Custom Diresctory in Word

H

hushfamily

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

A recent convert to Macs and Mac Office 2008, all was well after installation but now the spelling checker refuses to accept any new/additions to the directory during a spell check, telling me that the custom directory is not available or that it contains unrecognized characters or that it is full (all standard drop down menus). Any Ideas?
 
C

Corentin Cras-Méneur

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

A recent convert to Macs and Mac Office 2008, all was well after
installation but now the spelling checker refuses to accept any
new/additions to the directory during a spell check, telling me that the
custom directory is not available or that it contains unrecognized
characters or that it is full (all standard drop down menus). Any Ideas?


you mean dictionary right?
Locate the file in the Finder and open it in Word. Edit something
(anything) and save it back.
This should hopefully correct the pproblem,


Corentin
 
H

hushfamily

Thank you, yes, I do mean dictionary. I tried your solution but it didn't work. Any attempt to correct a word not in the dictionary, by adding it, results in the same menu "custom dictionary not available". Click "OK" and the Ignore, Add etc menu drop down. Click "add" and the "non-roman character/full" menu drops down. Check "OK" and if you continue with the spell check, the add button is no longer available.
 
C

Corentin Cras-Méneur

Thank you, yes, I do mean dictionary. I tried your solution but it
didn't work. Any attempt to correct a word not in the dictionary, by
adding it, results in the same menu "custom dictionary not available".


Yep, I suspect the file is a bit messed-up.
Click "OK" and the Ignore, Add etc menu drop down. Click "add" and the
"non-roman character/full" menu drops down. Check "OK" and if you
continue with the spell check, the add button is no longer available.


That's not what you had to do:
- Find the file for the cuctom dictionary in the Finder.
- drag the file itself to the icon of Word in the Dock. This shoudl open
the custom dictionary file in WOrd.
Edit one of the words in this file
- save
- quit Word and relaunch it.

Doe it fix the issue??

Corentin
 
H

hushfamily

Thanks for your prompt reply;perhaps I should explain that I am not the most computer literate person that you might have come across. I regret that I fell at the first hurdle and could not find the custom dictionary in Finder, despite, for me, an exhaustive search of all the folders. I am reluctant to delve too far in case I corrupt something and end up in a worse state. Baby steps are appreciated with step by step instructions, please.
 
C

Corentin Cras-Méneur

Thanks for your prompt reply;perhaps I should explain that I am not the
most computer literate person that you might have come across. I regret
that I fell at the first hurdle and could not find the custom dictionary
in Finder, despite, for me, an exhaustive search of all the folders. I

The problem is that when you create it, you have the choice to place it
anywhere you want.... I therefore have no clue where you placed it...

am reluctant to delve too far in case I corrupt something and end up in
a worse state. Baby steps are appreciated with step by step
instructions, please.

There is another way to open it (though I'm not 100% sure it will fix
your problem).
Word>Preferences>Spelling and grammar

In this pane you can select your custom dictionaries.
Click on the Dictionaries... button.
Slect the dictionary you want and click on Edit.
This shoudl open the dictionary and let you edit (then save) the
dictionary,

Corentin
 
H

hushfamily

Thank you again; I understood and followed your instructions but, as you suspected, it did not cure the problem. You make the point that when I created the dictionary, I had a choice as to where I placed it. I don't recall ever having created a custom dictionary; I just assumed that it was created when you began spell checking and wanted to add your own words. When I follow your latest path, and click on the Dictionaries, there is only "custom dictionary" available but this is the very one that it tells me is not available. However, it obviously was created, at some time, as when I open it, there is a list of words that I would have added.
 
C

Corentin Cras-Méneur

Thank you again; I understood and followed your instructions but, as you
suspected, it did not cure the problem. You make the point that when I
created the dictionary, I had a choice as to where I placed it. I don't
recall ever having created a custom dictionary; I just assumed that it
was created when you began spell checking and wanted to add your own
words. When I follow your latest path, and click on the Dictionaries,
there is only "custom dictionary" available but this is the very one
that it tells me is not available. However, it obviously was created, at
some time, as when I open it, there is a list of words that I would have
added.

Well if you don;t have too many words in the custom dictionary, you
could consider going bak to the preferences to delete the current custom
dictionary and re-create a new one.
The new one shouldn't be corrupted and the problem should go away,

Corentin
 

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