Vocabulary Blast has a dictionary
of 2850 words, all selected from GRE/SAT text books (Barron's and ETS). It has
several useful features. When Istarted preparing for my GRE I realized that
there wasn't any useful software that could help me build my vocabulary. It
was difficult using Barron's word lists, making the flash cards, then testing
yourself. All these problems motivated me to develop my own GRE vocabulary building
software.
What started off as a simple word storage/retrieval application matured into
a feature filled GRE/SAT vocabulary building software. Vocabulary Blast includes
several useful features. You can ADD/DELETE/EDIT words to it, you can print
out your customized Flash Cards, you can use its Test feature to either import
tests from the Internet/hard disk or you can ask Vocabulary Blast to develop
tests for you. You can adjust not only the difficulty level of these tests but
can also select the range of words which you want to be included in the test.
A new feature added in version 1.1 is the Gennie Mode. The feedback that I got
from the users of version 1.0, was that Vocabulary Blast takes too much of the
desktop space. Gennie mode is a result of this feedback. Gennie mode allows
you to run Vocabulary Blast silently in your windows Taskbar.
I can go on and on about the features, but features are only good as long as
YOU find them useful. Personally this software helped me a lot, and I hope it
helps you the same way.
Please let me know how you liked/disliked
Vocabulary Blast.
(Vocabulary
Blast in Action)
(you should see the above screen on
successful installation; if you don’t, then read the section below to fix
possible problems)
This error message appears only on WIN NT. Vocabulary Blast DOES NOT work on Windows NT !!! If you try to
run Vocabulary Blast on Windows NT, it will terminate by giving “Failed to
create Empty Document” error. Vocabulary Blast’s original targeted platforms
were Windows 95/98/2000. It uses a few API/Functions that are specific to
Windows 95/98, and unfortunately are not compatible with Window NT. I am working
on a solution. I will put a “Vocabulary Blast for Windows NT” on the site with
in a month. For those of you who run Windows NT on their system will either have
to switch to Windows 2000 or will have to wait for at least a month. Please send
me you email address, so that I can notify you when the Windows NT version
becomes ready or visit this site after two weeks to check if the NT version is
available.
“No Database found and No Default driver
mentioned” error message
Vocabulary Blast uses a dictionary that
has been developed in MS-Access. Vocabulary Blast requires that an ODBC manager
be installed on your computer.
FOR WINDOWS 98 :
Go toStart->Control Panel->ODBC32.You MUST have ODBC32 icon present in your Control Panel. If you don’t
find it then You must install it before running Vocabulary Blast. ODBC Manager
is installed by default when you install any of the MS-Office products.Click on this icon, and you will be
presented with a Dialog box. Make sure that there is an entry “MS Access
DatabaseMicrosoft Access
Driver(*.mdb)”. Please make sure
that the entry is exactally the way mentioned here. Entries like “MS Access 97
DatabaseMicrosoft Access
Driver(*.mdb)” etc. are not valid
entries for Vocabulary Blast.In
case there is no such entry, press the “ADD” button. A Create New Datasource
Dilaog box will pop up. Select “Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)” and press
FINISH button. An “ODBC Microsoft Setup “ Dialog box will popup. Enter “MS
Access Database“ against the “Data
Source Name” Edit box. Make sure that you spell it correctly. Now Press OK.Exit the ODBC setup by pressing OK
again. Now your system is ready for Vocabulary Blast.
FOR WINDOWS 95 :
Vocabulary Blast uses a database format
that is not compatible with previous ODBC MS-Access drivers. Windows 95 has
MS Access 97 Drivers, which unfortunately are unable to open the “Dictionary.mdb”
file. Now you have two choices: Either to wait for a little while as I upload
the Vocabulary Blast for Windows 95 orto upgrade yourMS-Access 97 drivers to a latest version..
In order to do this, simply install MS-Office 98 or higher.
FOR WINDOWS 2000:
For Windows 2000 Start->Program->Administrative
Tools->Data sources (ODBC). The rest of the steps are the same as for Windows
98.
“Vocabulary Blast does start but all the
fields are empty and I do not see any Buttons at all.”
This
error happens when Vocabulary Blast failed to connect to Ms-Access ODBC driver.
Follow the steps in “No Database found and No Default driver mentioned” error
message” to get rid of this problem.
CREDITS/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following
people have been kind enough to give me their
feedback/suggestions/criticisms/encouragements. I thank you all
Special
thanks to Yasir Liaqatullah and Zoaib Khan (my GIKI buddies working in USA) for
taking time to do the Beta Testing.
Many
thanks to: Naveed Arshad,
Samee Ather, Ather Farouqi, Aitezaz Sheikh, Mudassar Shfique, Sultan Azam, M.
Jafary, Umer Farid, Asif Belal, Alice Green, Milton, David Mokbel, Ron Clark,
Nauman Rafique,Oleg
Smirnovsachi chweh and Gaurav for reporting
Bugs, for giving me their valuable suggestions and for encouragin the software.
Last but not the least my tributes to Syed Akbar Ali, one of the most talented
individual I have had the pleasure of calling a friend; and Habib Ahmed - whose
software inspires us all; and to other GIKIANs who have left us at a tender age.
Although you are no longer with us, but your memories will always be a source
of inspiration. Special prayers to Amir Mehmood - May Allah ease your pain.
I appreciate all the comments and
suggestions, and will accommodate them in the next version of vocabulary
Blast. Please contact me for
suggestions/bugs/information/feedback
