WD2000: Err Msg: "The custom dictionary is full. The word was not added."

ID: Q224035

The information in this article applies to:

ERROR MESSAGE

When you try to add a word to the custom dictionary using the spelling checker, the following error message may appear:

The custom dictionary is full. The word was not added.
NOTE: Microsoft Office 2000 has built-in functionality that allows you to get more information about difficult-to-troubleshoot alerts or error messages. If you want to enable this functionality for this and other error messages in Microsoft Office 2000, please download the Microsoft Office 2000 Customizable Alerts file from the Microsoft Office Update Web site at the following address:
http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/2000/downloadDetails/alerts.htm
NOTE: If you reached this article by clicking the Web Info button in an error message, you already have Customizable Alerts enabled.


CAUSE

This problem occurs when the custom dictionary has reached 64 kilobytes (KB) (65,593 bytes) in size.

The custom dictionary is corrupt.

The spelling files have become damaged or corrupt.


WHAT TO TRY

This problem occurs when the custom dictionary has reached 64 kilobytes (KB) (65,593 bytes) in size.

To resolve this problem, try one of the following methods.

Method 1: Add Words to the Custom Dictionary Using WordPad

NOTE: Do not use Word to edit your custom dictionary. Word will truncate your custom dictionary when the file size exceeds 64 KB.

The custom dictionary in Word 2000 is installed in the following folder on your hard disk:


For Windows 95/98 - C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof
For Windows NT - C:\Winnt\Profiles\<user name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof
To determine where your custom dictionary is located, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.


  2. Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.


  3. Click Dictionaries.


  4. Select your custom dictionary. The Full path to your custom dictionary appears under the Language box.


  5. Click Cancel and then Close.



To add a word to your custom dictionary, open your custom dictionary into WordPad by doing the following:
  1. To start WordPad, point to Programs on the Start menu, point to Accessories, and then click WordPad.


  2. Add the additional words you want.


  3. Save the custom dictionary as a text document.



Method 2: Add a Second Custom Dictionary

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.


  2. Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.


  3. Click Dictionaries.


  4. Select your custom dictionary, and then click Remove.

    NOTE: You need to remove your custom dictionary so the new dictionary you add in step 5 will appear first in the list of custom dictionaries. Words added to a custom dictionary will default to the first Custom dictionary dialog box.


  5. Click New to add a new custom dictionary.


  6. Type a name for the new custom dictionary and click Save.


  7. Click Add. Select the custom dictionary you removed in step 4, and click OK.


NOTE: The custom dictionary is now the second item in the list. You can now add words to your new custom dictionary, and Word will use both custom dictionaries to check the spelling of your documents.

Back to Top

The custom dictionary is corrupt.

Create a new custom dictionary by performing the following steps:
  1. Rename the old custom dictionary file. For example, change Custom.dic to Custom.old.


  2. Start Word 2000.


  3. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.


  4. Click Dictionaries.


  5. Click New.


  6. In the File name box, type a name for the custom dictionary, for example, Custom.dic.


  7. Click Save.



You can now open your old dictionary file, run the spelling checker, and add the words from your old custom dictionary into your new custom dictionary.

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The spelling files have become damaged or corrupt.

Using Windows Explorer, search for and rename the following files:
Rename Msspell3.dll to Msspell3.old.
Rename Mssp3en.lex to Mssp3en.old.

Start Word 2000 and in a blank document, type in some text and run the spelling checker. You will be prompted with a dialog box to install the spelling files. Click Yes to reinstall the spelling files.

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MORE INFORMATION

The following are approximate limitations for a custom dictionary: 


   Number of words in custom
   dictionary                             5,000

   Maximum custom dictionary
   file size                              65,593 bytes (64 KB)
NOTE: The number of words contained in your custom dictionary may vary because of the number of characters or the length of each of the words added to your custom dictionary.

Additional query words: OFF2000 


Keywords          : kbdta 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb


Last Reviewed: June 22, 1999
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