Access
- Access & Compatibility
- Cost
- Internet
- Skills Required
Flexibility
- Script Support
- Language Support
- Customizability
- Multi-User Support
Data & Compatibility
- Software Compatibility
- Import
- Export
Access
1. Access & Compatibility
FLEx is compatible with Windows and Linux. It is available in both 64- and 32-bit formats. FLEx cannot be used on macOS. The 64-bit format offers a smoother download process and has a lower likelihood of encountering bugs during use.
The software can be downloaded here. This page also details how to download the software, including demo videos.
FLEx files are compatible with other SIL software such as Language Forge, WeSay, Toolbox, Lexique Pro, Dictionary App Builder (DAB), and Pathway.
2. Cost
This software is free and open-source. However, SIL International encourages donations.
Details of the GNU license that FLEx operates under can be found here.
3. Internet
Internet access is required to download the software. While edits can be made offline, some sharing and collaboration options require internet access.
Offline backups of data can be stored on an external USB drive, network drive, or in Language Depot. A dictionary made in FLEx can be printed directly from FLEx or moved to another software such as Pathway or Dictionary App Builder (DAB) in order to be published as a website or app.
4. Skills Required
This tool requires an intermediate computer skills as certain functions of the software can be fairly complex.
Additionally, background knowledge in linguistics and lexicography is required to make full use of the software due to the complexity of the terminology that is used and the sophistication of the analytical functions available. Notwithstanding this complexity, there are many helpful tutorials for FLEx which help to make the tool more accessible. Some of these resources are discussed on the Reviews & Guides page.
Flexibility
5. Script Support
This software fully supports Unicode, Windows Uniscribe rendering, Graphite renderings of complex scripts, and both left-to-right and right-to-left scripts.
Graphite renderings cannot be used for small bodies of text, such as headers.
6. Language Support
FLEx does not have built-in support for multilingual or comparative dictionaries. Some users have noted that multiple translation languages can be accommodated by adding entries in one translation language as if they are simply in a different script from the main entry. FLEx supports language reversal to create bilingual dictionaries, but does not have extensive bilingual capabilities.
There are multiple interface languages available. The extent to which each offered language replaces English (i.e., only navigation is translated) can be found on this list.
There are full training materials available in Spanish and French.
7. Customizability
In the Lexicon tool, users can customize which columns are displayed in the dictionary (i.e., headword gloss), select which writing systems they would like to display, create semantic domains, and add videos, pictures, and audio to entries.
Within the Texts section, users can opt to transcribe entries, gloss morphemes, and analyze text for interlinear presentation. There are few customization options for the other analytical tools.
Users can choose which parts of the data they would like to export for print or to other software for formatting.
8. Multi-User Support
FLEx is designed with built in multi-user support. The Send/Receive Project facility can be used to transmit and merge data with others who are working with the same language project in FLEx on separate computers.
Users can share data from FLEx using a USB flash drive, the internet, or a local network drive using Chorus Hub.
FLEx’s companion tool, Language Forge, is designed as a collaborative tool which can be accessed by multiple users simultaneously with near real-time collaboration feedback.
Data & Compatibility
9. Software Compatibility
FLEx is integrated with the SIL suite (including Toolbox, Lexique Pro, Pathway, and DAB) and Microsoft Word. The SIL softwares Language Forge and WeSay were created to feed independent community language work into FLEx.
A list of companion tools offering functions that FLEx is missing can be found here.
10. Import
Standard format (SFM) dictionaries can be imported into FLEx. More information on SFM database import can be found here.
11. Export
Data from FLEx can be exported in XML or DB file formats.
Files from FLEx exported in XML format can be opened in Microsoft Word, and maintain the formatting established in FLEx. Style edits can then be made in Microsoft Word and printed for distribution.
Data from FLEx can also be imported to Pathway or DAB in order to share the final product virtually, or to Lexique Pro for further formatting before publishing.