AutoCorrect

[ronben]

Version: 2004 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) Processor: Intel I have entered over 200 technical terms in the AutoCorrect 'file' and would like to download the list of these terms (not the regular English words) as a backup and so I can edit the list (if needed). And, then I would like to upload the edited list back into the Word AutoCorrect feature. How do I do this?

Thanks,

 

[CyberTaz]

Just to be on the safe side, do you actually mean AutoCorrect or are you
referring to a Custom Dictionary... There's a *big* difference

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[ronben]

I did mean AutoCorrect with as-you-type corrections. An abbreviated string is typed and it is replaced by a longer string of text.

 

[CyberTaz]

I was afraid that's what your reply would say... Unfortunately that data is
not usably accessible anywhere but in the AutoCorrect dialog. Supposedly the
AutoCorrect Entries are stored here:

~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office 2008/Microsoft Office ACL [English]

But I honestly believe there are other spots where some get stuck & we've
never been able to get a straight answer. I know that there are a number of
entries I have which I cannot find in that file.

Even though it can be opened in TextEdit it is a futile effort to try to
make heads or tails of it, let alone extract anything in a meaningful
fashion. Attempting to effectively add anything directly is literally
impossible... And one typo is liable to corrupt the entire Library. Neither
am I sure that the process of saving any changes wouldn't cause a conversion
to an unusable text file.

At best, I'd suggest that you be satisfied with making sure that you keep
your back-ups current so you can restore if the need ever arises.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Diane Ross]

I was afraid that's what your reply would say... Unfortunately that data is
not usably accessible anywhere but in the AutoCorrect dialog.

I suggest you look at some of the third party option like Typinator and
TextExpander. They come with lists you can download.

<http://www.macility.com/products/typinator/>

<http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/>

 

[CyberTaz]

Good idea Diane -- I never think of that because I don't use any of them :-}

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Diane Ross]

Good idea Diane -- I never think of that because I don't use any of them :-}

I use them all the time to answer questions on the newsgroup. I have
shortcuts to hundreds of FAQs and terms. I can't type without them working.

 

[ronben]

I was afraid that's what your reply would say... Unfortunately that data is

> not usably accessible anywhere but in the AutoCorrect dialog. Supposedly the
> AutoCorrect Entries are stored here:
>
> ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office 2008/Microsoft Office ACL [English]
>
> But I honestly believe there are other spots where some get stuck &amp; we've
> never been able to get a straight answer. I know that there are a number of
> entries I have which I cannot find in that file.
>
> Even though it can be opened in TextEdit it is a futile effort to try to
> make heads or tails of it, let alone extract anything in a meaningful
> fashion. Attempting to effectively add anything directly is literally
> impossible... And one typo is liable to corrupt the entire Library. Neither
> am I sure that the process of saving any changes wouldn't cause a conversion
> to an unusable text file.
>
> At best, I'd suggest that you be satisfied with making sure that you keep
> your back-ups current so you can restore if the need ever arises.
>
> Regards |:>)
> Bob Jones
> [MVP] Office:Mac
>
>
>
> On 12/11/09 5:43 PM, in article (e-mail address removed)2ac0,
> &quot;[email protected]&quot; wrote:
>

> > I did mean AutoCorrect with as-you-type corrections. An abbreviated string is
> > typed and it is replaced by a longer string of text.

>
>

Thanks Bob and Diane - the other functionality I am looking for, related to this issue is: I need to go into any one of several offices using computers (whether Windows or Mac) that others also use at other times, and then use Word with my own personal 'replace' - 'with' list of terms. That is, I am looking for a way to upload my prsonal list. Seems like this would be a common need but somehow MS never got around to providing a 'replace' - 'with' engine that can be captured as a separate file (actually, it is not so much the engine as an export-import utility that is needed).

I will look into Typinator and TextExpander. I assume that these are seamless add-ons to Word and not separate Word processors and that they have the capability of a customizable list of terms.

 

[ronben]

I was afraid that's what your reply would say... Unfortunately that data is

> not usably accessible anywhere but in the AutoCorrect dialog. Supposedly the
> AutoCorrect Entries are stored here:
>
> ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office 2008/Microsoft Office ACL [English]
>
> But I honestly believe there are other spots where some get stuck &amp; we've
> never been able to get a straight answer. I know that there are a number of
> entries I have which I cannot find in that file.
>
> Even though it can be opened in TextEdit it is a futile effort to try to
> make heads or tails of it, let alone extract anything in a meaningful
> fashion. Attempting to effectively add anything directly is literally
> impossible... And one typo is liable to corrupt the entire Library. Neither
> am I sure that the process of saving any changes wouldn't cause a conversion
> to an unusable text file.
>
> At best, I'd suggest that you be satisfied with making sure that you keep
> your back-ups current so you can restore if the need ever arises.
>
> Regards |:>)
> Bob Jones
> [MVP] Office:Mac
>
>
>
> On 12/11/09 5:43 PM, in article (e-mail address removed)2ac0,
> &quot;[email protected]&quot; wrote:
>

> > I did mean AutoCorrect with as-you-type corrections. An abbreviated string is
> > typed and it is replaced by a longer string of text.

>
>

The ACL (English) file opened as plain text in TextWrangler and is unusable as is since it includes all the other built-in words that I don't need. Also, there are no line breaks. I am only interested in my personal list of technical terms which I have prefixed in a way that aggregates all of them together. I may have to write a BASIC or VBA program to extract these terms into a comma delimited file, and then go from there. More of a hassle then I wanted to get into.

ronben

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello Again;

<snip>

Thanks Bob and Diane - the other functionality I am looking for, related to
this issue is: I need to go into any one of several offices using computers
(whether Windows or Mac) that others also use at other times, and then use
Word with my own personal 'replace' - 'with' list of terms. That is, I am
looking for a way to upload my prsonal list. Seems like this would be a
common need but somehow MS never got around to providing a 'replace' - 'with'
engine that can be captured as a separate file (actually, it is not so much
the engine as an export-import utility that is needed).

I will look into Typinator and TextExpander. I assume that these are seamless
add-ons to Word and not separate Word processors and that they have the
capability of a customizable list of terms.

<snip>

I'm afraid you have your work cut out for you Especially if you're
looking for that type of mixed-environment portability. Even if the apps
Diane suggested will satisfy your first objective one question that remains
is "Is there a Windows version?", followed by "Are you going to be permitted
to install it on those other systems?". Your needs as I understand them are
rather unique, so I seriously doubt you will find any sort of packaged
solution... Except, of course, carrying your own laptop from site to site.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Jim Gordon Mac MVP]

Version: 2004 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) Processor: Intel I
have entered over 200 technical terms in the AutoCorrect 'file' and
would like to download the list of these terms (not the regular English
words) as a backup and so I can edit the list (if needed). And, then I
would like to upload the edited list back into the Word AutoCorrect
feature. How do I do this?

Thanks,

Hi,

Save a blank document as a template (.dot) format (Let's call it
backup.dot in this examploe). Then use the Organizer feature to copy the
current AutoText entries from your Normal template to backup.dot.

There are several different ways to turn on Organizer. One way:
Format > Style then click the Organizer button.

After you copy your AutoText entires to backup.dot you can edit your
AutoText entries. To turn on the editor use Tools > AutoCorrect. Then
click the AutoText tab. Switch the "Look in" pop-up to backup.dot and
then make your edits.

When done, click OK.
Save backup.dot.

You can then use Organizer to copy the edited AutoText entries back to
Normal.dot or any other template.

-Jim

 

[ronben]

Thanks. What I am actually trying to backup are the 'Replace' and 'With' AutoCorrect entries. I do not see a way to do this in the Organizer window but I may not be looking in the right place.

Ron

 

[ronben]

I should have added in my reply that all my Replace-With entries are simple phrases. No long paragraphs or graphics. For example:

Replace: .lab

With: laboratory test showed

 

[John McGhie]

There is a Microsoft-written macro for Word 97 that exports and imports
AutoCorrect entries.

The Microsoft one was faulty. Dave Rado fixed it. You can get it here:
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ExportAutocorrect.htm

This might run in Word 2004: but it will NOT run in Word 2008.

Try it and see if it does anything useful for you.

Cheers

I should have added in my reply that all my Replace-With entries are simple
phrases. No long paragraphs or graphics. For example:

Replace: .lab

With: laboratory test showed

--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[Diane Ross]

I will look into Typinator and TextExpander. I assume that these are seamless
add-ons to Word and not separate Word processors and that they have the
capability of a customizable list of terms.

No, these are not add-ons to Word, They work with any application. I'm not
sure if any of these are available for Windows.

I'm not sure if this would work in multiple locations, but you can try using
a symlink for the Microsoft file to DropBox. DropBox is free for up to 2GB
and is a great way to share files. I keep my 1Password data on DropBox so I
can share it on multiple computers.

See this page for links to videos on how to use.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/dropbox.html>

 

[Diane Ross]

Replace: .lab

With: laboratory test showed

Insert text automatically into a message (Part One)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2007/07/insert_text_automatically_into.html>

By using a third party application, your short hands will available in all
applications.

 

[ronben]

There is a Microsoft-written macro for Word 97 that exports and imports

> AutoCorrect entries.
>
> The Microsoft one was faulty. Dave Rado fixed it. You can get it here:
> http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ExportAutocorrect.htm
>
> This might run in Word 2004: but it will NOT run in Word 2008.
>
> Try it and see if it does anything useful for you.
>
> Cheers
>
> On 13/12/09 10:26 AM, in article (e-mail address removed)2ac0,
> &quot;[email protected]&quot; wrote:
>

> > I should have added in my reply that all my Replace-With entries are simple
> > phrases. No long paragraphs or graphics. For example:
> >
> > Replace: .lab
> >
> > With: laboratory test showed

>
> --
>
> The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
> matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!
>
> John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
> McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
> Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
> +61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]
>

Will the Dave Rado AutoCorrect.zip run on a Mac? It seems to have been written for Windows:Word. I followed the link in John McGhie's note and it took me to the Dave Rado modification of a MS utility in Macros9.dot. Does this .dot file come with Word:Mac (2004)? Where can I actually read the VBA for his macro? Has anyone tried his approach?

Thanks to John, Diane, and others who are keeping this thread going. I wonder if Microsoft has thought about making a backup of autocorrect entries more straight-forward,
Benron

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Benron:

You need to try this for yourself. I don't have time right now.

I have used this approach: the macro works fine in PC Word, whether it works
on current versions of Mac Word I don't know: you will probably have to
customise it.

The code is open: just read it in the VBA editor.

Microsoft has resolved this issue in Word 2007: you can back up specific
files (Normal.dotm, Document Parts.dotx, and User ACL) and move them to a
different computer. We don't know if that mechanism will find its way into
Mac Word 14.

Cheers

Will the Dave Rado AutoCorrect.zip run on a Mac? It seems to have been
written for Windows:Word. I followed the link in John McGhie's note and it
took me to the Dave Rado modification of a MS utility in Macros9.dot. Does
this .dot file come with Word:Mac (2004)? Where can I actually read the VBA
for his macro? Has anyone tried his approach?

Thanks to John, Diane, and others who are keeping this thread going. I wonder
if Microsoft has thought about making a backup of autocorrect entries more
straight-forward,
Benron

--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]