Disable popup message "Cannot find proofing tools for ...."

[Patricia Mindanao]

When I open some Word 2003 documents occasionally a popup message appears:

"Cannot find proofing tools for german". If you have the proofing tools,
try installing or re-installing them...."

I don't want to (re-) install any proofing tools.

For what purpose do I need proofing tools? Is this a kind of spell-checker?

How can I disable (permanently) this popup error message in Word 2003?

Pat

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The proofing tools for a given language include the spelling checker, the
grammar checker, and the thesaurus. Do you have words in your document whose
language is formatted as German?

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

This means you have some text formatted with the Language of German. When
the Spell-Checker encounters it in the document, it asks you to install the
German Language proofing tools.

The most obvious fix is to ensure that the English text in your document is
formatted with the dialect of English you use.

It's best to make this change in the styles you use so it will be correct
for future documents. But you can simply select all text in the document
and just hammer it into the correct language.

If you do that, just remember that the language has been applied by direct
formatting. That's like putting a skin of paint over a rusty gate: with
editing and time, the rust will show through again and you will get the
wrong language from the underlying style coming through again.

Cheers

When I open some Word 2003 documents occasionally a popup message appears:

"Cannot find proofing tools for german". If you have the proofing tools,
try installing or re-installing them...."

I don't want to (re-) install any proofing tools.

For what purpose do I need proofing tools? Is this a kind of spell-checker?

How can I disable (permanently) this popup error message in Word 2003?

Pat

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Consultant Technical Writer
Sydney, Australia +61 (0) 4 1209 1410

 

[Graham Mayor]

You have text in your document that is formatted with the German language
parameter. Word cannot find the German dictionary (as you don't have it) to
check that text so throws up an error. Use CTRL+A to selkect the document
content, then Tools > Language > Set Language to whatever you normally use
and uncheck the automatically detect language check box.

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Cooz]

Hi Patricia,

Microsoft says this:
Proofing tools for Office 2003 Editions are a collection of editing
technologies that enable users to proof Office 2003 Editions files in more
than 50 different languages. The tools include spelling and grammar checkers,
AutoCorrect lists, AutoSummarize capabilities for Microsoft Word, Input
Method Editors (IMEs) for East Asian languages, and other tools. Proofing
tools for Office 2003 Editions are contained on a single CD, and you can add
them to any Office 2003 Edition or Microsoft Office program.

The message may pop up when you have any text selected as being German and
you run the spell checker (F7). Clear Tools | Language > Set Language... |
Detect Language Automatically to avoid text incorrectly being marked as
German.

Possibly you have German installed as one of your default input languages.
Go to Control Panel | Regional and Language Options | tab Languages |
Details... and remove any keyboard definitions that include German. Word
checks which default input languages you have defined and moves these above
the double horizontal line in Language dialog. I would not be surprised if
because of this Word favors German as well when detecting languages - after
all, you have indicated to use this language.

Good luck,
Cooz

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Patricia,

While changing a keyboard setting, as Cooz suggests, might have been the
original cause, the message you're getting is controlled by the "Microsoft
Office 2003 Language Settings". You should find this under
Start/Programs/Microsoft Office/Microsoft Office Tools. There should be a
list of "activated languages". You want to select and remove any entries from
this list that you don't want to actively spell check.

Note, however, that you'd only get the message you report if the text in the
document is formatted with the German language. Language formatting is a
complex topic. You'll find an article in the Tips section of my website that
explains the background and how to get control of it.

When I open some Word 2003 documents occasionally a popup message appears:

"Cannot find proofing tools for german". If you have the proofing tools,
try installing or re-installing them...."

I don't want to (re-) install any proofing tools.

For what purpose do I need proofing tools? Is this a kind of spell-checker?

How can I disable (permanently) this popup error message in Word 2003?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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