Dictionary auto-lookup in 2008?

[Jonathan Duke]

I've got a few people whom I'm migrated from Word v.X to 2008 recently
and they are missing a feature in X that would let them select
Tools>Dictionary and start typing a word and have all the words that
start with those letters pop-up in the palette.

For example, in X, if I type "plet" in the Dictionary palette, I see
"plethora" on the right.

I'm unable to match this behavior in 2004 or 2008, but want to know if
it is still present, just in a different location.

Thanks.

Cheers,
Jon

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Jonathan

I didn't spend much time in X - and that was a long time ago - so I don't
remember exactly how it worked. However, based on your description I believe
the Toolbox will give you the feature you're looking for... in fact, it's
more comprehensive than the Dictionary.

If the Toolbox isn't currently displayed click its button on the standard
toolbar. On the Toolbox palette's top row of buttons the 3rd from the right
is for the Reference Tools. Click that button & have a field day - assuming
you have an active internet connection

Alternatively - whether or not the palette is displayed - you can go to
View> Reference Tools or use the keystroke Option+Command+R to turn it
on/off.

 

[Jonathan Duke]

Bob,

The issue is that in X, you simply started typing and it started
matching words that started with those letters, enabling it to act as a
real paper dictionary where you could skim though the words trying to
find the correct spelling just by knowing how to start the word.

In '08, Dictionary appears to be focused on definitions, not spelling.
Doesn't matter in this case whether you've got a internet connection or
not.

I'm not sure why something useful like this gets pulled. Looks like
I'll recommend that people get a paper dictionary to replace the
Dictionary in Word 08. I actually didn't know that this was in X until
someone pointed it out to me.

Cheers,
Jon

 

[CyberTaz]

OK - I vaguely remember the feature, but it didn't "get pulled" without good
reason. That capability has been added as a feature of the OS X Dictionary
app so it was no longer needed in the program itself. It was probably
excised to reduce the size of Office or make room for other features.

In ~home/Applications is where you'll find Apple's Dictionary app. Just add
it to the Dock & click it when needed rather than going to Tools>
Dictionary. I think it's more what you were looking for

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

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

I'm not sure why something useful like this gets pulled.

I suspect that type of immediate feedback requires local storage (like
Spotlight has to build and constantly update a cached index), but the
online dictionary is a bigger/"better" resource.