Error Message: The Custom Dictionary Is Not Available

ID: Q104691

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SUMMARY

This article describes three possible causes for the following error message in Word for Windows:

   The Custom dictionary is not available.

This error message can occur for the following reasons. (The first two are documented in online Help, but the third is undocumented.)

The custom dictionary file is not in text file format.
Another application is using the custom dictionary file.
NOTE: For more information about the above two causes, search for "error messages" using the Help menu.
The custom dictionary file may be damaged.

MORE INFORMATION

If your custom dictionary file is damaged, you may need to re-create it using the following steps:

1. Choose the New button on the Standard toolbar (on the

    toolbar in Word 2.0) to create a new document.

2. From the Insert menu, choose File.

3. Select the custom dictionary file, located in the <Windows>\MSAPPS\PROOF

   subdirectory (where <Windows> is the name of your Windows
   directory), and then choose OK.

   NOTE: Custom dictionary files have a .DIC filename extension.

4. If prompted, convert the file from Text Only.

5. From the File menu, choose Save.

6. Type a filename, with a .DIC extension.

7. In the Save File As Type box, select Text Only and then choose OK.

8. Close the file.

Your re-created custom dictionary file is now ready to use.

KBCategory: KBSubcategory: Additional query words: winword2 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c 6.0 word6 6.0a 6.0c winword docerr

Keywords          : kbproof 
Version           : 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998