PDF Annotation Page Renamed and Revised

The PDF Annotation (Commenting) page has been renamed as the PDF Annotation (Notes & Highlighting) page, to better communicate that highlighting, which is a major part of what many do in the course of their personal study, is included in PDF annotation.

Also, much of the page has been rewritten, and much information has been added. For example, a couple of new paragraphs summarize how because of the popularity of mobile devices like the iPad and because of features like annotation, link navigation, searchability, and downloadability, PDFs and other possible future digital publication files could have a big effect on us, both as individuals and as a worldwide organization. Also, information has been added concerning how to annotate PDF files that have not had commenting enabled on them. Such files include non-LN-A 3-line PDF files and the official pinyin PDF files from jw.org. Some new tools mentioned, in addition to those already mentioned, include PDF-XChange Viewer and Foxit Reader, as well as the upcoming new version of GoodReader for iPad. So, it would probably be well worth your while to take a few minutes to check out the new PDF Annotation (Notes & Highlighting) page.

Related links:

• 3-Line Material on the iPhone and the iPod touch


• Printing Extra Large Print 3-Line Material


• PDF Link Navigation

Referenced Theo. Expressions Updated to 2010-08-19 Version

The Referenced Theo. Expressions files, available for download from the Referenced Theo. Expressions (Chinese + Pinyin + English) and Referenced Theo. Expressions (Chinese + Cantonese Romanisation + English) pages, have been updated. These files are meant to be relatively extensive lists of theo. expressions as they have been found to be rendered in the Chinese publications. Versions sorted by English and versions sorted by romanisation are both available.

The current version is now dated 2010-08-19. It contains 7778 expressions, compared to the 7423 expressions that were in the previous version. A Mandarin Pleco version, a Mandarin Wenlin version, and a Mandarin ChinaScribe data file are available in addition to the PDF files.

Bookmarks have been added to the PDF files, and PDF annotation has been enabled on them, so “LN-A” (“Link Navigation-Annotation”) has been added to their filenames. See the PDF Link Navigation page and the PDF Annotation (Commenting) page for more information.

Note that the current version of Pleco for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad now supports flashcards and user-created dictionaries. So, the RTE Pleco Instructions file now contains instructions for installing the RTE Pleco files in Pleco running on these devices.

Thanks go out to the ones who helped to produce these files.

Can You Help Others to Translate or Proofread Chinese Meeting Parts?

I occasionally get emails asking for help in preparing Chinese talks or other meeting parts. For example, a brother in a Chinese group in the USA recently asked:

“If we write up an English talk can someone help us convert [it] to Mandarin for us?”

The group he is in is likely a small one, and the closest Chinese congregation to his group that I know of is over four hours’ drive away, according to Google Earth, although perhaps that depends on who’s driving :-). I suppose that many others are in a similar situation, that sometimes they need a translator or proofreader to help them to prepare a meeting part, but it may be difficult for them to find one.

I suppose also that everyone’s busy in the Chinese field in general, and since you’re reading this blog, you’re probably still learning Chinese yourself. But consider:

1. Especially if you’ve been at it a little while, there are almost certainly a large number of people in the worldwide Chinese field who are even less far along than you are, who could benefit from your help.
2. As you may have noticed from preparing your own parts, such translation or proofreading can give your Chinese language abilities a good workout, that helps them to grow and be strengthened in the process. I have certainly found that to be so with my own meeting parts, as well as with the 3-line production work I do. So, while helping others in need, you can help yourself as well.

If you feel you may be able to make yourself available occasionally to help someone else translate or proofread a meeting part, please email me to let me know, and I will pass on the contact information you agree to supply to ones like the above-mentioned brother who need such help. (Please be prepared to provide a reference on request who can vouch for your translating or proofreading ability. Technical details about what information formats to send each other while doing the translating or proofreading work will be up to you and whomever you end up helping.)

“My Follower” Bk. 3-Line XLP-iPhone-A5 Size LN-A Files For Ch. 10 Posted

3-line pinyin and Sidney Lau XLP-iPhone-A5 size files with LN-A (LinkNav and annotation (commenting)) for Chapter 10 of the “My Follower” book are now available for download from the “My Follower” Book (3-Line, XLP-iPhone-A5, LN-A) page.

Based on my recent experience with using these files on an iPad, the following sentence has been added to the “My Follower” Book (3-Line, XLP-iPhone-A5, LN-A) page:

When zoomed so that one page fills an entire screen, the material in these files also renders at a good size on the iPad and other devices with similarly sized screens.

The relevant folders at the 3lines.org site contain an HTML file with a link to the “My Follower” Book (3-Line, XLP-iPhone-A5, LN-A) page.

Related links:

• 3-Line Material on the iPhone and the iPod touch


• Printing Extra Large Print 3-Line Material


• PDF Link Navigation


• PDF Annotation (Commenting)

“Blue/green” or “Orange” Poll Clarified

The poll mentioned in this post, and that is currently on the top right of this blog’s home page, was originally purposely worded so that only those who attended this year’s convention would understand it, without giving anything away regarding the convention releases.

However, it appears that perhaps I have been a little too cryptic, so I have reworded the question to be “Of the two similar convention releases, which one is the better fit for most of your Chinese calls?” Hopefully, this will be clear enough for everyone without giving too much away. :-)

Again, please direct others to this post as well, perhaps using the new Share Buttons below. If enough people answer the poll, then it will provide some meaningful input for those who prepare 3-line and pinyin material.

If you have an idea for another question related to learning Chinese for the Chinese field, and you think that it would be good to have a poll for it, please email me about it.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Referenced Theo. Expressions Updated to 2010-07-21 Version

The Referenced Theo. Expressions files, available for download from the Referenced Theo. Expressions (Chinese + Pinyin + English) and Referenced Theo. Expressions (Chinese + Cantonese Romanisation + English) pages, have been updated. These files are meant to be relatively extensive lists of theo. expressions as they have been found to be rendered in the Chinese publications. Versions sorted by English and versions sorted by romanisation are both available.

The current version is now dated 2010-07-21. It contains 7423 expressions, compared to the 7358 expressions that were in the previous version. A Mandarin Pleco version and a Mandarin Wenlin version are available in addition to the PDF files. Also, new with this version, a Mandarin ChinaScribe data file is available as well.

Bookmarks have been added to the PDF files, and PDF annotation has been enabled on them, so “LN-A” (“Link Navigation-Annotation”) has been added to their filenames. See the PDF Link Navigation page and the PDF Annotation (Commenting) page for more information.

Note that the current version of Pleco for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad now supports flashcards and user-created dictionaries. So, the RTE Pleco Instructions file now contains instructions for installing the RTE Pleco files in Pleco running on these devices.

Thanks go out to the ones who helped to produce these files.