What is an electronic dictionary

Unlike conventional printed dictionaries, the content of electronic dictionaries is available to you in digital form. You can access the content with several end devices – for example, with your PC, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. So you always have your dictionary to hand and can also look things up spontaneously.

Up until 1990, dictionaries were mainly in printed form, but the trend changed with the arrival of the CD-ROM. There are many electronic dictionaries and with UniLex, you can make the most of them. We enable quick searches in several dictionaries and terminology databases. That way, you are guaranteed to get the translations or definitions that you need at that moment.

What are the advantages of an electronic dictionary?

The classic printed dictionary is a thing of the past. There are too many advantages to the digital version, which is faster and more efficient to use.

You can expect a great search function, for example. Instead of spending ages leafing through a book to find a word, you can get to your desired term in seconds – meaning that the definition or translation you need is instantly available. As electronic dictionaries are not limited by the number of pages they have, the scope of information they can offer is also impressive. Example sentences help you understand the language and use the designations correctly.

A search allows you to look something up in several dictionaries at the same time. This way, you can find a wide range of information on the designation you are looking for with minimal effort. In addition to translations, this can also include extensive definitions. The integration of the Duden dictionaries means that etymological correlations, details of grammar and usage, and synonymous designations are also immediately visible.

Language is constantly evolving. With a well-maintained dictionary in electronic form, you can still stay up to date. Good dictionaries are constantly updated because, in many languages, thousands of new words are added or adapted every year.

How does UniLex differentiate itself from other online dictionaries?

UniLex is the name of Acolada’s dictionary series spanning several publishers. The application enables quick searches in several dictionaries and terminology databases. High-quality content is an important issue, especially for professional use. This is where the advantage of qualified dictionaries comes into play, as the publisher and the authors guarantee the accuracy and up-to-dateness of the information.

In terms of scope, there is no comparable dictionary platform in the German-speaking world. Dictionaries from more than 20 publishers can be searched with UniLex. These include all the prestigious German dictionary publishers such as Duden, Pons, and Langenscheidt and the leading publishers of specialist dictionaries such as C.H.Beck Verlag, Oscar Brandstetter Verlag, and BDÜ Fachverlag.

With explanations and definitions, UniLex dictionaries provide the necessary context for a good understanding, even when the subject matter is complicated. Supplementary information on the language area and a list of synonyms and antonyms make your authoring work easier and help you find the right translation. Where literal translations are not possible, we still ensure a satisfactory result by providing additional information.

Besides the extensive range of dictionaries, our application brings you other valuable advantages. Benefit from the option of integrating your own dictionaries and glossaries as databases. This way, you can easily incorporate the required terminology. UniLex is also easy to use directly in a wide range of CAT and research tools with an integrated web search.

Dictionary platform – the differences between the online and offline options

UniLex dictionaries can be used in different ways.

With the online subscription, you access the dictionary via a browser. You don’t need to install any software and can access it from any device with internet access. With this option, you pay an annual fee for the dictionary and receive new data automatically.

The UniLex Pro download version is installed on Windows operating systems (Windows 8 or higher). With this option, you acquire the current status of a dictionary for a one-off purchase price. If any data is updated, you must purchase an update if you want to use the new data.

We have set out the differences between the online and offline versions below:

Online dictionaries are subscription products and are released under the UniLex IDS software. Offline dictionaries are download products and use the UniLex Pro Windows platform. You can find the differences between these two options here.

 

Many dictionaries are also available for the UniLex App for iPhone/iPad and Android. Dictionaries for the UniLex App for Android can be purchased here in the Acolada Shop. The iPhone/iPad app can be found in the App Store and you can purchase the dictionaries in the app as in-app purchases.

What types of dictionaries do we offer?

Our range of dictionaries covers all major subject areas and languages. With more than 100 qualified publications, UniLex offers you the most comprehensive platform for digital dictionaries in the German-speaking world. Are you looking for a specialist dictionary for law, technology, finance, biology, chemistry or economics? We have something for almost every area. For general vocabulary, we have large dictionaries covering the world’s most important and popular languages.

Due to the huge variety, we can support you in many areas with our dictionaries in electronic form. These include the translation process, terminology work and authoring work.

How to find the right dictionary

In the Acolada Shop, you can find dictionaries in various ways. You can enter the author or title as a search term.

Alternatively, you can search in specific language combinations, subject areas or publishers. To do this, limit the search to the relevant languages, subject areas or publishers from which the content originates. Select the desired categories and press the “Filter” button. Your current filters will be displayed in the search at the top and can be easily deleted again by clicking on the cross on the right side of the filter.

The desired dictionary platform can also be selected, because there are dictionaries that are not available on all three platforms.

This is why it is worth paying for a dictionary

As the popularity of the internet has grown immensely, so has the range of free online dictionaries. So why should you rely on a fee-based solution instead?

Since you, the user, pay nothing for free offers, the platform has to finance itself in some other way. This is usually done through advertising. For this reason, the providers of these platforms are interested in keeping you on their website for as long as possible. This poses a major problem, as it is in direct contradiction to what makes a good dictionary – which is that they should be quick and easy to search.

Free online dictionaries primarily advertise with entry numbers. This also leads to bulk having the highest priority, while quality suffers. In most cases, however, additional information to differentiate meaning is much more important than a large number of translation options.

Thanks to our fee-based offer, we can provide you with the best possible experience. Our content is carefully researched, subject to strict quality control, and you will quickly get the information you need. We also place great value on the completeness and up-to-dateness of our electronic dictionaries.

Using electronic dictionaries flexibly

The requirements of an electronic dictionary vary from user to user. For this reason, UniLex offers you a choice of different payment models:

• Single-user licence: If you opt for a single-user licence, the dictionary can be used by one person on the Windows operating system. You only pay once.
• Multi-user licence: The multi-user licence is the same as the single-user licence, but several users have the option of accessing the books at the same time. With multi-user licences, you only pay for the number of simultaneous accesses. This way you can use a small number of licences to make the dictionaries available to many people in the company. You can order multiple licences for downloads directly in the Acolada Shop. If you would like to use multiple licences on your intranet, please contact us.
• Online dictionary: With the subscription option, the dictionaries are available to you via your browser. You only pay for as long as you need the content. By paying an annual fee, you always receive the latest version. If you would like to use multiple licences in an online subscription, please contact us.
• Mobile use: For use on the move, we offer you the UniLex App, which can be installed on both Apple and Android devices. However, not all dictionaries are available for the UniLex App.
• Integrate your own data: You can combine the dictionaries with your own dictionaries, terminologies or glossaries for all possible uses.

Frequently asked questions about electronic dictionaries with UniLex

In the following, we have answered various questions about UniTerm and UniLex.

1. Where can I find the current version of an electronic dictionary?
   1. The product is a downloadable dictionary
   2. The product is a CD-ROM dictionary with a serial number
   3. The product is a CD-ROM dictionary without a serial number
2. Is there a multi-user licence?
3. Can I use UniLex on our intranet?
4. Using electronic dictionaries in CAT tools and research tools – How to access UniLex IDS
5. Can I use the UniLex electronic dictionaries in other applications?

Where can I find the current version of an electronic dictionary?

There are current installations for most dictionaries. With these current installations, you can also install older dictionaries under newer Windows operating systems.

Depending on the age of your product, one of the three cases described below applies. Follow the instructions according to your dictionary.

The product is a downloadable dictionary

In this case you will find the current installation on the download page.

On this page, enter the beginning of your serial number in the search line (up to the first hyphen) and then start the search by pressing the enter key. In the hit list you will find the download link for your dictionary. Use the link to install the current version.

The product is a CD-ROM dictionary with a serial number

In this case you will find the current installation that corresponds to your serial number on the download page.

On this page, enter the beginning of your serial number in the search line (up to the first hyphen) and then start the search by pressing the enter key. In the hit list you will find the download link for your dictionary.

If your serial number already belongs to a UniLex Pro product (this applies to all dictionaries from 2008 onwards, but also to some older ones from 2003 onwards) the link is, as in case 1 above, an installation (file extension “exe”) that you can run directly.

If your serial number still belongs to a UniLex product (this applies to some dictionaries published before 2008), the link contains a ZIP file (file extension “zip”). You must unpack this and run the “Setup.exe” installation routine contained in the file. Afterwards, it is essential that you retrieve and run the program update for your dictionary. You will also find this program update on the download page if you select “UniLex Updates” from the categories and then use the “Filter” button. Download the update corresponding to your dictionary and run the installation.

The product is a CD-ROM dictionary without a serial number

In this case, there is no installation in the download area, but you may be able to use the program update to get the dictionary running on current operating systems. You must first install the dictionary with the CD-ROM. Afterwards, it is essential that you retrieve and run the program update for your dictionary. You will find this program update on the download page if you select “UniLex Updates” from the categories and then use the “Filter” button. Download the update corresponding to your dictionary and run the installation.

For dictionaries before the year 2000, this procedure may also fail. You are welcome to contact us then, but we do not accept any liability.

Is there a multi-user licence?

We offer low-priced multi-user licences for the dictionaries in all UniLex environments:

• Online subscription (internet access)
• UniLex IDS browser software (intranet access)
• Download installation (installation of UniLex Pro with licence sharing on file server)

Multi-user licences allow several people to access a dictionary at the same time. In all three cases, it is the number of simultaneous accesses rather than the number of people using the dictionary that determines the cost.

For use on the company intranet, you can order multiple licences directly from the Acolada Shop. The purchase price for the multi-user dictionary licences in cases 2 and 3 is the same.

In the second case, you also need the UniLex IDS software. The purchase price for UniLex IDS depends on the number of dictionary licences managed with it. There are sliding scale prices for 1-20 licences, 21-50 licences, 51-100 licences, etc. With the browser software you save the installation on the client computers compared to 3. This makes administration much easier. In addition, there is a module for LDAP support for single sign-on.

You install UniLex IDS on your own server in the company intranet. UniLex IDS is a .NET application and requires the Microsoft platform IIS.

In the third third case, there are defined multi-user licences for a maximum of 2, 4, 10, 20, etc. simultaneous accesses. In environments 1 and 2, other numbers of licences are also possible (e.g. 3, 5, 6, etc.).

If you would like to use multiple licences in the online subscription, please contact us.

Can I use UniLex on our intranet?

Yes, you can also use UniLex on your intranet. With the UniLex IDS browser software, all dictionaries of the UniLex series and/or the company’s own terminology can be searched simultaneously.

The advantages of using the software in the company network are:

• Simple administration as .NET application integrated in IIS with no client installations
• Adaptation of the interface to the company’s CI
• Support of user groups for efficient use of licences
• Costs according to the number of simultaneous accesses (concurrent licences and non-personalised licences)
• Active directory module for single sign-on
• Parallel search in dictionaries and terminology
• Extensive search options including linguistic intelligence
• Integration into CAT tools
• Direct connection to UniTerm Pro and UniTerm Enterprise databases
• Attractive maintenance terms
• System requirements for UniLex IDS Server

Windows Server 2008 operating system or higher

• Microsoft IIS
• 2 GB – 8 GB RAM (depending on the number of simultaneous accesses)
• 500 MB memory (program)
• 1 GB – 10 GB memory (depending on dictionaries and terminology)

System requirements for clients

• Runs under all common web browsers. Released for Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 8 and higher), Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome
• JavaScript

Using electronic dictionaries in CAT tools and research tools – How to access UniLex IDS

UniLex IDS can be accessed directly by applications that have an integrated web search function. The most important CAT tools offer this kind of web search option.

Integration into the Omni-Lookup search tool is another option. This allows you to look things up in the dictionaries in any Windows application using a key combination.

To configure the web search, you need the URL where you access UniLex IDS and the access data.

Using UniLex in SDL Studio

Using UniLex in MemoQ

Integrating UniLex into Omni-Lookup

Can I use the UniLex electronic dictionaries in other applications?

Yes, you can use the electronic dictionaries with UniLex in any Windows application.

With UniLex Pro and its Quick!Search mode, you can search for text in any application by copying it to the clipboard.

UniLex Pro Quick!Search mode

Integrating UniLex into Omni-Lookup

You can integrate UniLex into the Omni-Lookup research tool. This allows you to look things up in the dictionaries in any Windows application using a key combination:

Integrating UniLex into Omni-Lookup

Integrating UniLex into IntelliWebSearch

You can integrate UniLex into IntelliWebSearch.

Using electronic dictionaries flexibly

The requirements of an electronic dictionary vary from user to user. For this reason, UniLex offers you a choice of different payment models:

• Single-user licence: If you opt for a single-user licence, the dictionary can be used by one person on the Windows operating system. You only pay once.
• Multi-user licence: The multi-user licence is very similar to the single-user licence, but it allows several users to access the books at the same time. With multi-user licences, you only pay for the number of simultaneous accesses. This way you can use a small number of licences to make the dictionaries available to many people in the company. You can order multiple licences for downloads directly in the Acolada Shop. If you would like to use multiple licences in an online subscription, please contact us.
• Online dictionary: With the subscription option, the dictionaries are available to you via your browser. You only pay for as long as you need the content. By paying an annual fee, you always receive the latest version.
• Mobile use: For use on the move, we offer you the UniLex App, which can be installed on both Apple and Android devices.
• Integrate your own data: You can combine the dictionaries with your own dictionaries, terminologies or glossaries for all possible uses.