Add to Dictionary is greyed out on spell checker

[Patti Barden]

Hi,
Strange problem here. I have a long document "Connections" 250p, divided
into sections.
Using W97, Win98. Using Template "A".

While I am working on a new section, e.g. 10, I have started a new document
again using Template "A". When I complete and spell check section 10, I
copy and paste it into the proper section in "Connections". OK?

Now, I went to the main document "Connections" to do a final spell/grammar
check and the "Add to Dictionary" box is greyed out. The other boxes,
"ignore", etc. are ok.

How can I get the spell check to work correctly?
Advice much appreciated.
Patti

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Now, I went to the main document "Connections" to do a final
spell/grammar check and the "Add to Dictionary" box is greyed out.
The other boxes, "ignore", etc. are ok.

I can't add words to my custom dictionary


a.. Your custom dictionary may have been rendered read-only as a
consequence of restoring the file from a read-only source such as a CD-ROM.
Locate the file in Explorer and uncheck the read-only property. See Tools >
Options > Spelling & Grammar > Custom Dictionaries for the path information.


a.. Another possibility is that the custom dictionary is full. See:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;224035
WD2000: Error Message: The Custom Dictionary Is Full. The Word Was Not Added




Mike Williams - Office MVP http://www.mvps.org/faq/

Please respond in the same thread on this newsgroup - not by email!
Include details of your application and Windows versions, plus any
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http://groups.google.com/groups?group=microsoft.public

 

[Patti Barden]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your help. I put a "find" in and found I have 4 Custom
Dictionaries in different files.
On my document when I go to Tools>Options>Spelling/grammar only three
dictionaries are listed. When I am using the spell checker should I be
clicking on a particular dictionary? (I haven't done so in the past.)

I checked the Properties of each one (on the "Find" list) and none were
checked "read only" but I clicked read only anyway, then unclicked it.

The combined KB for the four dictionaries is 18 so they are not full.
I don't know what happened but next time I opened the document, the "ADD" is
not greyed out - thanks so much.

In relation to the above, can you tell me why I have four Custom
Dictionaries? They are not identical in content. Would it not be better to
have them combined?
Patti

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your help. I put a "find" in and found I have 4 Custom
Dictionaries in different files.
On my document when I go to Tools>Options>Spelling/grammar only three
dictionaries are listed. When I am using the spell checker should I be
clicking on a particular dictionary? (I haven't done so in the past.)

Only one custom dictionary is written to at a time, the others are only used
to read from. This configuration may change dynamically if you work in
multiple languages.

In relation to the above, can you tell me why I have four Custom
Dictionaries? They are not identical in content. Would it not be
better to have them combined?

If you have multiple users on your computer you may have found the custom
dictionary files for the other users. If you have your search windows still
open, you may notice that some of them are stored under other user profiles.

 

[Patti Barden]

Hi Mike,
I am the only user on this computer. I work in English US and UK, could that
be why I have four dictionaries? If not, would it not be easier to combine
the dictionaries into one?

Should I click on a particular dictionary when checking a particular
document?
If not, does Word check all four dictionaries when I am spell checking?

Thanks again.
Patti

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

I am the only user on this computer. I work in English US and UK,
could that be why I have four dictionaries? If not, would it not be
easier to combine the dictionaries into one?

Should I click on a particular dictionary when checking a particular
document?
If not, does Word check all four dictionaries when I am spell
checking?

I can't answer any of these because I don't know where your dictionaries are
located or which ones are active.

 

[Patti Barden]

Hi Mike,
Does this help (W97 Win98SE)?
From "Find" Custom.dic: 1. C\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof 3KB,
2. C\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\PROOF 5KB, 3. (I have two
partitions - D\Program Files\microsoft office\Office 6KB, 4. D\Program
Files\microsoft office \Office\Office 3KB.

The three shown checked under Word Tools>options>spelling>dictionaries are
1. D\Program Files\microsoft office\Office, 2. D\Program Files\microsoft
office \Office\Office, and 3. C\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
Shared\PROOF
Patti

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Hi Mike,
Does this help (W97 Win98SE)?
From "Find" Custom.dic: 1. C\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof
3KB,
2. C\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\PROOF 5KB, 3. (I
have two partitions - D\Program Files\microsoft office\Office 6KB, 4.
D\Program Files\microsoft office \Office\Office 3KB.

The three shown checked under Word
Tools>options>spelling>dictionaries are
1. D\Program Files\microsoft office\Office, 2. D\Program
Files\microsoft office \Office\Office, and 3. C\Program Files\Common
Files\Microsoft Shared\PROOF

At first glance, it appears that you have two Windows partitions on C:\ and
D:\ drive, or that Office has been installed twice (different versions
running?), creating two separate \Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft
Shared\Proof folders. Some subsequent customization has occurred but it's
harder to analyze further without being there.

 

[Patti Barden]

Hi Mike,
Yes, I am sure that is the reason for all these dictionaries. I have had
crashes, new drives, etc. over past years. Word was reinstalled at one time
and I even have Word 2000 installed but do not use it.

I realize you cannot advise on this but it is sure difficult to know what to
do now. Thanks for your help anyway.
Patti

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Hi Mike,
Yes, I am sure that is the reason for all these dictionaries. I have
had crashes, new drives, etc. over past years. Word was reinstalled
at one time and I even have Word 2000 installed but do not use it.

I realize you cannot advise on this but it is sure difficult to know
what to do now. Thanks for your help anyway.
Patti

You really need someone competent to sit down with you to
*figure out where your data files are stored and back those up
*figure out which programs are active and where they are installed
*clean out your PC, probably by deleting a lot of redundant files or even
reformatting and reinstalling cleanly.

If the third option is taken, they need to first verify that you have media,
license keys and hardware drivers available to reinstall everything
necessary.

Unfortunately the task is both subtle and tedious, and requires either money
or a saint, or both.

 

[Patti Barden]

Thanks a lot Mike. I'm certainly not a saint, and haven't much money but
will soldier on. When I finish this project I will have a massive cleanout.
Thanks again.
Patti