Word Finder for PalmOS

Current version: 1.0b6 (released 22 Apr 2003)

Word Finder is a program for personal digital assistants (PDAs) which can search its word list using a variety of criteria. It it designed to be helpful for a variety of word games and puzzles (crosswords, Scrabble, etc.)

Word Finder runs on most PDAs that use the Palm operating system; those who do not own or have plans to acquire such a device might want to consider one of the handheld word finders produced by Franklin.

There is no cost to use Word Finder; I wrote the program for my own use and decided to make it available in case anyone else might find it useful. (Correspondingly, I make no warranty as to its operation. Use at your own risk.) If you do use it, I would appreciate hearing your comments by email at kray@post.com; please include Word Finder in the subject line of your message. In particular, I would like to know on what devices it does or does not successfully run. (Note: Word Finder is freeware, not public domain. I retain copyright and do not presently plan to release the source code.)

How to install

To install Word Finder, download the application file and at least one dictionary file from the menu below, or use the Perl script provided to generate your own dictionary. (In the latter case, you must provide a word list; many such can be found at the National Puzzlers' League web site.) Then use the software provided with your PDA to load these files onto the device. The Word Finder icon will appear the next time you see the main applications menu. The program itself requires about 27K of RAM, plus the size of the word list(s) you choose to install.

Download Word Finder

Here you can download:

The Word Finder program, README file and release notes (version 1.0b6).
A dictionary based on Webster's Second (Merriam-Webster New International Dictionary, Second Edition).
A dictionary of Webster's Second phrases. (Warning: Word Finder has not been extensively tested on word lists containing multiple-word entries.)
A dictionary based on the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (or rather, the public-domain Enable list based on the OSPD).
A dictionary based on Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary (words and phrases).
A Perl script that converts a sorted word list into a PDB file that can be read by Word Finder.

Kiran S. Kedlaya (kray@post.com)