Spell Checker can't Add words

[Mark O'Brien]

I recently bought a new PowerBook and used Apple's Setup Assistant to
transfer all my files and settings from my old TiBook.

Now, when Word indicates a word is misspelled, the option to Add the word to
my dictionary is grayed out. Whether I right-click on the word or run
Spelling and Grammar from the Tools menu, Add is grayed out.

Is there some setting or permissions thing that's hosed from the transfer?

Mark

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Mark-

Take a look in Applications>Microsoft Office 2004>Shared
Applications>Proofing Tools & see what is there. If no dictionaries or
thesauruses (thesauri?) you may need to copy them in from your source Office
CD. You might want to do a search of your local disk first to see if it may
have been put somewhere else. Look for US English Spelling Dictionary.

HTH |:>)

I recently bought a new PowerBook and used Apple's Setup Assistant to
transfer all my files and settings from my old TiBook.

Now, when Word indicates a word is misspelled, the option to Add the word to
my dictionary is grayed out. Whether I right-click on the word or run
Spelling and Grammar from the Tools menu, Add is grayed out.

Is there some setting or permissions thing that's hosed from the transfer?

Mark

-- (e-mail address removed)

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Mark,

For spell checking to work, the Language must match in the OS, Word, the
document and the paragraph. Select a paragraph (or Select All) of one of
your documents and go to Tools> Language. Is the language set to English US
(or whatever your flavor is)? If not, select it and spell check should
work.

Also, check in Word's Preferences> Spelling & Grammar. Make sure your
Custom Dictionary is selected. Then click on the Dictionaries button and be
sure the language is set to None (unless you have a specific need to set it
in another language).

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[Mark O'Brien]

The dictionaries and thesauri are all there, but "Add" is still grayed out.

Thanks!
Mark

 

[Mark O'Brien]

Beth, the language is set to US English and spell checker does work - just
not "Add". BUT...

....The Custom Dictionary was not selected. When I selected it, the "Add"
button became active. I did not have to do this when I originally installed
Office on my TiBook. It must have been selected by default, but "lost" that
selection when transferring everything to my new PB G4.

Thanks, that did the trick!

Mark

P.S. Just a word of praise for the Setup Assistant Apple provides on
currently shipping Macs: It is fantastic! In almost a week of use, I've only
had to re-set three things that Setup Assistant didn't take care of: a) my
SprintPCS PCS Connection Card (Merlin C201) settings; b) NetZero's custom
dial-up connection software (Apple's Internet Connect doesn't work) needed
to be reinstalled; and c) This Custom Dictionary setting in Word.

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

The dictionaries and thesauri are all there, but "Add" is still grayed out.

Thanks!
Mark

It could be a permissions issue. I've seen that before. You should use
Disk Utility to repair Permissions on your Mac. If it still doesn't
work, check that the files that store your custom dictionaries have read
and write permission for ou (command-i on the file in the Finder, and
you should easily find the appropriate section. Sometimes these
permissions get messed-up and prevent Word from writing in these files.

Corentin

 

[Larry McCarty]

Mark,
I was having the same problem as you in my new G5.
My custom dictionary wasn't selected.
I clicked on that and add became available.
Thanks for the tip.

Larry