Adding features to Vim (external dictionary lookup, some extra graphics)
 

I am have been thinking about writing a Japanese Word Processor that works natively in Linux, modeled roughly after the program JWPce. Instead of writing the program from scratch, optimally I would like to use Vim as a base for the program and merely add the extra features on top as some options.

Having said that, I have NO idea how much one can modify or add to Vim. Most of what I need to do I know how to achieve already through Vim, there are only really two else I know I can do. Here are the trouble spots:

1) Vim used with external dictionaries? In this case, I will be using Edict
2) Vim used to display parts of Japanese words, not whole letters or words. These would be probably have to be displayed from external files or from things internally compiled.

I am pretty certain Vim can be tweaked to search an external dictionary file, though it might require some work. The option to display the odd characters I am thinking is more difficult. This is an example of exactly the type of partial characters I want to display:

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/1...llookup8id.jpg

Can anyone provide me with information or thoughts on how I might try to do this? Namely, I need help learning how to allow Vim to search the external dictionary, and also on how to get those characters to display. Once I have those done, I think I can find ways to make everything else I need to work.

No answer for you, but I get a 403 following the image link.