WordSmith Tools Data Converter (c) Mike Scott

*     The point of it

The format of WordSmith Tools saved data (as in concordance data, word lists, etc.) has changed to accommodate the enhancements brought about in the new version. This means your old data has to be converted to be usable in the new version.

*     For safety's sake

Choose to copy the old data. If you uncheck the copy checkbox, your original data will be over-written with the new format.

*     What you do

1. Choose file specifications (eg. *.lst to get all wordlists).
2. Click on the folder button to choose a suitable folder of existing data in the old format.
3. Include sub-folders: if you choose this, all data of the same type in all sub-folders of the folder you've just chosen will be processed. This could be thousands of lists.
4. Now choose whether to "copy" the results (to a new folder) or over-write existing data.
5. Finally, choose a "copy folder" to copy all your results into (unless you are over-writing).

Press Find: the Data Converter will find all files meeting your requirements.
Press OK to start processing. 

*     What you see
As the files are processed, you will see results in the "Converting" tab.
There is a list of files; if they are checked, they have been successfully converted.

*     Language handling

The Data Converter tries to find out which language the data was written for, but with early WordSmith data the language may be unknown. If this happens it will offer you a list of languages, and you should pick the language which you think the data was written in. You can see some of the more frequent words. The languages are initially sorted alphabetically but as you choose one it comes to the top of the list.

*     Limitations

Not all conversions are ready. As more get done, updated versions of this tool will appear on the Internet at www.lexically.net/downloads/ws

*     Installation

Make sure this file and ConvertWS1to3Data.exe are in the same folder as the other parts of WordSmith Tools.

Mike Scott, 2001