Supermemo rookie

[mandarina]

I've just started using supermemo 2004 for windows and I am totally confused by its interface. I've read a lots of posts, written by you guys, saying that this program is a must have for any serious flashcard learner, so I am not totally ready to give up. I was wondering if it's possible that someone sends me some example flashcards or give me some basic advice. I did read supermemo tutorial, but still don't know exactly what to do with this program.

What I would like to do is create chinese flashcards with pinyin and explanation on one side and hanzi on the other. Also, is it possible to change answer to question and vica-a-versa? Any good suggestions would be more than welcomed.

Thanks,

[gato]

Maybe you should try jMemorize, a free flashcard program and pretty easy to use.

See here:

http://www.chinese-forums.com/showthread.php?p=115071#post115071

[mandarina]

Thanks gato, I've already downloaded the program you recommended and will probably try it sometimes soon. Until now, I've managed to get the hand of supermemo basic operations, but the thing that I would really like to know now is how to import zdt files into supermemo. I've already exported zdt files in xml format, but when I import them to supermemo (by using internet explorer), some very unrecognizable pattern comes out. Help?

[ZLearner]

Hi there,

I tried Supermemo until I want to scream. Its very, very difficult to figure out because the terms in the instructions are very technical.

I asked a site for help with the most basic instructions i can't figure out which is how to batch import text questions, but have no reply.

This site below suggested a better, friendly to use software, its called MNEMOSYNE. Plus its free. I love it.

The way to set out your text files save as UTF-8 in word or notepad.

The format is (you can leave out the Q and A.

Q: How do say 'you' in Mandarin?

A: Ni

Then to import the whole file which will automatically spread it out as question and answers in MNEMOSYNE is

click FILE > IMPORT > QnA text >

Its really much easier to use, you can import images and text questions in batch, it accepts all languages, even chinese characters.

It uses the same algorithm of testing you more on what you haven't quite learnt - just like Supermemo and skipping the easy stuff you know well.

Only thing, i don't think MNEMOSYNE has incremental reading.

However what was helpful was that the help page for supermemo titled how to use Supermemo WITHOUT COMPUTER.

That is using paper to test yourself and use the pacing of testing days table.

While writing out my questions in pinyin and the characters I am learning as I go.

I'm aiming at remembering 100 commonly used characters a day, finally this is the first technique that's ever worked for me to remember anything Chinese.

Someone tried 300 characters a day.

On the "alljapanese" site the author reccommends learning up to 15,000 Sentences to really grasp your new second language.

http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/category/tools/

Look to the right column for MNMEOSYNE. (or google)

All the best

[mandarina]

Hey,

thank you very much for all the useful information.

I'll make sure to check everything out.

[gato]

I've used both. jMemorize has more features and is easier to use than Mnemosyne.

[mandarina]

Gato,

Is it possible to import zdt files to jimemorize?

If so, how do you do that?

[mandarina]

One more question.

You say that in your opinion Jmemorize is better than Mnemosyne.

Why is that?

Like I said, I am a rookie and I little a little guidance.

Thanks,

[gato]

I haven't used ZDT much, but I know that you can export vocab list in PlecoDict format.

PlecoDict format is very similar to jMemorize's import format, except that in PlecoDict, tabs separate the columns instead of commas. See below.

http://wiki.jmemorize.org/CSV

jMemorize allows you to import and export CSV (character separated values) files.

The CSV file has to have a header which specifies the columns. The valid columns are:

Frontside, Flipside, [Category (optional)] [note that only the Frontside and Flipside are mandatory]

------------------------------------------

germany, berlin, capital

germany, german, language

france, paris, capital

What you can do is open the PlecoDict-formatted list in a text editor and replace the tabs with commas.

Or if you are familiar with Microsoft Excel, you can open the file with Excel, make your edits, and save as a character separate value (CSV) format file.

There may be other ways of doing this. Ask Bogleg. He is the developer of ZDT and regulars posts here.

[gato]

You say that in your opinion Jmemorize is better than Mnemosyne.

Why is that?

I wrote earlier:

jMemorize has more features and is easier to use than Mnemosyne.

[bogleg]

It should be easy enough to write a ZDT plugin to export to the JMemorize format. Let me go play around with it and see what I can do.

Chris

[mandarina]

Really?

That would be great!

Thank you.