Upcoming Release

This page describes plans for Chinese Toolbox after version 11.0.0.3. Not all features listed here will appear in the  next release. Features listed near the top have a higher priority than features appearing lower in the list.

If you have ideas for improvements to Chinese Toolbox, PLEASE let me know. The only way I'm going to know what you want in the program is if you tell me.

  1. Provide a configuration option to control whether or not characters are marked as knowned when the encompassing word is marked as known. (Development complete; will appear in next release, 11.0.1.0)
  2. Provide shortcut or context menu in the Reader to mark characters as Known. (Planned for 11.0.1.0)
  3. Improve search capabilities. In particular, add ability to search based on “Understanding level” and “Need to learn” criteria of the Character Understanding and Review window. With this feature, you will be able to generate a list of characters that you know and a list of all the characters in the Character Dictionary that you don’t know. Each list can be filtered using other search criteria. (Planned for 11.0.1.0)
  4. Move “Understanding level” and “Need to learn” fields into the Character Dictionary window. The Character Understanding and Review window will be renamed to Review. This will involve some changes to the interfaces of these two windows. (Might be available in 11.0.1.0.)
  5. Provide for inline display of character and word definitions and pronunciations.
  6. Develop note-taking functionality for Reader text. This may be implemented like footnotes; select the text that you want to annotate, then add a note.
  7. Develop multi-layout functionality. With this feature you'll be able select a layout (a modified interface) for small and large screens. This is intended firstly so that the program can be used on Windows devices with small screen resolutions (e.g. 1024x600).
  8. Improve graphics and overall appearance of the interface. (If you have any specific recommendations, please let me know.)
  9. Enable adding of new words to the word dictionary.
  10. Develop a system of automatic updates.
  11. Develop a new system of review for characters and words.
  12. Enable import and export of Context Links.
  13. Expand the functionality of Context Links to support more encodings. Also, develop Context Links for the Word Dictionary and for extended selections in the Reader.
  14. Implement window-snap.
  15. Display zhuyin and/or pinyin next to or below unknown characters in the Reader.
  16. Develop support for broader range of Chinese fonts.
  17. Develop support for placing images and video in frames.

 

[CT Home]