Rosetta Stone - learn a language on PPC - Page 3

pocketpower · 09-06-09, 07:02 AM

As promised, Instructions (good luck! It's a lot of work!):

[takes ~ 6hrs to mod in one complete language for all lessons, lessons 1 to 19]
(remember, that's 19 Main Lessons; 10, 11 or 12 sub-lessons for each Lesson and 40 cards/phrases for each sub-lesson! That's a lot! Wow!)

(note: the left side "Learn Language" is both text displayed and language spoken.
The right side "Native Language" seems to have no real function, might discover it later.)

Also, when clicking the white cards in the top left, they work, but the downside is that there are no navigation back/forth arrows, and you don't see text.

Create a new language folder in Lessons -> 1.01, for example:
"IT"
You need to do this for each folder of the series 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, etc
TIP: Creat the first folder, copy it, then just paste each time in the successive folders.

Open original Rosetta CD and navigate to desired language folder such as:
ITA01_01

Here you will find 2 items:
IT0101S folder
IT0101.TXT

COPYING TXT FILES:
Used a bulk copy program to find all *.txt files using a mask and looking in the root directory of where the language folders are from the original cd
(i.e. for Italian, copied all the lesson folders to a "Italian" folder. That is where I had the bulk copy program look.
It found only all the txt files. Copied those to a temp folder.
With that temp folder opened on the left side of the screen and the ppc folder opened on the right, went through one by one
and dragged the text file into each corresponding IT folder.
A more powerful bulk copy program could find each successive IT (or other language folder) and copy in order to each IT folder.
But this step listed above at least saves extra clicking into folders.

The .txt contains the words that are displayed while using Rosetta such as "a girl"
You can simply copy this to the appropiate folder of your Rosetta PPC structure such as:
Lessons -> 1.01 -> IT -> IT0101.TXT

You select the language you are learning in the lefthand drop-down menu "Learn Language"
ie. IT-Italian and it displays in the black box (i.e "una bambina")

IMPORTANT!:
From lessons 10 and on, the .txt files need to be renamed, ie:
From cd txt "IT1001.txt" to "IT01.0.TXT" FOR ALL REMAINDING FOLDERS to end, lesson 19. Same filename.

AND!!... for the lessons 10-19, the *.10, *.11, *.12 sub-lessons need the txt to have the *.1 for example "IT01.1.TXT"

Audio files as well, (after conversion of course) ie:
From cd audio "IT100101.SND" to "IT01.001.wav" in numerical order ie...."IT01.140.wav" within the one lesson folder.
Structure of filename is the same for all remaining folders to end, lesson 19.

Use File Renamer Ultra 2000:
Check off Crop-Delete 8 characters starting at position 1 from left
Insert text at start IT01.
check off 'end', enter ? (this places the numbering series at the end vs beginning)
Autonumber: 3 (this keeps numbers with 3 positions, ie 001, 040, etc.) start count at 1
Check, inlcude extension.

AUDIO FILES:

For audio, you will navigate to the audio folder on the CD containing the .swa files such as in:
IT0101S

Because these are of a different format not recognized by the PPC app, you need to convert them.

In this case, the powerful River Past Audio Converter was used. (only takes ~6secs converting each lesson!)

Load up all the .swa's such as IT010101.swa

Set the settings in the River Past window at the bottom of the screen to:
Audio Type: wav
Compressor: PCM
Sample Rate: 8khz
Bits/sample: 8bits
Channel: mono
Bitrate: 64kb/sec

For your first lesson, create a subfolder in PPC RS Root Folder: Lessons -> 1.01 ->
called "IT" in this example. Therefore /root/ -> Lessons -> 1.01 -> IT

In River Past, navigate to this folder for the output directory and then run River Past conversion.

ALSO! See IMPORTANT note above in regards to proper renaming with the audio files as well.

IN CLOSING:

This really is a lot of work! Unless someone is really driven, most people will just skip all of this.

Honestly, I've successfully got the desired language, all 19 lessons, working and am not sure I'll ever get around to the other languages.

Come on Rosetta Stone! Just release a PPC version already and save us a lot of time and effort!

In the next post I will have a link that contains lesson 1.01 in Italian (40 "cards" you can try out for your own). It's just to give you a base of a working foreign language. Sorry that I don't have other preferred languages. That's just the first one I converted.
Enjoy.

:D

pocketpower · 09-06-09, 07:31 AM

Ok, here's the complete first lesson, English and Italian, to try out. Sorry, don't have any other languages done. It's just too much work.
MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

Extract the .rar file to wherever. ;)
There are 11 folders within. They are Lesson 1 in full containing both the default English and the modded-in Italian, as well as the config txt file that has a couple simple mods. Folders 1.01 to 1.11.

Simply paste these folders into your "Lessons" folder and overwrite.

Rename your original config file to back it up.
Paste the modded config file "MiniRSCFG.txt" into your root folder where the original one is. All that has changed in it was simply adding "IT - Italian" line at the top after "EN - English" and also change at the bottom for text displaying in the two windows of the GUI.

If you want to try on the PC, just run the win32 exe that is in the root folder of the rar I uploaded earlier. Or try on your PPC.
Select Italian from the left-hand drop down menu for the Italian text to display and for the voice to be in Italian. Click Next of course to navigate through. Use the top right drop down menu to go to another sub-lesson of Lesson 1.
(Still not quite sure about the right-hand drop down menu.)

That's it. ;)

pocketpower · 09-06-09, 07:38 AM

In the future, if I get around to it, I'll post a video of RS being used on the PPC with a foreign language.

Oh, something else quite nice. I had been using the qvga all along. I just fired up the VGA version and it's nicer.
In the VGA version you have both texts displayed, such as:
"a girl"
"una bambina"

Also, you can click off text of either language and mute the sound altogether.
I guess you can just leave the stock "learn language" / "native language" text display as it is in the config file. Makes more sense that way in the VGA version with both lines displayed.

Still no navigation for the 4-up learning cards though. ?

So, until whenever I return back here. ;)

**hyedipin** · 09-06-09, 04:44 PM

Wow, it is indeed a lot of work. I will have to find my rosette stone CD and try it myself. I wonder if there are any variations between versions/revisions or RS editions. We will have to wait and see.
Thanks again.

pocketpower · 09-07-09, 11:32 PM

Ok, as mentioned in my last post, I've made a video using RS on the ppc. I am re-encoding it now to a smaller size and will post the link soon.
It really is cool!

In the meantime, I've finally figured out the sort of odd arrangement for the two drop down menus.

When running vga exe that has the double line feature (language 1 line 1, language 2 line 2):
The "learn language" is the first line of text displayed (ie Italian) and determines which language is spoken.
The "native language" is the second line of text displayed (ie English) and also determines the language for using the speaker repeat button below that category, labeled with "info" below the icon.

If you want to hear a repeat of the voice for the language you are learning simply click on the photo.

When using the 4-up flash cards, to repeat the voice for the learn language, click the center speaker icon.
To repeat the voice in your native language, click the second speaker icon to the right (the 1st one is for muting).

I just have to say, now after all that work and finally running the app on my ppc from an enjoyment side of things, it really is all well worth it!
I think this is great.

If a person has the CD, has the ppc app I uploaded earlier, some patience and approximately 6 hrs to do the modding of a complete 1-19 lesson set, as well as the strong desire to learn whichever language, then, in the end it really is all worth it.

I wish I could have the time to convert all the languages, but I don't. People reading this will have to do it themselves.
Maybe RS will release a true, full, ppc version. Or even an iphone version. Who knows. I can't wait around though.

Some other notes:
My ppc, x50v running WM6, is pretty clean. I really don't have anything else installed. RS is running real quick and smooth. Not sure how it will do with other stuff installed. But it is indeed a fairly light app.

Also, when I initially ran the vga version, because the native WM6 has the large menu and keyboard bars taking up precious real estate, the app was not displaying properly. Text cut off and buttons moved.

I figured why not give the good 'ol ozvga a try. Did so and all is 100% nice with RS vga!
I'm also in landscape mode.

Running the qvga on a stock WM6/x50v makes no sense I don't think as it's about 1/4 the screen.

Ok, so a little more time and I'll have the video uploaded. :)

**hyedipin** · 09-08-09, 12:54 AM

Thanks for all the work. I just have a question, why does it take 6 hours? What is the most time consuming part? Is it possible for you to list how long each stage takes?
I would like to do Japanese for myself and Spanish for my wife.

pocketpower · 09-08-09, 02:47 AM

Ok, here is a video showing the modded RS being used (vga version) on an x50v PPC running WM6 and ozvga:

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

If running on an Dell Axim X50v (a VGA device), the RS vga exe will run, but some text is cut and buttons off alignment.

It is useable, but not preferable.

To run 100% correct, install and use ozvga kit.
The vga exe works great.

I personally have no use for the qvga version, but for others, it depends on their device of course.

P.S.
Considering that I don't have the time, if someone is up for it, could they download, mirror on a longer-term server and repost links to the megaupload files I provided? It's just that megaupload I believe auto-deletes the files if they have not been downloaded in 30 days or so.
I'm sure they'll be readers here in the more distant future looking to download.

pocketpower · 09-08-09, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by hyedipin

Thanks for all the work. I just have a question, why does it take 6 hours? What is the most time consuming part? Is it possible for you to list how long each stage takes?
I would like to do Japanese for myself and Spanish for my wife.

You're welcome.
I understand people's passion for wanting to venture out and learn another language and also just how much better knowing a language can make their experiences, so I wanted to share.

Let's see, how is the time allotted?

Again, I mention ~6hrs for doing all 19 lessons of a language and that is approximately 190 folders, each folder containing ~40 sound files.

Establishing your new language folders (i.e. "IT") in each lesson folder of 1.01, 1.02, 1.03......19.01, 19.02, etc is not too bad. But it's the navigating through to each folder that takes the time, could take ~30 mins. Just ctrl-v to each folder to paste the new folder.

Then you have to go through the cd and get to each folder and gather the individual .txt files. It'd be great if they were all in one spot, but they are not.
That's why I offered the tip earlier, of using a batch copy app to find all *.txt files, which the ones we need are the only ones present. Copy them to one folder, then go through and copy each one to each ppc folder you made.
That takes some time of navigation and drag/drop. Maybe ~1.5hrs for that whole process. As a real rough estimate.
Unless you can find a better app that will smart find all you new folders and paste in succession the successive .txt files from the cd, but that's tough - would take some smart programming.

Next is the audio conversion. The converting itself is not too bad. As I mentioned each lesson set (i.e. 1.01, 1.02) which contains approximately 40 sound files (either .swa or .snd) takes literally just 6 seconds or so with River Past Audio Converter.
But again, it's the navigating. You have to set the directory each time in River Past to save to the correct folder of your ppc setup. Instead of manual navigation, I just change the number in the link already there.
All that probably takes ~1.5 hrs I"m guessing.

Then there is the special renaming I mentioned earlier. That can be tricky.
I used File Renamer and it helps a lot.
Probably another 1hr or so.

I probably left out some stuff and I'm sure others may find shortcuts, but I'm just saying, the time adds up.

Hope that helps. Good luck! Again, it'll all be worth it in the end.
If you have any questions and it's not too far out (as I'll probably be away from the thread for some time in the near future), just post here or PM me and I'll be glad to answer.

:)

**hyedipin** · 09-08-09, 11:36 AM

I wonder... if you were to copy everything into every folder, or just keep everything in one folder and just renaming the folders with lessons.... hmm

I think that won't work, it's odd. Lessons up to 10 is in regular format of EN0LESSON#0CHAPTER#01.WAV which means they all can be added to every folder without problems (I assume) but lesson 10 and up all use same file name.. EN01.001.WAV

Like you mentioned below, the structure is different.

So I guess up to Lesson 9.11 we can just use a shortcut of copying all waves into all folders, but after that, they need to be modified..

pocketpower · 09-10-09, 12:53 AM

Yes, please, if anyone is up for it and certainly has all the time in the world, try different folder configurations and filenaming. Good luck!

But I think it depends on the app itself and where it looks for folders, sounds, txt.

I think the quicker way would be to decompile the app exe and possible re-edit those locations to a much more logical and easier to setup folder/filename structure.

The txt config file that we can see, has a list of the folders, but I have not tried messing with that list to renaming and such. Still doesn't affect the sound names.

Again, better I believe to decompile the exe.

**hyedipin** · 09-10-09, 12:09 PM

pocketpower, did you try with resourcehacker Resource Hacker ?
If the attributes are in the exe in plain text where it points the software to directories, etc.. it can be edited and saved. Worst case it makes exe unusable, so keep a copy handy. :)

I may have some time this weekend, and I will try to do this.

**hyedipin** · 09-14-09, 12:24 AM

Finally I gave it a try today, and it did not work on my X5. Does it say anywhere that it requires WM5? I thought it should work with 2003.
For some reason it took 4 hours for Vista to transfer the whole 250mb of ENG folder to my 512MB SD card... :( I wonder if there was something wrong with the format..

**hyedipin** · 09-24-09, 12:29 AM

I tried everything, it doesn't work with WM 2003.