---
name: "update-ipolish-hash"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "ipolish"
version: "20060618-2"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/update-ipolish-hash/8"
---

# update-ipolish-hash(8)

Build ispell hashed dictionary file from sub-dictionaries.

## NAME

update-ipolish-hash - Build ispell hashed dictionary file from sub-dictionaries.

## SYNOPSIS

**update-ipolish-hash** \[ **-h, --help** \] \[ **-a, --all** \] \[ **-d, --default** \] \[ **-f, --file** *file* \] \[ **-x, --affix** *file* \] \[ **-l, --list** *file* \] \[ **dictionary** \]

## DESCRIPTION

This program builds hashed dictionary file from sub-dictionaries for later  use by ispell. The user can choose which sub-dictionaries will be used for new ispell dictionary.

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  Print a short explanation of syntax to standard output.

- **-a, --all**

  Disables an interactive mode and builds a hash file from all sub-dictionaries.

- **-d, --default**

  Disables an interactive mode and builds a hash file from default sub-dictionaries. This dictionaries are listed in  */var/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.list* file or have "Default: yes" field in description file.

- **-f, --file** *file*

  Specify an alternative hash  *file*. The default is  */var/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.hash* file.

- **-x, --affix** *file*

  Specify an alternative affix *file*. The default is  */usr/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.aff* file.

- **-l, --list** *file*

  Specify a  *file* file with previously chosen dictionaries. The default is  */var/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.list* file.

- **dictionary**

  Specify a dictionary to build.

## SOURCE FORMAT

Source dictionaries are located at */usr/share/ispell/***dictionary***/* directory and can be compressed by  [**gzip**(1)](/gzip/1.md), [**bzip2**(1)](/bzip2/1.md) and eventually  [**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md).

Dictionaries are the lists of words in  [**ispell**(1)](/ispell/1.md) dictionary format (roots plus flags).

## DECRIPTION FORMAT

The set of dictionaries is described in */usr/share/ispell/***dictionary***.desc* file. This file contains a number of fields. Each field begins with a tag, followed by colon, and  the body of field. Fields are delimited only by field tags and are formed from a series of paragraphs, separated by blank lines.

First paragraph is a source paragraph and can contains  following fields:

- **Source:** *dictionary-package-name*

  This is a name of dictionary package, the same as **dictionary** argument in options.

- **Affix:** *affix-file-name*

  The name of affix flags file. Default directory for this file is */usr/lib/ispell*.

- **Hash:** *affix-file-name*

  The name of hashed dictionary file. Default directory for this file is */usr/lib/ispell*.

  Next paragraphs describe dictionary files:

- **Dictionary:** *sub-dictionary-file*

  The file name of sub-dictionary. This file will be merged to build ispell dictionary. Default directory is */usr/share/ispell/***dictionary***/.*

- **Default:** *yes*

  If the  */val/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.list* file is not exists and this field contains "yes" string,  this sub-dictionary will be default option.

- **Description:** *description*

  The first line of this field is a title of sub-dictionary. Other lines will appear if the user choice "I" option on interactive session.

## LIST FORMAT

If the user choose dictionaries to build, these dictionaries are listed in  */val/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.list* file. This file will be used with **--default** option and these directiories will be built as default.

This file contains a list of chosen dictonaries, each definition takes a single line. The file names are the same as in **Dictionary:**  field.

## EXAMPLES

Example of  */usr/share/ispell/***dictionary***.desc* file:

```
       Source: english
       Affix: english.aff
       Hash: english.hash
       Dictionary: common
       Default: yes
       Description: Common words
        This is a basic dictionary
       Dictionary: rare
       Description: Unusable and rare words
        This dictionary contains words which are used
        only sometimes.
        .
        You can include this dictionary but it isn't necessary.
       Dictionary: technical/computers
       Description: Technical - Computer technology
       Dictionary: technical/medical
       Description: Technical - Medical technology
```

Preferred usage in installation or upgrading script:

```
       update-ipolish-hash -d dictionary
```

## FILES

- */usr/share/ispell/***dictionary***.desc*

  Description for dictionary set.

- */usr/share/ispell/***dictionary***/\**

  Dictionary source files used in build process.

- */var/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.list*

  List of chosen dictionaries. This file can be used by  **--default** option.

- */var/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.hash*

  Hashed dictionary file built from chosen sub-dictionary files.

- */usr/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.hash*

  This should be a symlink to  */var/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.hash* file.

- */usr/lib/ispell/***dictionary***.aff*

  Affix file used to build hash.

## SEE ALSO

[**ispell**(1)](/ispell/1.md), [**buildhash**(1)](/buildhash/1.md), [**update-ispell-dictionary**(8)](/update-ispell-dictionary/8.md).

## AUTHOR

(c) 1999 Piotr Roszatycki \<dexter@debian.org\>.

It is free software; see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or later for copying conditions.