OPTION MIME Support

[Michahel]

The DICT-server can give MIME content, i.e. give arbitrary content without restrictions with reference to their type. If the DICT-client is able to get MIME content working, it shall send the OPTION MIME command to the DICT-server. In this case, the DICT-client goes to processing task of the content. DICT-server in turn can give Plain Text or MIME content depending on whether if the client gave the OPTION MIME command to him. See A Dictionary Server Protocol. So, DICT-dictionary can consist of two modules: one with PlainText content, and other with a MIME content. The AnDICT doesn't support the OPTION MIME, in this way all dictionaries can be only with Plain Text content. I express my desire about working out such a support. For testing MIME header I can suggest DICT-server: dict.bibleonline.ru; dictionaries:

• heb-rus_strong
• ell-rus_strong
• heb-eng_strong
• ell-eng_strong

These dictionaries have the following MIME header:

Content-type: text/html; charset=utf-8
Content-transfer-encoding: 8bit

In answer to the OPTION MIME command DICT-server may give arbitrary content without limit by indicating its type. DICT-client may not expect such content which will be given to him. The task is included so that AnDICT would give an error message in such a case if it receives such a MIME header which it is not yet able to support. Sample message text: "The dictionary entry contains a MIME header that is unsupported in the AnDICT." Further, as a need appears a list of supported MIME headers can be expanded for the user.

[Michahel]

I want to further note that the protocol looks simple, the client should send

OPTION MIME

And the server replies with

250 ok - using MIME headers

Subsequent responses to DEFINE commands include the content-type/content-encoding headers. Try heb-rus_strong, grk-rus_strong, heb-eng_strong, grk-eng_strong on dict.bible.ru which has MIME content that you can use for testing. You can just search for the occurrences of a Strong's number. Type in the number 5485, the number for the Greek word charis, "grace.” If you want to locate a Hebrew word, simply add a 0 before the number, as in 02580, the number for the Hebrew chen, "grace".

... Michael