Custom Dictionary in Application

[Dale Fye]

I'm developing an Access application, and the client wants to be able to run
the spell checker on several of the forms. No problem so far.

However, this particular has a set of words and acronyms that would confuse
most of us. I would like to create this custom dictionary file and store it
on the network. Then, when the user runs the spell checker, I would like to
point the Office custom dictionary to this file, so that any additions would
go to it, and so we only have to edit a single dictionary file. Then, when
the spell checker is complete, I would switch the custom dictionary back to
what it was.

Any body know how to accomplish this?

 

[Larry Daugherty]

I did some preliminary investigation a couple of years ago. I dropped
the search due to other urgencies but believed I had a handle on it.
I've lost the handle!

A couple of hours of searching and digging led me to this
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...wSettingOptionsFromVisualBasic_HV05188062.asp

It doesn't seem to get to the issue of our concern. Lots of
interesting insights along the way. I believe it's going to come down
to understanding and fiddling with the dictionary entries in the
registry for the applicable version of access. I ran across something
during a search on MSDN with a search string of "changing spelling
dictionary". One of the results (no, I didn't save it) showed how to
add an entry for another dictionary in the registry

I'm going to google the Access groups to see what has gone before. It
may be that google searches on the other MS Office groups might turn
up interesting things. I'll follow up if I find anything.

HTH

 

[Larry Daugherty]

I've done a partial search on Google and came up with this
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...and+dictionary&rnum=60&hl=en#f2850b7393da76a1

It's in line with the link I didn't include in the last post. If you
use the search string on MSDN you'll know it when the example is
showing how to add an Italian dictionary.

Done for the day!

HTH

 

[Dale Fye]

Thanks, Larry.

I'll give these a try.

I've done a partial search on Google and came up with this
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...and+dictionary&rnum=60&hl=en#f2850b7393da76a1

It's in line with the link I didn't include in the last post. If you
use the search string on MSDN you'll know it when the example is
showing how to add an Italian dictionary.

Done for the day!

HTH

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?RGFsZSBGeWU=?=,

I'm developing an Access application, and the client wants to be able to run
the spell checker on several of the forms. No problem so far.

However, this particular has a set of words and acronyms that would confuse
most of us. I would like to create this custom dictionary file and store it
on the network. Then, when the user runs the spell checker, I would like to
point the Office custom dictionary to this file, so that any additions would
go to it, and so we only have to edit a single dictionary file. Then, when
the spell checker is complete, I would switch the custom dictionary back to
what it was.

Any body know how to accomplish this?

Which version of Access (Office, really) are you targeting?

In general terms, with the exception of Word, Office applications look for a
file named custom.dic. Depending on the version of Office, this may be in a
language-specific folder, it may be in the user profile, or it may be in the
folder where the Office *.exe have been installed. The best source of
information would probably be the Office Resource Kit (ORK) for that version of
Office, as that might also give you the Registry keys. Because if this is an
administered installation, the network admin might anyway choose a different
structure than the default.

The custom.dic file is pure text. I believe it's loaded when the Office
application (non-Word) starts. So you'd want to rename the original
(custom.OLDdic, perhaps), create or copy in your version before loading Access,
then reverse the process after Access has finished.

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

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[Dale Fye]

Thanks, Cindy.

I was able to figure out enough of the Word object model to get to the
ActiveCustomDirectory and CustomDictionaries.Add, was able to add a
dictionary to the link, but was unable to change the default for some
reason. I've abandoned that concept and am allowing each user to use
his/her own custom dictionary, rather than trying to get them to link to the
networked file.

Thanks, anyway.

Dale