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User profile for user: kt.kthapar
kt.kthapar Author
User level: Level 1
7 points

Using dictionary from command line

Is it possible I could see the definition of a word for eg. 'Apple' in terminal itself without opening the dictionary app?

I work in the terminal most of the times and I am just wondering if I could get all the information in terminal itself.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Message was edited by: kt.kthapar

iMac 27' Quadcore, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Dec 11, 2010 6:04 AM

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User profile for user: etresoft
etresoft
User level: Level 9
50,854 points

Posted on Dec 12, 2010 2:56 PM

Linc Davis wrote:
you could install the POSIX 'dict' command (e.g. from MacPorts) which is a client for online dictionaries.


Ugh! How crude!

The suggestion given above launches Dictionary.app, which is apparently not what you want.


Yes indeed. Sorry for not paying more attention.

Since you work in terminal most of the time, a little Xcode can't hurt.
1) Create a new Foundation Command Line Tool in Xcode.
2) Replace the lines: 

 // insert code here...
 NSLog(@"Hello, World!");

with 

 if(argc < 2)
 {
 printf("Usage: dict <word to define> ");
 
 return -1;
 }
 
 NSString * search = 
 [NSString stringWithCString: argv[1] encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding];
 
 CFStringRef def = 
 DCSCopyTextDefinition(NULL, 
 (CFStringRef)search, 
 CFRangeMake(0, [search length]));
 
 NSString * output = 
 [NSString
 stringWithFormat: 
 @"Definition of <%@>: %@", search, (NSString *)def];
 
 printf("%s", [output UTF8String]);

3) Add the CoreServices framework to the project. Right/command click on "External Frameworks and Libraries", choose "Add..", choose "Existing Frameworks..", choose "CoreServices.framework", and click "Add".
4) Build
5) Enjoy
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Using dictionary from command line

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