WD: Other Applications Can't Access Words in Custom Dictionary

ID: Q88095

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, version 2.0

SUMMARY

When you run the spelling checker in version 2.0 of Microsoft Word for Windows and you add words to the custom dictionary (CUSTOM.DIC), the spelling checker in other Microsoft applications may not recognize these words. This problem occurs because Word for Windows uses a different sorting order to sort the words in the custom dictionary than other Microsoft applications. As a result, other Microsoft applications are not able to find these words in the shared CUSTOM.DIC file.

Other Microsoft applications that share the CUSTOM.DIC file include: Microsoft Excel for Windows, Microsoft Publisher for Windows, and Microsoft Works for Windows.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word for Windows version 2.0. This problem was corrected in Word for Windows version 2.0a.

MORE INFORMATION

The spelling checker in version 2.0 of Word for Windows sorts words starting with numbers followed by words in normal alphabetical order (without regard to capitalization). The other Microsoft applications that share CUSTOM.DIC sort words using the following, slightly modified version of alphabetical order (based on the ASCII character set):

Numbers
Capital letters
Lowercase letters

When Word for Windows uses or creates CUSTOM.DIC, it resorts the words in the file. As a result, the spelling engine of the other Microsoft applications can no longer recognize the order, which causes previously entered words to be flagged as misspelled.

The shared custom dictionary file, used by several Microsoft Windows-based applications, is stored by default in the following subdirectory:

   C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\PROOF

Note: If you move your shared CUSTOM.DIC file to another location, you need to change the appropriate .INI settings for each application that accesses this custom dictionary file. In Word for Windows, this setting is located in the MS Proofing Tools section of the Windows WIN.INI file.

WORKAROUND

Use the following procedure to repair a CUSTOM.DIC file created in version 2.0 of Word for Windows:

1. Open CUSTOM.DIC in Word for Windows. Choose the OK button when

   prompted to convert the file from Text Only.

2. Delete any words in capital letters from the file and retype them

   using one of the following methods:

    - Next time you use the spelling checker in one of the Microsoft
      applications that accesses CUSTOM.DIC, choose the Add button
      when the capitalized word is flagged. The spelling checker adds
      the word to CUSTOM.DIC in the correct order.

      -or-

    - After you complete step 3 below, type the words into CUSTOM.DIC.
      Add the words, in alphabetical order, after the numbered items
      and before the lowercase items. For example, add "Apple,"
      "Orange," and "Raspberry" to the following locations in
      CUSTOM.DIC:

         286
         386SX
         486SX
         6.0a
         Apple
         Orange
         Raspberry
         apple
         octopus
         registration

3. From the Tools menu, choose Sorting. Select the Ascending Sorting

   Order option and choose the OK button.

4. From the File menu, choose Close. Choose the Yes button when

   prompted to save changes to the file.

The custom dictionary is now in a format that can be used by other Microsoft applications.

If the spelling checker in another Microsoft application fails to recognize words you added to CUSTOM.DIC from the version 2.0 Word for Windows spelling checker, you should obtain version 2.0a of Word for Windows.

To obtain pre-sales information about new or updated Microsoft products, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. If you are outside the United States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area. To locate your subsidiary, see the Microsoft World Wide Offices Web site at:

   http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/default.htm

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 277, 281-283, 804, 808, 810

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory: kbproof

Additional query words: winword2   2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD speller

word6 winword checks checked spelling tool

Keywords          : kbproof 
Version           : 2.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998