Widgets: dictionary widget doesn't work...

Thanks for the welcome, mj. I'll certainly try your suggestion as soon as I can.

The bad news is that I fell off a ladder yesterday and broke my ankle. Is it PAINFUL! My doc has me so doped up on pain killers that I can barely think, so this message is taking me a long time to write and it will take me some time to try your "fix."

As soon as I do, I'll let you know the results. Many thanks. Later.
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iamkappa

Hi mj,

Tried deleting /Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/widget-com.apple.widget.dictionary.plist/ per your instructions. Sorry to report that it didn't work. For the first try, I simply deleted the file (drag to trash and empty) and then restarted Dashboard from the Dock. No joy. So, thought it might work if I restarted computer before restarting Dashboard. No joy there, either.

Right now, I'm pretty foggy from the meds (I have a really tall keyboard, thus the ladder - ha, ha!) So, I'll sign out for the present, give this some more thought and maybe come up w/some ideas to bounce off you.

Again, many thanks for the help and kind words re: broken ankle. Wish I could report better results on issue at hand.
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iamkappa

Hello mj...

In my opium stupor, have been thinking abt the dictionary widget problem. Seems to me that there are 3 things being dealt w/here: the first the widget app; the second the dictionary app, the third the dashboard app. Since your suggestion didn't work, maybe it's possible to rule the widget app out, leaving only the remaining 2?

We know that there's a link between the dictionary app and the dashboard app, since the dashboard app relies on the dictionary app to make the dictionary widget function. The question is what is that link, where is it and how is it fixed?

So, using your logic, do I delete the "com.apple.DictionaryServices.plist"; file or the "com.apple.dashboard.plist"; file to accomplish a fix? This assumes that these files will regenerate themselves upon restart of the widgets as did the "widget-com.apple.widget.dictionary.plist";; or if I do either or both and they don't regenerate, will I have bigger mess than I do now?

What say you, O Wise One?
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iamkappa

Hello mj...

In my opium stupor, have been thinking abt the dictionary widget problem. Seems to me that there are 3 things being dealt w/here: the first the widget app; the second the dictionary app, the third the dashboard app. Since your suggestion didn't work, maybe it's possible to rule the widget app out, leaving only the remaining 2?

We know that there's a link between the dictionary app and the dashboard app, since the dashboard app relies on the dictionary app to make the dictionary widget function. The question is what is that link, where is it and how is it fixed?

So, using your logic, do I delete the "com.apple.DictionaryServices.plist"; file or the "com.apple.dashboard.plist"; file to accomplish a fix? This assumes that these files will regenerate themselves upon restart of the widgets as did the "widget-com.apple.widget.dictionary.plist";; or if I do either or both and they don't regenerate, will I have bigger mess than I do now?

What say you, O Wise One?
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iamkappa

Well, it seems I've messed up and posted too many times in an effort to reply to you and not to myself... duh!

Hi there mj!

Didn't know that Discussions would be sent via e-mail. But, I guess so, 'cause here 'tis... (reading from e-mail)

As to what I can do, very limited due to ankle. Doc said "absolutely no weight on foot or it's surgery for you." I've had enough of those to +last the rest of my life+, so I'm following orders to the letter. Can't use crutches because meds have messed balance all up & I fall - one jambed finger so far - am I stupid or what? 😉 Thus, it's use a walker (downstairs) & crawl (upstairs) 😟 , which is where I am now at the keyboard of my G4 MDD 1.25 dual. That's where I get e-mail.

Anyway, have tried deleting some of the files I mentioned & some do not regenerate - I forget which. I have taken the precaution of saving them to a PassPort drive before deleting so I can copy them back into prefs as needed. FWIW, none of the deletions have worked so far. That leaves me a just a bit stumped. I'm no newby to this but not a wizard by anymeans, either. I'll go back downstairs to the laptop, set up there, (put my ankle up as directed), add the file you suggested to the list & go from there. I'll probably have some questions once that's done.

As to resetting all the widgets, no I didn't know that & don't know how to do it. I'm sure you can explain. I also surmise that you can explain how to reinstall the widget?

Regarding a new account, I set up an administrator account for my wife when she gave me the MacBook. She's never used it, so I think that should work for the new account you advise. Will let you know how that goes. A bit surprised I didn't think of that, but I've not been thinking well for a couple of days now. If I had been, I'd not be in this "peg leg" fix! (btw, how do I insert a "surprised" emoticon?)

I was going to send this via regular e-mail 'til I got smarter, read the fine print, noted that a reply had to be posted via Discussions, so that's what I've done from the G4. Will be a while for me to crawl back down to the laptop. I suppose there's not much hurry as this issue is not that critical - just very annoying.

As always, thanks for your help. Later.
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iamkappa

Hello once again, mj...

Getting back to it took a while, didn't it? it's abt 1 a.m. here now, so you see I'm very slow. I really do hate this ankle situation. I have, however, managed to get a few things taken care of.

First, I've compiled a list of "plist" files to remove and regenerate. These are as follows:

Files to be removed/regenerated (replaced):
• widget-com.apple.widget.dictionary.plist/
• com.apple.dashboard.client.plist
• com.apple.dashboard.client.plist.kciv4g3
• com.apple.dashboard.client.plist.Me06cmp
• com.apple.dashboard.client.plist.SolkMR7
• com.apple.dashboard.client.plist.Z3WpJe3
• com.apple.dashboard.client.plist.zzi1RUn
• com.apple.dashboard.plist
• com.apple.Dictionary.plist ; (from mj)
• com.apple.DictionaryServices.plist
• widget-com.apple.widget.manager.plist
• widget-com.apple.widget.dictionary.plist ; (initially from mj)

Note: the above are all from "Users/UserAccount/Library/Preferences/". These are
not from "System/Library." (I may have a question or two in that regard,
particularly concerning "WidgetResources" in that Library, but that's for
later.)

As to the previous listing, I assume you concur w/these files? If so, please advise and I will copy them to the PassPort drive, then delete them one at the time so we know which one is the culprit. (Maybe it's more than one? What then?)

To determine if this is a systemwide problem, I decided it best to set up a new admin account rather than use the account I had initially set up for my wife - I deleted her old account. The new admin account is in her middle and maiden name just in case there might be some carry over from the initial account in her name.

Once I had the account set up and configured, I opened the dashboard... and I get the same results w/that account as I do w/my account - the dictionary doesn't work.

From this, I gather that the problem is systemwide, which would seem to make the previous file listing moot. So, how do I go abt reinstalling the widget or widgets since these are "preinstalled widgets" and part of the overall system install for Snow Leopard - OSX10.6.3?

Looking thru the various discussions, I am told that these cannot be deleted individually or at all, assuming that I understand what I'm reading. (This may be heresy, but sometimes Windows is easier to deal w/than Apple. You can cut and slice to your heart's content!)

It's getting quite late and the meds are kicking in really well, so I'll shut this down for now. I may begin to make little sense and I think I've pestered you enough for now. Since you most likely know much more abt this than I, my questions may seem inane as it is. Hope not and hope that you are willing to continue to provide advice. I'm looking forward to it.

As always, many thanks. Later,
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iamkappa

macjack wrote:

OK, that's progress! Yes, previous file listings moot.

Then run the 10.6.3 Combo Update This is, in case there were any updates to Widgets.This is also a fuller install, as opposed to an incremental "delta" update so it should overwrite any files that are damaged or missing. It does not matter if you have applied it before.(If for any reason the re-install with Pacifist fails, this step alone could possibly repair your problem.)
Remember to Verify Disk before update and repair permissions after update from /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.



-mj

Hello mj!

Your last post included the above. I've done this type of thing before w/some success (usually w/more success than less - can't do this on a Windows machine; that's one reason why the Apple OS is far superior to MS's!)

Anyway, I had already downloaded the 10.6.3 Combo Update sometime back and archived it. So, dug it up and ran it after checking to make sure the "Dictionary" file was there (the file on my machine does not have the .wdgt extension appended to it; wonder why?); verifying the disk and repairing permissions. As soon as I ran the Combo Update, I repaired permissions again, then opened Dashboard and EUREKA!!!, the Dictionary Widget worked as it's supposed to!

Problem solved! Thanks primarily to you. Your help and direction for my thinking was absolutely necessary. I don't know why I didn't think of this on my own, but I didn't and wouldn't have except for your direction. My good man, if I can help you at anytime in the future, all you have to do is write! I'll do all I can.

Thanks so much for sticking w/this and all your help.
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iamkappa