Building a Dictionary using XML Technology

In this article we describe the workflow implemented to convert a dictionary saved as a PDF file into an XML document and posterior importation into an XML aware database, and the process to edit, add and delete new entries. The conversion process was challenging given the format of the PDF file, and the fine grained detail of the XML schema that was used. For that, an iterative filtering approach was used. To store the dictionary we decided to use an XML aware database (eXist-DB), that stores each dictionary entry as a separate resource. It can be queried used a web interface developed using XQuery. The lexicographers can edit entries using the oXygen XML editor, reading and storing them directly in the database. In order to guarantee incremental backups, it was defined a mechanism to import the XML database into a GIT repository. Finally, a couple of programs were created in order to prepare regular reports on the dictionary revision process, as well as to backup it in a GIT repository.