Pleco 2.0 Instruction Manual : Windows Mobile Installation

Pleco 2.0 Installation Manual

for Windows Mobile

 

Contents

  1. System Requirements
  2. Installing Pleco
  3. Purchasing Pleco
  4. Unlocking Pleco
  5. Uninstalling Pleco
  6. Upgrading to Pleco 2.0.4 from Pleco 2.0 / 2.0.1 / 2.0.2 / 2.0.3
  7. Backing Up and Restoring Your User Data (flashcards / user dictionaries)
  8. Transferring Pleco to a New Handheld
  9. Installing Add-Ons (including the extended audio files)

 

System Requirements

Handheld

Pleco 2.0 for Windows Mobile should work on any handheld running Windows Mobile 2003 or later that has a touchscreen; i.e., Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC, and Windows Mobile 6 / 6.1 "Classic" and "Professional" devices. It will not work at all on handhelds without touchscreens, or handhelds running Windows Mobile versions earlier than 2003 (i.e., Pocket PC 2000 and 2002).

If you're planning to buy a new handheld to run Pleco, see this page for some recommended models.

If you're looking at a handheld in a store and aren't sure if it will run Pleco, check to see if it's running one of the operating systems listed above - if it is, and it has a touchscreen, it should be compatible with Pleco.

If you already have a Windows-based handheld with a touchscreen but you're not sure if it will run Pleco, tap on the Start menu at the top left corner of the screen, choose Settings, tap on the "System" tab at the bottom of the screen, and tap on the "About" icon. If the first line of the screen says "Windows Mobile" or "Microsoft Windows Mobile," the handheld should be able to run Pleco. If it says "Pocket PC," check the second line of the screen; if the "Version" is 4.2 or higher, the handheld should be able to run Pleco; if not, it's unfortunately too old to run Pleco. (some older handhelds can be upgraded, though, so in that case you could still contact the manufacturer to ask about a system software update)

Please feel free to contact us with any questions about hardware compatibility.

Memory Card

A full install of Pleco 2.0 can get very large (almost 500 MB with the complete set of audio files), so most handhelds will require a memory expansion card in order to have enough storage space to run Pleco. These are generally quite inexpensive; 1 GB cards are about the smallest you can find nowadays, they have more than enough memory for a full install of Pleco and can usually be found for under US$10 / 100 RMB (or equivalent), or even less if you shop around online.

Almost all Windows Mobile handhelds use either SD (Secure Digital) memory cards, or their smaller relative, microSD memory cards. microSD memory cards usually come with adapters that allow them to work with full-sized SD card slots too, so if you buy a microSD card you should be able to use it on handhelds with both types of memory card slot.

Some extra-large SD cards (4 GB or higher memory capacity) are designated as "SDHC" cards. These should work fine with newer handhelds, but may be incompatible with older ones, so if your handheld isn't brand-new it may be best to limit yourself to a 2 GB or smaller card (or consult your handheld's manufacturer to verify that it's compatible with SDHC cards).

A few Windows Mobile handhelds, like the HTC Touch Diamond, don't take flash memory cards at all; these always seem to include a lot of built-in memory, though (4 GB in the case of the Touch Diamond), so there should still be plenty of room to install Pleco.

 

 

Installing Pleco

There are several different ways to install Pleco to a Windows Mobile handheld, depending on your particular computer setup.

The demo and paid version data files for Pleco are identical, so the installation procedure is the same for both. With the paid version, once you finish installing Pleco follow the steps under Unlocking Pleco to unlock it.

 

Automated Install

  1. If you haven’t already set up your Windows Mobile handheld to synchronize with your computer, download Microsoft’s ActiveSync software (for Windows XP and earlier) from:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/help/synchronize/activesync45.mspx

    or Windows Mobile Device Center (for Windows Vista and Windows 7) from:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/help/synchronize/device-center.mspx

    (you can also get this software from the CD that came with your handheld)

    Install this software, then reboot your computer before continuing with installation.
  2. Download the “Automated” version of the Pleco for Windows Mobile installer from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html

    This is a program that runs on your computer to copy files over to your Windows Mobile handheld, so download it to your computer, not to your handheld.
  3. Connect your handheld to your computer; you should hear a sound on your computer’s speaker to tell you it’s successfully connected, and may also see a spinning green circle icon at the bottom right corner of your computer's screen (next to the clock). A dialog box may come up asking you to set up a "Partnership" with your computer; you can click Cancel on that, it won't affect your Pleco installation. (you can also click Next if you'd like to set up your handheld to synchronize other data with your computer - Pleco won't be affected either way)
  4. Double-click on the installer program you downloaded to begin the installation. You should see the following screen:

    extract

    Click "Setup" to proceed, and wait a few seconds while Pleco extracts its installation data files.

    If an error message comes up saying "This application has failed to start because RAPI.dll was not found," that's happening because the ActiveSync / Device Center software isn't installed on your computer correctly - download and reinstall that software according to Step 1, and if you continue having problems, contact Pleco or your handheld's manufacturer for assistance.

    If you see this message:

    Connection Error

    it means that your handheld and computer have not connected successfully; wait half a minute or so and click OK again. If that doesn't work, reboot your computer, soft reset (reboot) your handheld (by sticking a paperclip in the reset hole, usually located on the side or back), and make sure the connection cable is firmly seated, then try again. If that doesn’t fix the error, try a Card install, or contact Pleco or your handheld’s manufacturer for technical support.

  5. You should now see the following screen:

    Choose Install

    This means your handheld has successfully connected to your computer. Make sure "Install Pleco" is selected, and click on the Next button to continue.
  6. You'll now be on the "Choose Components" screen:

    Choose Components

    This screen allows you to choose which dictionaries, fonts, and other items you want to install on your handheld. Choose which items you'd like to install from the descriptions below, then click Next to go to the next screen. (if you’re confused about this, the default settings should be fine for most people, so you can just click Next)

    Pleco Engine – the main Pleco application software, required to use all of the other items. Always install this item.

    Font Files – Chinese character font files. Always install this item; even if your system already has Chinese support installed, Pleco 2.0 can only display Chinese characters with its own fonts.

    UniHan Character Reference – used for the Character Info feature of Pleco, and as a fallback dictionary when looking up rare / obscure characters. It's free for all Pleco users, so install it unless you're extremely low on memory.

    Stroke Order Database – database of Chinese character stroke order diagrams. Install this to use Pleco’s stroke order animation and stroke order flashcard test features.

    Instant Access Launcher – installs a separate program called PlecoLaunch to your handheld, which you can use to easily look up the meanings of words in other applications on your Pocket PC (SMS text messages, web pages, documents, etc) in Pleco. See the “Instant Access” section of the instruction manual for more on this.

    1.0 Flashcard Converter – installs a program called PlecoConverter that you can use to convert flashcards from PlecoDict 1.0 to the new database format used in Pleco 2.0. See the 1.0 to 2.0 upgrade guide for more information on this.

    Audio – database of audio samples of Chinese syllable / word pronunciations, used for Pleco’s audio pronunciation / audio flashcard features. These files only provide audio for single syllables; if your handheld has lots of storage memory, an extended set of audio files with recordings for many common multi-syllable words (over 34,000 recordings in all) can be downloaded from http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html.

    Dictionaries – Select the dictionary databases you want to install with Pleco in this category. You’ll need at least one dictionary in order to use the software. Additional dictionary databases can be downloaded from our website at http://www.pleco.com/dictaddons.html.
  7. You should now be on the "Choose Card" screen:

    Choose Card

    This screen lets you select a location in your handheld's memory to install Pleco. In most cases, you’ll want to choose the “Storage Card” or “SD Card” item here (or whatever the second item in the list is). Once you've selected a card, click Next to begin the install.

    If you see this error message:

    Memory Error

    It means that there isn't enough memory on the selected card to install the software. If another card is available, try installing to that instead. If no card has enough space, cancel the install and run it again, but select a smaller set of components in the Choose Components screen (the "Basic Bundle" set, for example). You could also purchase a new / larger memory card for your handheld; see System Requirements for more information on that, or contact Pleco support for assistance.
  8. Wait while Pleco copies the installation files to your handheld:

    progress

    This may take 20 or 30 minutes for a large file transfer, so be patient.

    If an error message comes up immediately after the file copy begins, remove the memory card from your handheld and double-check that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  9. After the install finishes, tap on your handheld’s Start Menu (top left corner of the screen), choose Programs, and you should see a Pleco icon listed there – tap on that icon to launch the software.

 

Manual Install

  1. If you haven’t already set up your Windows Mobile handheld to synchronize with your computer, download Microsoft’s ActiveSync software (for Windows XP and earlier) from:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/help/synchronize/activesync45.mspx

    or Windows Mobile Device Center (for Windows Vista and Windows 7) from:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/help/synchronize/device-center.mspx

    (you can also get this software from the CD that came with your handheld)

    Install this software, then reboot your computer before continuing with installation.
  2. Download the “Manual” version of the Pleco for Windows Mobile installer from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  3. Double-click on the downloaded file (a Zip archive) – it should open up just like a regular Windows folder.

    You should see a “Pleco” folder inside of that .zip archive - drag that folder to your computer's desktop.

    You should also see a couple of .cab files: Pleco.cab, PlecoLaunch.cab, and PlecoConverter.cab. (the .cab part may be missing on some computers) Copy Pleco.cab to your desktop. If you'd like to install the PlecoDict 1.0-to-2.0 flashcard converter utility, copy PlecoConverter.cab to your desktop as well. If you'd like to install the Pleco Instant Access Launcher utility, also copy PlecoLaunch.cab to your desktop.
  4. Connect your handheld to your computer; you should hear a sound on your computer’s speaker to tell you it’s successfully connected, and may also see a spinning green circle icon at the bottom right corner of your computer's screen (next to the clock). A dialog box may come up asking you to set up a "Partnership" with your computer; you can click Cancel on that, it won't affect your Pleco installation. (you can also click Next if you'd like to set up your handheld to synchronize other data with your computer - Pleco won't be affected either way)
  5. Double-click on the “My Computer” icon on your desktop. If you don’t see one, go to the Start Menu and select the My Computer icon in there.
  6. If you’re using Windows XP, you should see a “Mobile Device” icon like this:

    Mobile Device

    On Windows Vista / Windows 7, the icon will have the same name as your handheld, and will either look like a tiny picture of your handheld or like this:

    My Handheld

    If the icon is missing, make sure you installed the software in step 1, make sure your handheld is connected to your computer correctly, reboot your computer, and if that doesn’t help, contact support for assistance.
  7. Double-click on that icon to access your handheld’s memory. If you see nothing but a blank window when you do that, make sure your handheld is connected to your computer correctly, then try rebooting your computer.
  8. On Windows XP, double-click on the icon for "My Windows-Mobile Based Device" at the top-left corner of the window. You should see several folders inside of that, including “My Documents,” “Windows,” and “Program Files”. Look for a folder labeled “SD Card” or “Storage Card." If you see that folder, open it. If not, open “Program Files” instead.

    On Windows Vista / Windows 7, you should see an icon for your handheld's internal storage (its label will probably be just a slash, / ) along with an icon for "SD Card" or "Storage Card." Open the SD Card / Storage Card icon if it's there; if not, open the / icon, then "Program Files" inside of it.
  9. Drag the Pleco folder and .cab files from your desktop into that folder to copy them over to your handheld. This might take a while. If a “File Conversion” message box pops up, click OK to continue.

    If you encounter an "out of memory" error message, cancel the file copy, delete the already-copied files, and see if there are any other files / software that you can delete before you try again. If that doesn’t help, contact support.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from your handheld and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  10. Once the copy finishes, on your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the same folder where you copied the Pleco installation files (“Storage Card” / “SD Card” etc, as above), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.
  11. Wait a minute or so while your handheld is configured to use Pleco. If you see a security warning, you can safely skip it. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.

    If you're also installing PlecoConverter, after Pleco.cab finishes installing, repeat steps 11-12 with PlecoConverter.cab. If you're installing PlecoLauncher, repeat steps 11-12 with PlecoLauncher.cab.
  12. Choose Programs from the Start menu again and you should now see a Pleco icon listed there – tap on that icon to launch the software.

 

Card Install

  1. Obtain a flash memory card for your handheld, and a memory card reader for your computer. See System Requirements for more information on flash memory cards - note that a few models of handheld (like the HTC Touch Diamond) don't support flash memory cards and hence won't work with this installation method.

    A memory card reader is a small device that plugs into your computer’s USB port; it lets you read / write these flash memory cards just like CDs or floppy disks. Many computers actually have a memory card reader built in; if yours doesn’t, almost any electronics store will carry them and they’re generally quite inexpensive.

    If you're located in China, the Chinese translation of "memory card reader" is dukaqi du2ka3qi4 and the translation for "SD Card" is just sd ka S-D-ka3 - any electronics market in China should have lots of vendors selling memory card readers, and you can probably find one for around 20 or 30 RMB.
  2. Download the “Manual” version of the Pleco for Windows Mobile installer from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  3. Double-click on the downloaded file (a Zip archive) – it should open up just like a regular Windows folder.

    You should see a “Pleco” folder inside of that .zip archive - drag that folder to your computer's desktop.

    You should also see a couple of .cab files: Pleco.cab, PlecoLaunch.cab, and PlecoConverter.cab. (the .cab part may be missing on some computers) Copy Pleco.cab to your desktop. If you'd like to install the PlecoDict 1.0-to-2.0 flashcard converter utility, copy PlecoConverter.cab to your desktop as well. If you'd like to install the Pleco Instant Access Launcher utility, also copy PlecoLaunch.cab to your desktop.
  4. Connect the memory card reader to your computer; it should just plug into a free USB port, and in most cases you won't need to install any drivers. Wait a moment while Windows detects the card reader and configures it for use.
  5. Insert the memory card in the memory card reader. If you’re prompted to reformat the card and it asks you what filesystem to use, choose “FAT,” or if that’s not available, “FAT32.”
  6. Double-click on the “My Computer” icon on your desktop. If you don’t see one, go to the Start Menu and select the My Computer icon in there.
  7. You should see the memory card listed as one of the drives on your computer. If you’re not sure which one it is, open up each icon until you find one with no files in it (or with files that you’ve already put on the memory card) - it'll most likely be something in the E/F/G/H/I/J/K drive letter range.
  8. Double-click on that memory card icon to open it, and drag the Pleco folder and .cab files from your desktop into it to copy them to the card. This might take a while.

    If you encounter an "out of memory" error message, cancel the file copy, delete the already-copied files, and see if there are any other files / software that you can delete before you try again. If that doesn’t help, contact support.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from the reader and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  9. Once the copy finishes, remove the memory card from the reader and insert it into your handheld.
  10. On your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the folder for your memory card (“Storage Card” or “SD Card”), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.
  11. Wait a minute or so while your handheld is configured to use Pleco. If you see a security warning, you can safely skip it. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.

    If you're also installing PlecoConverter, after Pleco.cab finishes installing, repeat steps 10-11 with PlecoConverter.cab. If you're installing PlecoLauncher, repeat steps 10-11 with PlecoLauncher.cab.
  12. Choose Programs from the Start menu again and you should now see a Pleco icon listed there – tap on that icon to launch the software.

 

Mac Sync Install

  1. Purchase a copy of Missing Sync or PocketMac. Make sure to check the hardware compatibility list on the publisher's website before ordering, as not all Windows Mobile handhelds may be compatible with this software.
  2. Install Missing Sync or PocketMac according to the steps in their respective instruction manuals.
  3. Download the "Mac OS" version of the Pleco for Windows Mobile installer from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  4. After the download finishes, you should see a disk called "pc204" appear on your computer's desktop. If not, double-click on the downloaded file and that should get it to appear.
  5. Inside of that "pc204" disk, you should see a folder called "Pleco" - drag that folder to your computer's desktop.

    You should also see a couple of .cab files: Pleco.cab, PlecoLaunch.cab, and PlecoConverter.cab. Copy Pleco.cab to your desktop. If you'd like to install the PlecoDict 1.0-to-2.0 flashcard converter utility, copy PlecoConverter.cab to your desktop as well. If you'd like to install the Pleco Instant Access Launcher utility, also copy PlecoLaunch.cab to your desktop.
  6. Connect your handheld to your Mac; Missing Sync / PocketMac should detect it and establish a connection.

    With Missing Sync, you may be prompted to install Missing Sync's data files to your handheld the first time you connect it to your computer; click Install on your handheld's screen to complete the install before continuing.

  7. If you're using Missing Sync, click on the Missing Sync menu at the top of your computer's screen (WM) and select "Mount," or just click the "Mount" button at the top of the Missing Sync window. A couple of new drives should appear on your computer's desktop, one with the same name as your Windows Mobile handheld and another called "Storage Card" or "SD Card." (if you're using Mac OS 10.5, the drives may appear inside of a "Volumes" window instead of coming up on the desktop) Open the "Storage Card" or "SD Card" drive. If that isn't listed, open up the drive with your handheld's name on it, then open the "Program Files" folder inside of that.

    If you're using PocketMac, click on the PocketMac menu at the top of your computer's screen (PocketMac) and select "Browse Device." A window titled "My Mobile Device" should appear. Click on the "Up a Level" button in that window, then double-click on the "Storage Card" or "SD Card" folder, or if you don't see one of those, on "Program Files."

  8. Drag the Pleco folder and .cab files from your desktop into this opened folder to copy them to your handheld. This might take a while.

    If there's already a Pleco folder there (from a previous install), instead of dragging the Pleco folder from your desktop to the card, open up the Pleco folder on your desktop and copy all of the files inside of it into that Pleco folder on the card; make sure that you still copy the .cab files over as well.

    If you encounter an "out of memory" error message, cancel the file copy, delete the already-copied files, and see if there are any other files / software that you can delete before you try again. If that doesn’t help, contact support.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from the handheld and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  9. On your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the folder for your memory card (“Storage Card” or “SD Card”), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.

    If you encounter an error message about a "trusted certificate," it means that something went wrong with the file copy. On Missing Sync, open up the main "Missing Sync for Windows Mobile" window, select the "Install" tab, and add each of the .cab files on your desktop to the list of files to install by dragging them there or clicking the + button at the bottom of the list. (it makes no difference what you select in the "Files to install to" menu) With PocketMac, go back to the PocketMac menu, choose the "Install new software via..." and "CAB file" commands, and install each of the .cab files on your desktop to your handheld using that.
  10. Wait a minute or so while your handheld is configured to use Pleco. If you see a security warning, you can safely skip it. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.

    If you're also installing PlecoConverter, after Pleco.cab finishes installing, repeat steps 9-10 with PlecoConverter.cab. If you're installing PlecoLauncher, repeat steps 9-10 with PlecoLauncher.cab.
  11. Choose Programs from the Start menu again and you should now see a Pleco icon listed there – tap on that icon to launch the software.

 

 

Mac Card Install

  1. Obtain a flash memory card for your handheld, and a memory card reader for your computer. See System Requirements for more information on flash memory cards - note that a few models of handheld (like the HTC Touch Diamond) don't support flash memory cards and hence won't work with this installation method.

    A memory card reader is a small device that plugs into your computer’s USB port; it lets you read / write these flash memory cards just like CDs or floppy disks. Many computers actually have a memory card reader built in; if yours doesn’t, almost any electronics store will carry them and they’re generally quite inexpensive.

    If you're located in China, the Chinese translation of "memory card reader" is dukaqi du2ka3qi4 and the translation for "SD Card" is just sd ka S-D-ka3 - any electronics market in China should have lots of vendors selling memory card readers, and you can probably find one for around 20 or 30 RMB.
  2. Download the "Mac OS" version of the Pleco for Windows Mobile installer from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  3. After the download finishes, you should see a disk called "pc204" appear on your computer's desktop. If not, double-click on the downloaded file and that should get it to appear.
  4. Inside of that "pc204" disk, you should see a folder called "Pleco" - drag that folder to your computer's desktop.

    You should also see a couple of .cab files: Pleco.cab, PlecoLaunch.cab, and PlecoConverter.cab. Copy Pleco.cab to your desktop. If you'd like to install the PlecoDict 1.0-to-2.0 flashcard converter utility, copy PlecoConverter.cab to your desktop as well. If you'd like to install the Pleco Instant Access Launcher utility, also copy PlecoLaunch.cab to your desktop.
  5. Connect the memory card reader to your computer; it should just plug into a free USB port, and Mac OS should automatically detect / enable it.
  6. Insert the memory card in the memory card reader. If you’re prompted to reformat the card and it asks you what filesystem to use, choose “FAT,” or if that’s not available, “FAT32” - DON'T choose HFS, as your handheld won't be able to read a card in that format.
  7. The memory card should now show up as a drive on your Mac's desktop. Double-click on that memory card drive to open it, and drag the Pleco folder and .cab files from your desktop into it to copy them to the card. This might take a while.

    If there's already a Pleco folder on the card (from a previous install), instead of dragging the Pleco folder from your desktop to the card, open up the Pleco folder on your desktop and copy all of the files inside of it into that Pleco folder on the card; make sure that you still copy the .cab files over as well.

    If you encounter an "out of memory" error message, cancel the file copy, delete the already-copied files, and see if there are any other files / software that you can delete before you try again. If that doesn’t help, contact support.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from the reader and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  8. Once the copy finishes, remove the memory card from the reader and insert it into your handheld.
  9. On your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the folder for your memory card (“Storage Card” or “SD Card”), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.
  10. Wait a minute or so while your handheld is configured to use Pleco. If you see a security warning, you can safely skip it. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.

    If you're also installing PlecoConverter, after Pleco.cab finishes installing, repeat steps 9-10 with PlecoConverter.cab. If you're installing PlecoLauncher, repeat steps 9-10 with PlecoLauncher.cab.
  11. Choose Programs from the Start menu again and you should now see a Pleco icon listed there – tap on that icon to launch the software.

 

 

Purchasing Pleco

See this page on our website for information on our current pricing and dictionary bundles.

When you purchase Pleco, you receive a special "keyfile" to unlock the software on your handheld; this keyfile is uniquely generated for your handheld's System ID, and won't work on any other handheld. If you upgrade or replace your handheld with another Pleco-compatible Windows Mobile or Palm OS handheld, you can obtain a replacement keyfile for that handheld without having to buy the software again.

If you prefer, we also offer the option of tying your keyfile to an SD flash memory card instead of to a specific handheld; this will allow you to run Pleco on any Windows Mobile or Palm OS handheld as long as that card is inserted in it.

Here are the exact steps to purchase Pleco:

  1. Open Pleco, tap on the "Dict" menu at the bottom left corner of the screen, and choose "Ordering" to bring up this dialog:

    WM Ordering

    Copy down the System ID listed here. You can also tap on the "Copy to clipboard" button to copy it to your handheld's clipboard (from which it can easily be pasted into an e-mail message / web page).

    To tie your copy of Pleco to an SD card instead of a specific handheld, tap on the "Card ID" button at the bottom of the screen to obtain an alternate Card ID; use that ID instead of the System ID in the next step. This makes absolutely no difference in where Pleco can store / access its data files; it only determines how the software unlocks itself when it first starts up.
  2. Go to http://www.pleco.com/store/ and select the Pleco bundle you want to purchase. Enter your System ID or Card ID in the appropriate blank on the order form.
  3. Finish checking out, and you’ll be given a link to download your Pleco “keyfile.” You’ll also receive a copy of that keyfile as an e-mail attachment, and it can be re-downloaded at any time from http://www.pleco.com/orders.html. (this is also the page you visit to obtain a replacement keyfile for a new/upgraded handheld)
  4. Use this keyfile in the "Unlocking Pleco" procedure below to unlock your new copy of Pleco.

 


Unlocking Pleco

To unlock a paid copy of Pleco, simply copy your keyfile over to your handheld and then run Pleco and it should detect the keyfile and unlock itself. Here's how to copy the keyfile to your handheld for each installation method:

 

Automated Install:

  1. Connect your handheld to your computer again.
  2. Run the Pleco installer program again (i.e., repeat steps 3-4 of the Automated Install procedure).
  3. In the "Choose Installation" screen, select "Unlock Pleco" and click Next.
  4. You should now be on the "Choose Keyfile" screen:

    Choose Keyfile

    Click on the "Browse..." button and open your keyfile using the standard Windows file open dialog.
  5. Click Next, and the keyfile will be copied over to your handheld.
  6. Launch Pleco and it should detect the keyfile and unlock itself.

 

Manual Install:

If you're using Windows XP: connect your handheld to your computer again, open up My Computer, open up Mobile Device, and drag the keyfile into that opened window. Don't just drag the keyfile onto that "Mobile Device" icon; double-click on "Mobile Device," then drag the keyfile into the opened window. Launch Pleco and it should detect the keyfile and unlock itself.

If you're using Windows Vista: connect your handheld to your computer again, open up My Computer, open up the icon with your handheld's name / picture on it, open up the "/" folder, open up the "My Documents" folder inside of that, and then copy the keyfile into that folder. Launch Pleco and it should detect the keyfile and unlock itself.

 

Mac Sync Install:

Connect your handheld to your computer again, choose Mount or Browse as before, and copy your keyfile into the same directory where you installed Pleco's other data files. Launch Pleco and it should detect the keyfile and unlock itself.

 

Card / Mac Card Install:

Insert your SD card into your card reader again, copy the keyfile over to the card, then insert the card back into your handheld. Launch Pleco and it should detect the keyfile and unlock itself.

 

Over-the-Air:

If all else fails, you can also download your keyfile directly to your handheld. In your handheld's web browser, go to http://www.pleco.com/orders.html and log in using the information in your order confirmation e-mail. After logging in, scroll down to the entry for your copy of Pleco 2.0 and click on the "Download Keyfile" link to download your keyfile to your handheld. Launch Pleco and it should detect the keyfile and unlock itself.

 

 

Uninstalling Pleco

If you installed Pleco using an Automated Install:

  1. Open up Pleco, then exit it completely by tapping on the Menu button at the bottom left corner of the screen and choosing Quit from the menu that pops up.
  2. Connect your handheld to your computer again.
  3. Run the Pleco installer program again (i.e., repeat steps 3-4 of the Automated Install procedure).
  4. In the "Choose Installation" screen, select "Uninstall Pleco" and click Next.
  5. Click Yes in the confirmation dialog, then wait while Pleco's data files are removed from your handheld.

 

If you installed Pleco using any other method:

  1. Open up Pleco, then exit it completely by tapping on the Menu button at the bottom left corner of the screen and choosing Quit from the menu that pops up.
  2. Open up File Explorer and navigate to the folder where you copied Pleco’s installation files.
  3. Tap-hold on the “Pleco” folder inside of there until a little menu pops up, then select “Delete” from that menu.
  4. Go to Start, Settings, System, Remove Programs.
  5. Select each Pleco item listed in that screen and click on the Remove button to uninstall it.

 

Uninstalling Unused Parts of Pleco
If you’ve installed some dictionary databases that you’re not using, but you don't want to uninstall all of Pleco, here’s how to remove just those databases from your system to free up memory.

  1. Open up Pleco, then exit it completely by tapping on the Menu button at the bottom left corner of the screen and choosing Quit from the menu that pops up.
  2. On your handheld, go to Start, Programs, File Explorer.
  3. Tap on the menu at the top right corner of the screen (right below the Start menu) and choose “My Device.” Open up the folder / card where you installed Pleco (might be “Storage Card” or “SD Card,” or if not then just “Program Files”), and open the Pleco folder inside of that.
  4. Select each item you wish to delete, tap-hold your stylus on it until a little menu pops up, then select “Delete” from that menu to delete the file.

 

 

Updating from Pleco 2.0

The following instructions describe how to install a minor upgrade (2.0.4) when you've already installed Pleco 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, or 2.0.3. To upgrade from PlecoDict 1.0 or an earlier version, see the separate upgrade guide.

We strongly recommend backing up your flashcard and user dictionary databases before installing any Pleco update - see Backing Up and Restoring Your User Data below for instructions on how to do that.

 

Automated Install:

  1. On your handheld, open up Pleco, then choose "Quit" from the "Dict" menu - this makes sure the software isn't running in the background while you update. (otherwise, the update might not complete successfully)
  2. Download the “Automated” version of the Pleco 2.0.4 "Update" from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html

    This is a program that runs on your computer to copy files over to your Windows Mobile handheld, so download it to your computer, not to your handheld.
  3. Connect your handheld to your computer.
  4. Double-click on the installer program you downloaded to begin the installation. Click "Setup" on the first screen and wait a few seconds while Pleco extracts its installation data files.
  5. In the "Choose Installation" screen, make sure "Install Pleco" is selected and click Next. You can also check the boxes to install the new / updated dictionary databases in the "Dictionaries" section if you like.
  6. This will take you to the "Choose Components" screen - make sure "Update Pleco" is checked and click Next to install the update.

    If you encounter an error message ("CeCreateFile" or something similar), it may be because Pleco is still running in the background - open Pleco on your handheld and choose Quit from the Dict menu, then try updating again.

    If that doesn't help, soft reset your handheld (by sticking a paperclip in the reset switch, usually located on the back) then try the update once more.
  7. After the install finishes, reopen Pleco and choose "About" from the "Dict" menu to verify that you're now running version 2.0.4.

 

Manual Install:

  1. On your handheld, open up Pleco, then choose "Quit" from the "Dict" menu - this makes sure the software isn't running in the background while you update. (otherwise, the update might not complete successfully)
  2. Download the “Manual” version of the Pleco 2.0.4 "Update" from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  3. Double-click on the downloaded file (a Zip archive) – it should open up just like a regular Windows folder.

    You should see a “Pleco” folder inside of that .zip archive - drag that folder to your computer's desktop.

    You should see a file, Pleco.cab, inside of that folder. (the .cab part may be missing on some computers) Copy that file to your desktop as well.
  4. Connect your handheld to your computer.
  5. Double-click on the “My Computer” icon on your desktop. If you don’t see one, go to the Start Menu and select the My Computer icon in there.
  6. If you’re using Windows XP, you should see a “Mobile Device” icon like this:

    Mobile Device

    On Windows Vista / Windows 7, the icon will have the same name as your handheld, and will either look like a tiny picture of your handheld or like this:

    My Handheld

    Double-click on that icon to access your handheld’s memory. If you see nothing but a blank window when you do that, make sure your handheld is connected to your computer correctly, then try rebooting your computer.
  7. On Windows XP, double-click on the icon for "My Windows-Mobile Based Device" at the top-left corner of the window. You should see several folders inside of that, including “My Documents,” “Windows,” and “Program Files”. Look for a folder labeled “SD Card” or “Storage Card." If you see that folder, open it. If not, open “Program Files” instead.

    On Windows Vista / Windows 7, you should see an icon for your handheld's internal storage (its label will probably be just a slash, / ) along with an icon for "SD Card" or "Storage Card." Open the SD Card / Storage Card icon if it's there; if not, open the / icon, then "Program Files" inside of it.
  8. Drag the .cab file from your desktop into that folder to copy them over to your handheld. This might take a while. If a “File Conversion” message box pops up, click OK to continue.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from your handheld and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  9. If you'd like to install the new / updated dictionary databases as well, look for the "Pleco" folder inside of the folder where you just copied the .cab file. Drag the files inside of the "Pleco" folder on your desktop into that "Pleco" folder on your handheld.
  10. Once the copy finishes, on your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the same folder where you copied  the Pleco installation files (“Storage Card” / “SD Card” etc, as above), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.
  11. Wait a minute or so while the update is installed. If a message comes up asking if you want to update from a previous version of Pleco, click Yes. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.
  12. Reopen Pleco and choose "About" from the "Dict" menu to verify that you're now running version 2.0.4.

 

Card Install

  1. On your handheld, open up Pleco, then choose "Quit" from the "Dict" menu - this makes sure the software isn't running in the background while you update. (otherwise, the update might not complete successfully)
  2. Download the “Manual” version of the Pleco 2.0.4 "Update" from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  3. Double-click on the downloaded file (a Zip archive) – it should open up just like a regular Windows folder.

    You should see a “Pleco” folder inside of that .zip archive - drag that folder to your computer's desktop.

    You should see a file, Pleco.cab, inside of that folder. (the .cab part may be missing on some computers) Drag that file to your desktop as well.
  4. Connect the memory card reader to your computer, and insert your memory card.
  5. Double-click on the “My Computer” icon on your desktop. If you don’t see one, go to the Start Menu and select the My Computer icon in there.
  6. You should see the memory card listed as one of the drives on your computer. If you’re not sure which one it is, open up each icon until you find one with no files in it (or with files that you’ve already put on the memory card) - it'll most likely be something in the E/F/G/H/I/J/K drive letter range.
  7. Double-click on that memory card icon to open it, and drag the .cab files from your desktop into the to copy it over.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from the reader and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  8. If you'd like to install the new / updated dictionary databases as well, look for the "Pleco" folder inside of the folder where you just copied the .cab file. Drag the files inside of the "Pleco" folder on your desktop into that "Pleco" folder on your handheld.
  9. Once the copy finishes, remove the memory card from the reader and insert it into your handheld.
  10. On your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the folder for your memory card (“Storage Card” or “SD Card”), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.
  11. Wait a minute or so while the update is installed. If a message comes up asking if you want to update from a previous version of Pleco, click Yes. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.
  12. Reopen Pleco and choose "About" from the "Dict" menu to verify that you're now running version 2.0.4.

 

Mac Sync Install:

  1. On your handheld, open up Pleco, then choose "Quit" from the "Dict" menu - this makes sure the software isn't running in the background while you update. (otherwise, the update might not complete successfully)
  2. Download the "Mac OS" version of the Pleco 2.0.4 "Update" from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  3. After the download finishes, you should see a disk called "pc204-update" appear on your computer's desktop. If not, double-click on the downloaded file and that should get it to appear.
  4. Inside of that "pc204-update" disk, you should see a file called Pleco.cab. Drag that file to your computer's desktop.

    You should also see a “Pleco” folder inside of that "pc204-update" disk - drag that folder to your computer's desktop as well.
  5. Connect your handheld to your Mac; Missing Sync / PocketMac should detect it and establish a connection.

  6. If you're using Missing Sync, click on the Missing Sync menu at the top of your computer's screen (WM) and select "Mount," or just click the "Mount" button at the top of the Missing Sync window. A couple of new drives should appear on your computer's desktop, one with the same name as your Windows Mobile handheld and another called "Storage Card" or "SD Card." (if you're using Mac OS 10.5 or 10.6, the drives may appear inside of a "Volumes" window instead of coming up on the desktop) Open the "Storage Card" or "SD Card" drive. If that isn't listed, open up the drive with your handheld's name on it, then open the "Program Files" folder inside of that.

    If you're using PocketMac, click on the PocketMac menu at the top of your computer's screen (PocketMac) and select "Browse Device." A window titled "My Mobile Device" should appear. Click on the "Up a Level" button in that window, then double-click on the "Storage Card" or "SD Card" folder, or if you don't see one of those, on "Program Files."

  7. Drag the .cab file from your desktop into this opened folder to copy it to your handheld.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from the handheld and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  8. If you'd like to install the new / updated dictionary databases as well, look for the "Pleco" folder inside of the folder where you just copied the .cab file. Drag the files inside of the "Pleco" folder on your desktop into that "Pleco" folder on your handheld.
  9. On your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the folder for your memory card (“Storage Card” or “SD Card”), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.

    If you encounter an error message about a "trusted certificate," it means that something went wrong with the file copy. On Missing Sync, open up the main "Missing Sync for Windows Mobile" window, select the "Install" tab, and add each of the .cab files on your desktop to the list of files to install by dragging them there or clicking the + button at the bottom of the list. (it makes no difference what you select in the "Files to install to" menu) With PocketMac, go back to the PocketMac menu, choose the "Install new software via..." and "CAB file" commands, and install each of the .cab files on your desktop to your handheld using that.
  10. Wait a minute or so while the update is installed. If a message comes up asking if you want to update from a previous version of Pleco, click Yes. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.
  11. Reopen Pleco and choose "About" from the "Dict" menu to verify that you're now running version 2.0.4.

 

Mac Card Install:

  1. On your handheld, open up Pleco, then choose "Quit" from the "Dict" menu - this makes sure the software isn't running in the background while you update. (otherwise, the update might not complete successfully)
  2. Download the "Mac OS" version of the Pleco 2.0.4 "Update" from:

    http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html
  3. After the download finishes, you should see a disk called "pc204-update" appear on your computer's desktop. If not, double-click on the downloaded file and that should get it to appear.
  4. IInside of that "pc204-update" disk, you should see a file called Pleco.cab. Drag that file to your computer's desktop.

    You should also see a “Pleco” folder inside of that "pc204-update" disk - drag that folder to your computer's desktop as well.
  5. Connect the memory card reader to your computer; it should just plug into a free USB port, and Mac OS should automatically detect / enable it.
  6. Insert the memory card in the memory card reader.
  7. The memory card should now show up as a drive on your Mac's desktop. Double-click on that memory card drive to open it, and drag the .cab file from your desktop into it to copy it to the card.

    If you encounter a “read only” error message, remove the flash memory card from the reader and make sure that the "lock" switch on the side of the card is turned off, then reinsert the card and try installing again.
  8. If you'd like to install the new / updated dictionary databases as well, look for the "Pleco" folder inside of the folder where you just copied the .cab file. Drag the files inside of the "Pleco" folder on your desktop into that "Pleco" folder on your handheld.
  9. Once the copy finishes, remove the memory card from the reader and insert it into your handheld.
  10. On your handheld, go to Start Menu, Programs, and File Explorer. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.” Open up the folder for your memory card (“Storage Card” or “SD Card”), and tap on the Pleco.cab file inside of there.
  11. Wait a minute or so while the update is installed. If a message comes up asking if you want to update from a previous version of Pleco, click Yes. If you’re prompted about where to install Pleco’s data files, leave the setting on “Internal.” If you see a security warning message, you can safely click Yes at the bottom of the screen to continue.
  12. Reopen Pleco and choose "About" from the "Dict" menu to verify that you're now running version 2.0.4.

 

 

Backing Up and Restoring Your User Data

Backing Up

Your Pleco 2.0 flashcards are stored in a file called "Pleco Flashcards.pqb" in your handheld's "My Documents" folder; if you've created any user dictionaries, those are stored in files with names beginning "PlecoCUser" or "PlecoEUser." The procedures below are for the flashcards file; you can follow the same procedures with your PlecoCUser/PlecoEUser files to back up those user dictionary entries.

 

To back up your flashcards to an SD Card:

  1. Make sure the card you want to back up the flashcards to is inserted in your handheld.
  2. On your handheld, go to Start menu, Programs, File Explorer.
  3. Check to see if the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu, and probably with a little icon of a handheld on it) says "My Documents." If it doesn't, tap on that menu, select "My Device," then tap on the "My Documents" folder in the file list.
  4. You should now be in your handheld's My Documents folder, and should see a "Pleco Flashcards" file listed in there. Tap and hold your handheld's stylus on "Pleco Flashcards" until a little menu comes up, then select "Copy" from that menu.
  5. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen again, and select "My Device," then tap on the "SD Card" or "Storage Card" folder in the file list.
  6. Tap on the "Menu" button at the bottom right corner of the screen, and choose "New Folder" from the menu that pops up. On older (WM 2003) handhelds, the butt may be called "Edit" instead of "Menu."
  7. You should now see a new folder with its name highlighted; name this folder "Backup" by entering "Backup" on your handheld's keyboard. You can name it something else, but make sure its name does NOT contain the word "Pleco" in it, otherwise it won't work correctly as a backup directory.
  8. Open this new folder by tapping on it.
  9. Tap on the "Menu" button again and select "Edit" and "Paste." This will copy the flashcard file over to your memory card.

 

If you have a memory card reader for your computer, you can back the flashcards up to your computer by backing them up to an SD card, putting the SD card in the reader and copying the backed-up files from the card to your computer.

 

Otherwise, to back up your flashcards to a Windows Computer:

  1. Follow steps 1 and 5-8 of the procedure for a Manual Install.
  2. In the window that opened when you double-clicked on the icon for your handheld in My Computer, look for a file called "Pleco Flashcards." If you don't see that file, look for a folder called "My Documents," open that up and the file should be inside of there.
  3. Copy that file to your desktop to back it up.

 

To back up your flashcards to a Mac OS Computer:

  1. Follow steps 1-2 and 4-7 of the procedure for a Mac Sync Install.
  2. If you're using Missing Sync, click on the Missing Sync menu at the top of your computer's screen (green circle with "WM" in it) and select "Mount," or just click the "Mount" button at the top of the Missing Sync window. A couple of new drives should appear on your computer's desktop, one with the same name as your Windows Mobile handheld. (if you're using Mac OS 10.5, this drive may appear inside of a "Volumes" window instead of coming up on the desktop) Open that drive, and open up the "My Documents" folder inside of it.

    If you're using PocketMac, click on the PocketMac menu at the top of your computer's screen (should have a little picture of a handheld computer on it) and select "Browse Device." A window titled "My Mobile Device" should appear - this is showing you the contents of your handheld's "My Documents" folder.
  3. Look for a file called "Pleco Flashcards" inside of that folder, and copy that file to your desktop to back it up.

 

Restoring From A Previous Backup

To restore your flashcards from an SD Card:

  1. Make sure the card containing the backed-up file is inserted in your handheld.
  2. On your handheld, go to Start menu, Programs, File Explorer.
  3. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen (right below the Start menu – it might say “My Documents”) and choose “My Device.”
  4. Tap on the "SD Card" or "Storage Card" folder in the list of files, and the "Backup" folder inside of that.
  5. Tap-and-hold your handheld's stylus on the "Pleco Flashcards" file inside of there, and select "Copy" from the menu that pops up.
  6. Tap on the menu at the top left corner of the screen again, select "My Device," and tap on the "My Documents" folder in the file list.
  7. Tap on the "Menu" button at the bottom right corner of the screen, and select "Edit" and "Paste." This will restore the flashcard file to your handheld's memory.

(you can also restore flashcards from a computer using an SD card by copying them to the card and then copying them from there to your handheld - however, in that case you should select "Cut" instead of "Copy" in step 5 to avoid wasting memory)

 

To restore your flashcards from a Windows Computer:

  1. Follow steps 1 and 5-8 of the procedure for a Manual Install.
  2. In the window that opened when you double-clicked on the icon for your handheld in My Computer, look for a "My Documents" folder. If you see it, open it; if not, you're already in the "My Documents" folder.
  3. Drag your backed-up flashcard file into that window to copy it to your handheld. Don't just drag the keyfile onto the "Mobile Device" icon; double-click on the icon and then drag the keyfile into the opened window.

 

To back up your flashcards to a Mac OS Computer:

  1. Follow steps 1-2 and 4-7 of the procedure for a Mac Sync Install.
  2. If you're using Missing Sync, click on the Missing Sync menu at the top of your computer's screen (green circle with "WM" in it) and select "Mount," or just click the "Mount" button at the top of the Missing Sync window. A couple of new drives should appear on your computer's desktop, one with the same name as your Windows Mobile handheld. (if you're using Mac OS 10.5, this drive may appear inside of a "Volumes" window instead of coming up on the desktop) Open that drive, and open up the "My Documents" folder inside of it.

    If you're using PocketMac, click on the PocketMac menu at the top of your computer's screen (should have a little picture of a handheld computer on it) and select "Browse Device." A window titled "My Mobile Device" should appear - this is showing you the contents of your handheld's "My Documents" folder.
  3. Drag your backed-up flashcard file into that folder window to copy it to your handheld.

 

 

Transferring Pleco to a New Handheld

If you've created flashcards / user dictionary entries that you want to transfer over to the new handheld, follow the steps above under "Backing Up" to copy them to your computer before you transfer the software over, then follow the steps under "Restoring" after you finish transferring the software to copy them to the new handheld.

 

If you've locked your copy of Pleco to a specific handheld (System ID):

  1. Uninstall Pleco from your old handheld, using the appropriate uninstall procedure above.
  2. Install Pleco on your new handheld, using the appropriate install procedure for that.
  3. Open Pleco on the new handheld, tap on the "Menu" button at the bottom left corner of the screen (or "Dict" on a Windows Mobile 2003 handheld), and choose "Ordering" from the menu that pops up to bring up the Ordering screen. Copy down the System ID listed on that screen.
  4. Go to the My Orders page on our website, and log in using the information from your order confirmation e-mail.
  5. Enter the new handheld's System ID in the form under "Keyfile Replacement," and click on the "Agree" button to download your new keyfile.
  6. Unlock Pleco with that new keyfile per the instructions under Unlocking Pleco.

 

If you've locked your copy of Pleco to an SD Card (Card ID):

  1. Remove your SD card from your old handheld and insert it in your new one.
  2. If you installed Pleco using an Automated install, run the installer again and install only the "Pleco Engine" and (if you want it) "Instant Access Launcher" items - everything else should already be on the card.

    If you installed Pleco using a Manual / Card / Mac Sync / Mac Card install, repeat the install procedure for that again, but don't bother copying over the Pleco folder this time - just copy over the .cab file (Pleco.cab or Pleco-WM2003.cab) and open that up in File Explorer as before.
  3. Unlock Pleco again per the instructions under Unlocking Pleco.

 

 

Installing Add-Ons

Officially Supported

Extended Audio Files

Along with the basic set of audio files included with Pleco 2.0, we also offer an extended set of audio files which add support for a total of about 34,000 words. These are available as a free upgrade to anyone who purchases the regular set of audio files. The extended audio files are available at http://www.pleco.com/wmdownload.html - they're very large (180 MB) so make sure you download them on a fast internet connection.

The procedure for installing the extended audio files is almost exactly the same as the procedure for installing the basic software - download the same version (Automated, Manual, or Mac OS) and follow the same procedure that you used with the original Pleco install.

In an Automated install, the only thing that changes when installing add-ons is that the "Choose Components" screen lists different components to install - Extended Audio in the extended audio files installer, and dictionary / flashcard list names in the other installers.

With the other install types, there's no Pleco.cab file, so you just copy the Pleco folder over the same way you did with the original install - the files in the new Pleco folder will be added to the existing one on your handheld. (DON'T put the new Pleco folder inside of the existing Pleco folder, put it in the same place as the existing folder; the files should be combined)

After installing an add-on, open Pleco, tap on the "Menu" button at the bottom left corner of the screen, choose "Quit," then open Pleco again - this will ensure that the new files are detected correctly.

 

Unsupported

Alternate Audio Files

There's also an alternate set of audio files available with a female instead of a male speaker. These too are available as a free upgrade for anyone who owns a copy of the regular audio file set; we don't include them in the main package because unfortunately the recordings are of significantly lower quality than the ones in the male set (not on purpose; we had some issues with the contractor we hired to record them for us). They can be downloaded from http://www.pleco.com/dictaddons.html, and you can customize which set Pleco uses in the Misc panel of Preferences.

Free Dictionaries

We also offer several free add-on dictionaries for Pleco 2.0, based on various online and other free dictionary projects. These can be downloaded from http://www.pleco.com/dictaddons.html.

To install either of the above types of add-on, open up the downloaded file (it should extract to a folder), then copy each of the .pdb databases inside of it to the "Pleco" folder on your SD card, or the \\Program Files\Pleco folder in your handheld's main memory. You can do this with the Manual, Card, Mac Sync or Mac Card install procedure, or with the "Install Add-on" option in the Automated installer.

 

Flashcard Lists

Along with all of this, we also offer a selection of free flashcard lists for Pleco 2.0, providing vocabulary for several popular textbooks / Chinese language exams. These too can be downloaded from http://www.pleco.com/dictaddons.html.

To install an add-on flashcard list, copy the downloaded file directly to the "Pleco" folder on your SD card, or the \\My Documents folder in your handheld's main memory. You can do this with the Manual, Card, Mac Sync or Mac Card install procedure, or with the "Install Add-on" option in the Automated installer. After you've installed an add-on flashcard list, it won't actually show up in Pleco's flashcard system until you import it - i.e., add the vocabulary in it to your personal flashcard database. See the reference manual for details on how to import a flashcard list - the lists on our website are all UTF-8 encoded and in Text format.

 

Installing Text / Document Files

To convert a document file for use with Pleco's document reader, or convert a (correctly formatted) flashcard word list to import into Pleco's flashcard system, first save it as UTF-8 encoded text. If you have Microsoft Word, save the file as "Encoded Text" (in newer versions of Word it may be just "Plain Text") in the Save As window, then select UTF-8 encoding in the dialog box that pops up asking you to choose a text encoding. If you don't have / can't get this working in Word, another good Unicode-friendly text editor is EmEditor on Windows; it lets you select the text encoding right in its Save As dialog box. For help with text encoding conversion on Mac OS X, see the excellent [chinese mac] site.

Once you've saved your document as a UTF-8 .txt file, copy it to your handheld according to the "Flashcard Lists" instructions above. You can also just copy it to your handheld's My Documents folder if you already know how to do that with other files (e.g. a PlecoDict 1.0 keyfile).

After you've copied the file over to your handheld, open Pleco and it will be available as a "Text" format file in the Import / Reader screens. (make sure to select "UTF-8" text encoding from the Text Encoding popup list)

 

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