installed but can't find dict-freedict-fra-eng1.3-4ubuntu1

open the dictionary and view available data base . see if it is there .

I've found it and thank you but what I was looking for is a stand alone dictionary that I can place on my desktop ready to use without further ado.

I'm still trying to find a way to make this work and haven't been able to so far.

right click and see if you can add to desktop .
in edit - preference you can set default setting to what you want

Thanks I did that but what I get is a 'spotty' dictionary where basic words don't come up or 'error while looking up definition' messages pop up.

For instance, jour = day, but journee (synonym) gives out the above message. So this particular dictionary is unreliable and requires extra 'points and clicks'.

I'm looking for something to download....a programme unto itself for ready reference and compatible with my U. 9.10 o/s. This has so far been elusive...

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thank you.

take a look at this
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/multilingual-dictionary-via-command-line-in-ubuntu.html

I'm embarrassed to say that this dummy meeting the geek underlines my computer ineptitude.

I've scanned williams.edu etc and cannot find french to english and more to the point the technicals phased me right out.
Is there any hope for a straight, uneventful download?

Thank you.

 i got an ideal can you speak french well try to ask the question in french

I thought my query was sort of straightforward.

I need a translation programme ... french words to proper english ones... something that's compatible with Ubuntu 9.10.

Communiquer en francais won't change a thing, non?

 when i looked the first time i though it was included but after reading it again it don`t . sorry !
 the only i can find is for windows and it talks .

Hi Michel,

I wrote a lot of stuff here, but then accidentally closed the tab.

Summary:

* You need to install "dictd" to access any databse you want off-line. Dictd runs in the background and can be accessed by dictionary programs. You can do this by right clicking on the panel and adding the dictioanry applet. Once done, right click the applet, select prefrences, add a new source, and use "localhost". This will use your local dictionary for lookups.

Otherwise you can just use an online dictionary.

* I am not familiar with any good Fre->En dictionary -- other languages are covered better. http://freedict.org/en/ has a listing of some available there, but you may need to search if the repository is not good enough for your needs.

* Downloading a dictionary file is not enough, unless you use the repositiories. Downloaded dictionary databases need to be registered with dictd by modification of the file /etc/dictd/dictd.conf

you would need something like

database FrenchEnglish {
    File /path/to/dictionary/file
    Index /path/to/dictionary/index
}

in the file. You will need to find a better dictionary yourself if you choose this route -- other than freedict.org, I am unfamiliar with sources for free online translation dictionaries. Usually these databases are only available from companies that make you pay for the database.

It is possible that the freedict database is large enough for your needs, particularly if you are a beginner.

Thank you very much.

For me, off site is a whole lot simpler than all the programme changes I'd been faced with.

Much appreciated.