the text files should be formatted one entry to a line, with entries formatted as:
word /// definition1 / definition 2
with no more than 3 definitions. Note the spaces around the slashes. If the entry is a Japanese word with a furigana reading, then
word {reading} /// definition1 / definition 2
and if you also want to be able to look it up by reading then you'll need to add a second entry formatted as
reading {word} /// definition1 / definition 2
The information below is how to convert a text file to a .dic dictionary; this is from http://zaurus.biojapan.de/zaufaq.html (I copied the instructions rather than just linking to them just in case the original page becomes unavailable--apologies to the authors)
Tools - ̕ϊ
the following options:
]`:
seLXg`
]`F
PDIC `
Load the files with Q, e.g. wadoku.txt for the s ,
and write wadoku.dic for the pdic file to be created.
In the bottom menu choose
ti蕶t)
--------------------
Then move on to ڍ and choose
seLXg`̋:
///
i.e. with a space at the left and the right of the three slashes.
In the left menu
/ pɂ
choose only the first point
/ p肵Ď荞
and at the bottom choose
蕶
/
i.e. a space to the left and the right of the slash.
In the right menu
o͂Ɋւ
choose the first
i[Ȃꍇ݈̂k
and the third point
pk
--------------------------------------------
In the submenu
o^
choose points 1,4 and 5.
OK this menu as well as ڍׁB
--------------------------------------------
OK once more.
Ok once more. (on the menu that pops up--Hyper.... should already be selected, blanking out all the other choices except the box on the bottom, which you shouldn't select)