How to add examples if cards are created on PC with a .txt

[文]

Hello,

I am studying a new book now. Therefore, I would like to add all the new vocabulary as flashcards to pleco. Hence, on the PC I create a .txt file in which I add all the new vocabulary. Each line one word/phrase. Then I can just import the file on my Android phone and Pleco will generate the cards automatically.

On the vocabulary list from the book, there are several examples like a sentence for each new word/phrase, so you know how to use that word/phrase.

What I would like to do now, is to add these examples already on the PC to the .txt file in a way that the examples are included into the new flashcard once I imported the .txt file to my Pleco.
I hope I could make clear what I want. If not, please don't hesitate to ask me to clarify more.

I am very grateful if you could give any suggestions how to achieve my proposal. Thank you in advance.

文

 

[Shun]

Hello 文,

I have written some instructions to accomplish this with Pleco 3.2 in the following thread:

Making Custom Flashcards On a Desktop

Sorry if this is a question that has been asked and answered elsewhere. (And feel free to direct me to the relevant thread if that is the case.) Is there a good way to make custom flashcards on a desktop/laptop? I collect a lot of vocab words in a word doc, and Id like to us them to create...

plecoforums.com

To insert newlines in your custom flashcards' definitions, which would probably be a good idea for separating the examples from your textbook, you would need to use the custom Unicode "EAB1" character instead of a regular newline:

Multiple new lines in user defined flashcards

Perhaps this the flashcard exchange thread but hope to reach a larger audience here. Is there a way to introduce new lines in user generated definitions so that difference "meanings" can be numbered and start on new lines (i.e. formatted line the cards generated from dictionary entries)?

plecoforums.com

Feel free to ask further.

Cheers, Shun

 

[文]

Hello Shun,

thank you for your reply. However, I am not sure I totally understand it.

Perhaps you can elaborate it more with an example. For instance, the word is 技巧 and the example is 技巧的技能. Next word is 辞 and example is 他把工作辞了.
Does the format in the .txt file have to be:

技巧
EAB1 技巧的技能
辞
EAB1 他把工作辞了

Thank you for your help.

文

 

[Shun]

Hello 文,

you're welcome. You would first write in the text file only the headwords:

-----

// Textbook word list
技巧
辞

-----

And then you follow the instructions from my first post.

For EAB1, you copy the "EAB1" character from the second post into Word instead of writing "EAB1".

It may seem overly complex, but it should all come easy. It's very comfortable to prepare everything inside your word processor.

Feel free to ask more.

Shun

 

[Shun]

Hi 文,

I'll add some more detail on the procedure you could use:

1. You write a list of Chinese words into a text file, just the Hanzi, without the pinyin, one word per line.
2. To tell Pleco which lessons the words belong to, you you add a line "// <<chapter title>>" before the words belonging to that chapter. So you have, for example:
   
   // Chapter 1
   << all the words from chapter 1 >>
   // Chapter 2
   << all the words from chapter 2 >>
   // Chapter 3
   << all the words from chapter 3 >>
   
   and so on.
   
   
3. When you import the text file, Pleco will create the categories "Chapter 1", "Chapter 2", and so on and import their respective vocabulary into them. Here, it's important that you enable the option "Fill in missing fields", so that the pinyin and definitions will be added. Duplicates should be set to "Allow". It's possible that the wrong pinyin/definition will be added because of multiple Hanzi readings, so you will have to go through the imported flashcards and reassign any incorrectly assigned cards.
4. You export the imported categories from Pleco, telling it to include definitions.
5. You follow the instructions from my first post, adding the examples to each word in the rightmost column, separated by EAB1.
6. You delete the flashcard categories "Chapter 1, 2, 3, …" from Pleco
7. You import the finished text file back into Pleco, with the category markers.
8. Now, you have the flashcards with your own examples.

Also read the previous posts from this thread in case anything is unclear, or check out the Pleco manual:

Pleco Instruction Manual

Hope this helps,

Shun

 

[misaifan]

Hi Shun,

trying to create cards with my own example sentences as well. Reading another thread, where you suggested the import-export-import method as well, in the end, that user could also directly create a txt file with all the data. each data separated by a TAB.

I was wondering, if I could save myself the hassle and also directly create such a file. Like:

// <<New Word List>>

人    Ren2    Person    Example Sentence1...

This version with just another TAB for the sentences didn't work out. But isn't there a direct way to create a txt file?

Thanks for your dedication and constant help around here!
Misaifan

 

[Shun]

Hi misaifan,

Hi Shun,

trying to create cards with my own example sentences as well. Reading another thread, where you suggested the import-export-import method as well, in the end, that user could also directly create a txt file with all the data. each data separated by a TAB.

I was wondering, if I could save myself the hassle and also directly create such a file. Like:

// <<New Word List>>

人    Ren2    Person    Example Sentence1...

This version with just another TAB for the sentences didn't work out. But isn't there a direct way to create a txt file?

Pleco is strict about the three-column format, so you should place the example sentences in the third column together with the definition.

The reason I'm suggesting this exporting and reimporting procedure is that you'd have to come up with the pinyin for the words you want to add if you import a text file directly. But that's the only reason.

Thanks for your dedication and constant help around here!
Misaifan

You're very welcome! My assistance here has become somewhat like an addiction.

Enjoy,

Shun

 

[rizen suha]

Hi misaifan,



Pleco is strict about the three-column format, so you should place the example sentences in the third column together with the definition.

The reason I'm suggesting this exporting and reimporting procedure is that you'd have to come up with the pinyin for the words you want to add if you import a text file directly. But that's the only reason.



You're very welcome! My assistance here has become somewhat like an addiction.

Enjoy,

Shun

shun, fantastic. if more fora, associations, groups had a shun, the world would be much more shun li 順利

 

[Shun]

Hi rizen,

very kind of you! I took the name Shun from the legendary emperor 舜, but I like your idea, too.

Best,

Shun

 

[misaifan]

Pleco is strict about the three-column format, so you should place the example sentences in the third column together with the definition.



The reason I'm suggesting this exporting and reimporting procedure is that you'd have to come up with the pinyin for the words you want to add if you import a text file directly. But that's the only reason.

I see. Thanks for the clarifications.
Within the definitions tab he put it as well when I tried a fourth column. Not ideal, if I want to add let's say 5 example sentences.

Perhaps it's worth the wait for v4 Android? I'm not in the loop but should be there within weeks?

Ahaa, the workaround was only because of the pinyin. My goal is to create cards with chatgpt. Thus I would already have pinyin.

Lou're very welcome! My assistance here has become somewhat like an addiction.

Yeah, I can imagine it's intrinsically rewarding when you see that your help has an actual impact on and value for like-minded fellows!

 

[Shun]

I see. Thanks for the clarifications.
Within the definitions tab he put it as well when I tried a fourth column. Not ideal, if I want to add let's say 5 example sentences.

It should work OK. You could separate the example sentences using the EAB1 character (search for it in the forums).

Perhaps it's worth the wait for v4 Android? I'm not in the loop but should be there within weeks?

Perhaps getting an older iPhone for Pleco would be an option to run the 4.0 beta. However, the import format for words with example sentences in 4.0 isn't quite fully documented yet, AFAIK.

Ahaa, the workaround was only because of the pinyin. My goal is to create cards with chatgpt. Thus I would already have pinyin.

Perfect.

Yeah, I can imagine it's intrinsically rewarding when you see that your help has an actual impact on and value for like-minded fellows!

Yeah, but I can learn from others, too. For example, Mike is sharing technical details about Pleco's development from time to time, which is highly valuable for me, or sometimes other learners share insights about their studying. The list goes on.

Wish you success with your project (feel free to share the lists when you're done!),

Shun

 

[misaifan]

Ok then, if it's a matter of month and not weeks with the v4, I will look for and try the EAB1 one thing for now.

Surely, I will share my lists!

Seeya and thanks again,
misaifan