LexiGraf was developed to serve the role of a 'smart' Desktop Publishing tool. What differentiates LexiGraf from other DTP tools is that it incorporates relational database management functions and is oriented at multilingual dictionary development. In other words, the users enter their terminology material into LexiGraf databases and from that point on, LexiGraf automatically takes care of dictionary processing chores, page layout, synonym indicators, type facing etc., thus delivering dictionary pages to the end-user, ready for subsequent printing-press reproduction.

The finalised printed dictionary product follows a layout structure based on reference indexes, indeed quite common in multilingual dictionaries published world-wide. In the Greek market, such kinds of dictionaries are commonly referred to as dictionaries with alphanumeric indexing. Any multilingual dictionary can be produced in a two vol ume layout structure through use of computer generated term reference indexes.

Volume I contains term translations in all of the available languages sorted according to English equivalents; volume II contains access reference catalogues for the remaining languages other than English, indicating each respective term's location in the multilingual dictionary. The result of the process is a dictionary with good use of printing space that allows access to and from any of the available languages - all on paper.

Printed bilingual dictionaries can be automatically produced out of the multilingual database material by combining the languages by two - taking into account, if requested, the disciplinary content of the terms (glossary or focused dictionary implementation). Automated pagination is performed accordingly, thus delivering a product which presents a sound marketing asset with no additional effort. The proc ess can lead directly from terminology collection to the printing-press, with significant savings in time, labour and expenditure.

Output configuration

The desired output of the terminology material has been the following:

1. Multilingual dictionary in print (using a reference index technique as described bellow)

2. Bilingual dictionaries in print (full listings - combinations of languages by two) E.g. Engl/Greek + Greek/Engl dictionaries, German/Greek + Greek/German dictionaries, French/Greek + Greek/French dictionaries.

3. Bilingual dictionaries in print (restricted output according to discipline content)

4. Electronic version of the multilingual dictionary

5. Secondary markets - licensing the content to firms involved in machine translation as source for appending their respective knowledge databases.

6. Extension of the available terminology resources into additional European languages and replication of output forms (1)-(5)