How do I import a word list from a word processing document?
This lesson shows how to import word lists from tab-delimited text files created in a word processor. In steps 1 through 4, we'll see how to make sure that a list is saved in the proper format using Bean, a free word processor for Mac OS X (http://www.bean-osx.com).
Create or open a word list in a word processor.
Use a separate line for each new word.
Don't use the columns feature in a word processor, just use a single tab to separate items in a line.
The items in each "column" should match: in this example the first "column" has new vocabulary, the second has translations, the third has the names of sound files to be included, and the last has examples of usage.
Under the File menu, Choose "Save as.." Then select "Text Document (.txt)" and click "Save."
Be sure not to save your list in .doc or .rtf format.
Be sure to save as plain text despite warnings about lost formatting.
Most word processors will remind you that saving as plain text will not preserve text formattng or other document properties.
After saving in plain text format, your list may look different.
Information about where the tab stops are set has been discarded, but that's OK! Sona List Converter just needs a tab to separate items in a word set, and line breaks to separate word sets.
Open Sona List Converter.
Double-click on the Sona List Converter icon.
Check the settings for your list.
1) Since the order of columns in our German list was target word, translation, sound, and example, we'll choose those options in the popup menus. We leave items 5 and 6 set to "none."
2) Check the 'unicode' box for languages like Russian, Hindi, or Hebrew that do not use the Latin alphabet.
3) When this box is checked, List Converter will append " Sona" to the end of the file name; for example, when converting "German list.txt," a copy in Sona format will be saved as "German list Sona.txt."
4) When this box is checked, the folder where your converted list is saved will be opened in the Finder/Windows Explorer.
Click on "Convert."
This will bring a dialogue box where you can choose the list.
Choose the tab-delimited list and click "Open."
Sona List Converter creates a new list in the proper format.
List Converter copies your list, converts it list to Sona format, appends " Sona.txt" to the name, and opens the window where the new list has been saved.