The CollaLex Dashboard allows the project members to work, much as they would with desktop dictionary software, on the creation and editing of their dictionary. It is the central feature of the CollaLex platform.

Basically, it's where the work is done.

The CollaLex Dashboard is all the software a project needs to create, edit, and finalize their dictionary. It can be used by a single linguist, as is the case for many dictionary projects, but it can also be used — and this is the beauty of it — by any number of contributors who have login access to the Dashboard. (This login access can be tiered according to how much “editing ability” each contributor should have.)

Instead of the data for the dictionary being stored on various computers, it is stored and edited, through CollaLex Dashboard, on a central server.

The dictionary can then be exported for use on another medium or platform, such as a PDF, to Webonary, to SIL's Fieldworks, or even to printed worksheets for manual editing.

CollaLex Live integrates the lexicon in its current form into a page on the project’s own website. It basically is the published dictionary, albeit not yet necessarily finished, or the dictionary in a formatted form.

This means that the public can view the dictionary as it is being edited. Integration in the LDP’s own website allows for the dictionary’s “raw data” to be publicly viewable during the entire process. There are many advantages to publicly displaying the raw data in this manner:

• The public can make suggestions or comments, helping the LDP to identify errors or fill in empty fields.
• The public can observe the process along the way, instead of having to wait patiently for the dictionary to be finished and published.
• Funding sources can see the progress being made.

To avoid the public thinking that any particular dictionary entry is correct, when it may not yet be, there is always a status indicator that shows whether an entry is finalized or not.

It is important to note that the entries displayed on CollaLex Live are not separate entries from the database of words being edited in CollaLex Dashboard. It is the same database, the same entries at the same stage of development.

This is because CollaLex Live pulls from the same database of word entries being compiled and edited on CollaLex Dashboard. So, every time a user makes an edit in CollaLex Dashboard, it immediately shows up on the project's website.

Content coming soon.

Any linguist out there who has ever worked hard to create a dictionary knows that there are significant drawbacks to desktop software.

Have you been frustrated because you couldn't install your software on your Mac?
Are you constantly dealing with sync conflict issues?
Does one user have to wait for another user to sync before they can continue?
Are you limited to the number of expensive computers you already have?
Have you been unable to update your software because of compatibility issues?
Are the computers you have outdated or not powerful enough to keep up?
Does your software  slow down as your lexicon grows?
Have you ever lost valuable data because your computer crashed or was damaged?
Is your current software just a little too complicated for your language experts?
Have you longed for the ability to enter your words in bulk?

CollaLex SaaS solves ALL of those issues by being browser-based!
If you are using software installed on your desktop, consider that...

... you can use CollaLex SaaS on any operating system - Windows, Mac, Linux, your choice!
... because CollaLex SaaS works in real-time, there are never any sync conflict issues, and any edits made by one user are immediately available for viewing / editing by another - even on the other side of the world (because all users are automatically connected)!
... users can access CollaLex SaaS from any computer with an internet connection - at home, in an internet cafÈ, at a friend's house, at the office, and even on a mobile phone!
... you never have to download or install updates, because all updates are automatic! (Actually, you don't ever have to install anything whatsoever!)
... the speed of the software is unaffected by the size of the lexicon!
... CollaLex SaaS has an interface that is easy to use by any user with a basic knowledge of computers!
... because all edits are made directly on the CollaLex SaaS server, your data is safe from computer crashes or damage!
... it's easy to enter words in bulk on CollaLex SaaS!

Surely by now you're convinced. Why wait any longer?

Get started today!

Content coming soon.

There is currently no charge to use the CollaLex SaaS, because we are constantly improving with the addition of new projects.

However, as our number of projects grows, it will probably become necessary to request a small administrative fee from each project. The purpose of this fee will be to help cover expenses due primarily to server storage. But this fee will be very small.

Why? Because it is our goal to help languages get documented and described, not to make money. Honestly, we know (from experience!) that doctoral students and smaller communities usually don't have significant resources. We're here to help.

We hope to avoid this altogether with outside support. We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

However, please note that, if your project has or desires a website, those expenses belong to the project. Although we have the feature CollaLex Live that can integrate your dictionary into your website, the websites themselves are not part of what we do. But, we can advise you on how you can best go about developing a website for your project and integrating your dictionary seamlessly into it.

We are currently in Stage 1 of the development process, which is being funded by a grant from the Foundation for Endangered Languages. Here are the details of what we will accomplish in each stage.

Stage 1: the “Functionality” stage

Upon completion of this stage, the software will have all of its basic functionality, meaning that projects will be able to begin using it to compile and edit their dictionaries. The key features of Stage 1 are:

• Software designed according to best practices and in such a way as to lay the groundwork for functionality through Stage 3.
• Correctly-designed and efficient database structures
• Optimized and correctly documented coding
• User Management and Role-based Access
• Duplicate checks for entries
• a Change Log as entries are entered and edited
• Site Security (protection against malicious activity online)

Stage 2: the “Where we want to get” stage

Upon completion of this stage, the software will have enough functionality to accomodate most language projects. The key features of Stage 2 are:

• Search Engine Optimization
• A complete Manual for use of the software
• Version documentation on Github
• Multi-project capacity
• a "Voting" System for approval of entries
• a Task List for users
• Bulk Entry (from a CSV file)
• Bulk Entry (forms for entering wordlists, such as Swadesh, or forms such as a Rapid Word Collection questionnaire)
• Dynamic Ordering (drag and drop headwords and senses to order them)
• automatic Resizing of images to optimal sizes
• Sharing on social media of individual entries

We also look forward to the software being ìput to useî on the field, so that we can benefit from suggestions and comments on how to improve along the way.

Stage 3: the “Bells and Whistles” stage

Upon completion of this stage, the software will have the extra features that we foresee most projects will desire. The key features of Stage 3 are:

• Public commenting on dictionary entries
• Bulk Entry (with Excel spreadsheet)
• Exporting to common file formats (such as LIFT)
• MOD_REWRITE for easier URL's
• Submission of suggestions through Facebook Messenger or SMS
• Automatic quality checks on submitted suggestions
• Translation of software into multiple languages
• Bulk Editing

Funding

The strategy for funding relies on the successful completion of each stage. Having Stage 1 completed, with the help of the Foundation for Endangered Languages, will assist us in obtaining a grant to complete Stage 2, and then Stage 3, and then constant improvement from that point forward. If you are interested in assisting us in paying for the development, please contact us!

It was for the Bantayanon Language Documentation Project in the Philippines, followed quickly by the Kaqchikel Online Dictionary Project in Guatemala, that we began developing this software.

Since then, Aklan State University in the Philippines has signed on to use CollaLex to update the 1969 dictionary of the Aklanon language.

Our latest addition is the Zhichag Tibetan lexicon project, which aims to create a central database of words that are common, frequent, and useful for everyday speakers of the Tibetan diaspora. This collalex resource will be implemented as a live, searchable learnerís dictionary, where users can find images, audio, and simple level-appropriate definitions of vocabulary. The data will also be linked to interactive web content in the form of textbooks, dialogs, stories, and games for practicing Tibetan language skills."

Our software works worldwide, however! So get in touch with us and see what we can do for your project as well.