Fora Dictionary - Offline dictionary viewer & search

Fora Dictionary serves as a flexible dictionary viewer.

FEATURES

• Quick and completely offline functionality

• Support for various dictionaries including StarDict, DSL, XDXF, Dictd, and TSV/Plain formats

• User-friendly search capabilities accommodating case sensitivity, diacritics, and punctuation variations

• Fuzzy search options

• Comprehensive text search

• On-page popup translation feature

• History log and word collection

• Personalization settings

COMPATIBILITY

This application works with the following dictionary/file types:

• StarDict (*.idx)

• DSL (*.dsl)

• XDXF (*.xdxf)

• Dictd (*.index)

• TSV/Plain (*.txt, *.dic)

Additionally, the app can access DICT protocol (online) dictionaries.

SETTING UP DICTIONARIES

• Connect your mobile device to a computer.

• Transfer dictionary files into the appropriate documents/files directory within the app on your device.

• Choose the index file of the desired dictionary from the compatibility list or an archive using the “Import” feature in the dictionary management menu.

• Optionally include resource ZIP files via the “Attach ZIP” choice in the dictionary menu.

• Optionally, generate a full-text search index for the dictionary using the “Upgrade” option available in the menu.

• Create customized profiles to categorize and manage dictionaries. (optional)

RESOURCE FILES

Multiple ZIP files containing resource files of a dictionary may have these specifications:

i) Standard (non-ZIP64) ZIP file format

ii) Flat file architecture without nested directories

iii) Up to 65,535 files per ZIP file

To attach and link ZIP files to a dictionary, utilize the “Attach ZIP” function in the dictionary menu.

FULL-TEXT SEARCH

The application allows for comprehensive text searching across all dictionaries for precise matches. This capability necessitates a one-time upgrade for each dictionary, which could require significant time as every individual word will be indexed for searchability.

SYNCHRONIZING BETWEEN DEVICES

To transfer dictionaries between devices, you can choose from the following methods:

• "Export" the dictionary as a *.zip file from the first device, then "Import" this file on the second device.

• Move or copy the entire ".fora" folder or specific dictionary folders using a file management tool.

SEARCH TYPES

Five types of searches can be conducted within dictionaries:

• Regular search: Displays results that exactly correspond to the inquiry.

• Extended matching search: Provides results where case, diacritics, and punctuation are disregarded, offering suggestions including phrase and phonetic matches.

• Full-text search: Lists articles with precise matches for the query; this encompasses all text segments within articles, not limited to headwords.

• Fuzzy search: Reveals articles that closely resemble the inquiry, functioning similarly to a spell checker for uncertain spellings.

• Wildcard search: Shows articles that fit criteria defined by a wildcard inquiry.

ANDROID 10+

The shared/external storage method known as SD-card has been discontinued since Android 10. The operating system now mandates that all applications use their designated sandboxed directory for all app data. After upgrading to Android 10 or later, you might need to transfer and replace the ".fora" folder from shared storage to the app's sandboxed directory, typically found at Android/data/com.ngc.fora/files, utilizing a file manager.

HELP AND SUPPORT

Copyright © 2025 NG-Computing. All rights reserved.

Troubleshooting and FAQ

Q: I bought an offline dictionary, can I use it in Fora Dictionary?

A: Probably not. Most standalone dictionaries use their own proprietary data formats, which are incompatible with general-purpose dictionaries. You need dictionary data in one of the supported formats.

Q: Suggestions are slow when a lot of dictionaries are installed.

A: Unlike traditional search auto-completion, the app performs a complete search and matches the query (e.g., occurrences in multi-word phrases) across all dictionaries in the profile when suggestions are activated. Grouping dictionaries into smaller sets based on usage context using profiles may help.

Q: I can't find the dictionary I need or the dictionary isn't displayed properly when searching.

A: Importing the dictionary using the latest version of the app or using alternate formats may be helpful. You can also use a converter app like PyGlossary to expand the formats available when searching the web for the dictionaries you need.

Q: I can't find the ".fora" folder.

A: Probably it is considered hidden, please use a third-party file manager that can view hidden files/folders.

Q: How do I uninstall Fora Dictionary from my Android device completely?

A: The application stores settings and dictionary data on the external storage. To clean up after uninstallation, you will need to manually delete the ".fora" folder from the external storage.