In 1993, I began the more ambitious project of transferring the information into computer files.  I began scanning the pages of the dictionary into TIFF files and using OCR software to create text.  However, the problem of making sure that every character was correct required that I compare the OCR output, character-by-character, with the original.  I had to have 100% accuracy or the result wouldn't be credible.  The project proved to be impossible.  I suspended it indefinitely.

In 2007, I acquired the Adobe Acrobat software and became able to make PDF files.  After that, I resumed work on the project.  Instead of scanning the pages of the dictionary into TIFF files, I scanned them into PDF files.  By using the PDF files, I eliminated the problem of OCR errors and assured that the results would be accurate.  However, there are two disadvantages to the PDF files.  One is that the files are not searchable.  However, the definitions are in alphabetical order so it shouldn't be too much trouble to find the definition of a particular word.  After all, that's the way that a paper dictionary works.  The other disadvantage, which is more serious and to which I don't have an answer, is that information can't be copied directly from the files as text, like you can do with HTML files.  You have to read it and type it or maybe copy it as an image and use OCR software.  I don't know of any way to remedy that.

I began to build this website on Saturday, April 28, 2007.  However, I ran short of disk space on my office computers and, consequently, on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, I postponed further work on the project.  On Thursday, April 3, 2008, after acquiring some additional hardware, I resumed work on the project.  I located a free web hosting service and began to upload the website, bit-by-bit, as I scanned the sections for each letter of the alphabet.  I uploaded the last files on Monday, May 19, 2008.

On or about Tuesday, July 1, 2008, the free web hosting service that I'd been using (Synced Hosting) vanished without warning and without a trace.  I spent almost a week finding a replacement free web hosting service and getting it to work.  On Monday, July 7, 2008, the website was up-and-running again, at its new home.

On Sunday, July 27, 2008, I added the file of miscellaneous definitions.  Many of the definitions are from dictionaries other than Bouvier's Law Dictionary.  However, it's a useful collection of definitions so I decided to included it anyway.

During the last few months of 2008, the free web hosting service began to take some of its sections out of service.  On Thursday, December 25, 2008, I began the effort to move the website from the section that was being taken out of service, to the new section.  That, of course, required a change of address for the website.  Sadly, they had neglected to provide sufficient space for such a large website.  As a result, it wasn't until Monday, December 29, 2008, that I finally got the entire website successfully uploaded to the new location.  I converted to previous website, at the previous address, into a forwarding page and left it there for as long as the hosting service maintained that section of its addresses.  I don't have the remotest idea when it finally vanished.

On Friday, July 3, 2009, I added one other little dictionary to this website.  It's called Milam's Dictionary of Distinctions, Differences, and Other Odds and Ends.  I make additions to it occasionally.

You can contact me at lone-penman@bouvier-law-dictionary.ismywebsite.com.

I'm permanently unemployed.  Contributions are welcome.  I prefer cash.  For checks, money orders, or PayPal payments please inquire.