Thread: ?Can a toolbar lodged in the taskbar be made to lookup at dictionary.com?

  1. #1
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    Question ?Can a toolbar lodged in the taskbar be made to lookup at dictionary.com?

    Basically, I lookup words at dictionary.com very frequantly. I think it would be very conveniant if a toolbar could be made that lodged itself in the bottom right of the taskbar (or some other good location) that would provide for easy access to entering in a word that could either load a browser for looking up at dictionary.com or at least lookup the word in its own database. The reason I emphasize dictionary.com is because it has a very modern and continously updated database that stresses definitions from all fields for a word. On-site databases tend to be weak and contain only standard english.

    Does anyone think its possible they could make a freeware application like this for the rest of us without too much trouble?

  2. #2
    ¡Amo fútbol!
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    It could be done (I think). But, the question is, would dictionary.com like this??

  3. #3
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    Would they like more traffic? Hmm, I wonder =P

    I am not sure how to make a taskbar toolbar like that, but beyond that and a simple entry routine, all you would need to do would be concatenate "http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=" and the search string.

  4. #4
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    Skipping the main page means you miss out on adds that are there. This is not good for the sponsors who have adds there. They might complain if your program gets popular. This would cause dictionary.com to get ........ed at you.

  5. #5
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    string location="http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=";
    string word;

    cin>>word;
    location+=word;

    From here open up whatever browser you use with shellexecute or another function of that variety. You might have to remove the null terminator from the strings, not sure though.

  6. #6
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    OK golf, now just convert that into a program that makes itself into a taskbar.

  7. #7
    Registered User (TNT)'s Avatar
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    Lol, im on half term with nothing too do at the moment other than to wait and watch the uk get kicked by argentina :'( in bout 30 mins.

    Just nocked this up in about 45 mins, hides in the tray as well lol.



    TNT
    TNT
    You Can Stop Me, But You Cant Stop Us All

  8. #8
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    Thumbs up thx

    thx for looking into it guys. I appreciate it. Tnt's program is pretty good. It just needs to find a way into the taskbar. I know it can be done because I have seen the programs from powertoys (like magnifier) lodge themselves there.

    Oh btw, I dont see why dictionary.com would get mad. They have plenty of ads on the page with the definition. The ads on the home page are also available for showing on the definition page. I think by having this program on your computer and so accesible, it would only INCREASE the usage to their website. If I were them, I wouldn't complain about increased traffic, id just buy a new server and smile as the ad profits racked in. (not that i think it would increase that much tho, but if it did)
    Last edited by genghis; 06-07-2002 at 08:55 AM.

  9. #9
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    They might complain if it gets really popular, cuz more traffic always equals more bandwidth fees.
    "There are three kinds of people in the world...
    Those that can count and those that can't."

  10. #10
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    A) Imperito, why would I want to?? It isn't my program and I don't want to make it either.

    B)Imperito, u mad at me or something? If so, what'd I do?

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