Andrew's Pleco program which converts CPod lesson vocab. to PlecoDict flashcards.  Awesome!

There are 6 different tests you can use on Pleco 2.0, here are screenshots from each:

Review Only
A Review Only session lets you quickly look through your flashcards without doing any testing at all.

Self-Scored
In a Self-scored test, the text of each card is shown with some parts missing; the missing parts are revealed after you tap on the Reveal reveal button. This allows you to look at a card, try to remember the missing parts, then check to see if you remembered them correctly, much like flipping over a printed flashcard.

If you've enabled the "Self-scored sketch box" option in the Modes panel of Advanced Settings, you'll be given a box (as shown above) in which you can draw your answer before revealing the card - this is a good way to double-check that you remembered the correct answer perfectly.

Multiple Choice
In a Multiple-choice test, the text of each card is shown with some parts missing and you're prompted to select the missing parts from a list of choices. Tap on the matching headword / pronunciation / definition in the Choice Box to select it.

Free Answer
In a Free-answer test, the text of each card is shown with the headword or Pinyin pronunciation missing and you're prompted to enter the text of the missing part. An Answer Box will appear for each character/syllable in the word; the Answer Box that's currently accepting input will be shown with a double-thick border. Tap on another Answer Box to select it.

Stroke Order
In a Stroke Order test, you're shown the outline of a Chinese character and prompted to tap on the character's strokes in the correct order.

Tone Practice
In a Tone Practice test, you're shown the full text of a flashcard but with the tones missing from the Pinyin pronunciation, and prompted to enter the correct tones based on the audio played. You can click on the speaker to hear the audio again.

 

PlecoDict is such an amazing tool.  Now it's even more powerful because we can easily make flashcards of our lesson vocabulary.

 

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sfrrr
 December 23, 2008, 02:14 AM

Has anything happened about a WM6/Windows Vista version? Pleeeeeze?

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andrew_c
 December 23, 2008, 03:42 AM

Nope, I was waiting for someone to ask.  I'll look into how to do this since I'm not really sure at the moment how.

If anyone else wants to jump in and do it, then feel free.

Also, what's WM6?

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andrew_c
 December 23, 2008, 03:44 AM

Brent: that  looks really great.  I like how there are so many choices.  Thanks for sharing.  I wonder if you have any opinion about how it compares to Skritter?

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calkins
 December 23, 2008, 09:33 AM

Hey Andrew,

You can't really compare Pleco with Scritter.  PlecoDict is geared more towards flashcards and vocabulary, whereas Scritter is mainly geared towards writing/learning characters.

Also, since Scritter is internet- and Flash-based, it is much more "dynamic" than Pleco's stroke order test.  Pleco has its limitations since it's run on Palm OS or Windows mobile PDA or smartphone...but will soon (eventually) run on iPhone and have a desktop version. 

If I had to choose one over the other, I'd choose Pleco hands down.  It is by far the most useful Chinese learning tool I use (aside from ChinesePod of course;).

Wow, one of these days Pleco needs to pay me for all of my endorsements on CPod!