Contents

Overviews

Introduction

Files

Copyright and disclaimer

Information

Developers

Problems (FAQ)

Coming soon...

About the Author

WWW page

Dialog boxes

Spelling

Options

Edit Custom Dictionary

BuildScd


Files

You should have received the following:

readme.1st	-  Latest information and license.  Make sure you have read this.

setup.exe	-  Setup and installation program.

 	buildscd.exe	-  Add to or create main dictionaries.

spload.exe	-  Force load spell checker

spelledt.dll	-  Functions used to check edit boxes.

spellchk.dll	-  Generic module to supply spelling checking.

spell.hlp	-  This help file.

file_id.diz	-  Program description.

Plus at least one of the following dictionary files:

ukeng.scd	-  UK English dictionary

useng.scd	-  US English dictionary

caeng.scd	-  Canadian English

german.scd	-  German dictionary (In beta release)

french.scd	-  French dictionary (In beta release)

If any of these files are missing please obtain a new copy.  If you have internet access you can obtain the latest version plus additional dictionary files by ftp from:

ftp.demon.co.uk	/pub/ibmpc/windows/spell


Introduction

This program is designed to provide spelling checker facilities to any application that uses the standard edit control (or compatible).  The checker is enabled using a predefined short cut key.

It contains a 85,000 word dictionary which has been carefully checked to ensure that it contains only valid words, although there are omissions.  This dictionary is continually being updated thanks to user support.  Please send your word lists to spellchk@quinion.demon.co.uk with the subject WordList.

Bug lists and any suggestions for the next version can be sent to the same address.


SPLoad

You must specify a command line option:

/L	Force the spelling checker to load, this removes the default method of loading and loads it using a different method.  You should place this program (complete with command line option) in you your startup group.

/E	Check the current control.  The window with the current focus will be spell checked.


BuildScd

Click on the part of the image you want more information on.

Use this application to add to existing dictionaries and to create new dictionaries. If you are creating a new dictionary you should enter a title.  The wordlist should be formatted with one word on each line separated with a linefeed, carriage return combination.  The size of the dictionary is limited only by the available memory, you should be able to hand wordlists in the area of 180 000 with 4mb of memory, and around 600 000 with 8mb.


The full path of the file containing the words to be added or used in creating the new dictionary.


The full path of the dictionary file to be updated or created.


Create a new dictionary using the title specified and the word list, overwrite any existing dictionary of the same name.


Add the wordlist to the existing dictionary.


The title of the dictionary to be created.


Dialog: Spelling

Click on the part of the image you want more information on.

Whenever a word is not found in the dictionary this box will appear and ask you what you want to do about it.

You have three options:

1) Ignore the word by pressing the ignore or All button

2) Change the word by:

Typing a new word into the Change To box and pressing Change

Double clicking on a suggestion

3) Add the word to the current user dictionary


Displays the word that was not found


Type in the text that you wish to change the word to


The list of suggested words.  This will be auto filled if you have selected Auto Suggest


Use this to select your current user dictionary from the list


Add the Not Found word to the current user dictionary


Produce a list of suggestions for the word in the Change To box


Open the options dialog box


Ignore the current word and go onto the next


Ignore the current word and any future occurrences (during this session)


Change the current word to the one in the Change To box


Undo the last operation


Dialog: Options

Click on the part of the image you want more information on.

The options box is available via the Spelling box or by running the  Setup program.


A list of all the current custom dictionaries


Add a new custom dictionary.  You will be asked to select the file name, then the Edit Custom Dictionary dialog will appear.


Edit the current custom dictionary.  The Edit Custom Dictionary dialog will appear.


Delete the current custom dictionary.


Select the current language from the dictionaries available.


Allows you to remove/install the driver.  You can only remove or install the program when you have opened the options box using the setup program.  If you make a change in the status you will be asked to restart windows and the changes will not come into effect until you do.  If the program is setup to run using SPLoad the button will be marked 'SPLOAD!'


Ignore all lines that start with this text.


Select the shortcut key to start the spell checker.  Just select the control and press the key combination.


Choose if you want spell to auto fill the suggest box


The program can search the custom dictionaries for suggestions, but on some machines this may be slow.  Try it and see.


Only allow the spelling checker to check controls with the edit class.  If you disable this option the checker will attempt to check ANY control regardless of class.  Often a control is compatible with the edit class and will work even though it is not an edit control (for instance the edit boxes inside MS Access and most VB controls).  Use with care.


Maintain the position of the spelling checker windows between sessions.


Some non-standard edit controls do not update properly when a word is changed.  You can use this option to force a redraw each time a change is made.  This option will cause the edit control being used to flicker and should only be used if you have no choice.

The MS Access edit controls are one example of a control that needs this.


When the spelling check is complete the program can either put up a message telling you, beep, or do nothing.  Your choice.


Dialog: Edit Custom Dictionaries

Click on the part of the image you want more information on.

Use this to change the name of the dictionary and to edit the words in the custom dictionary.


The file path where the custom dictionary is stored


The name of the dictionary


A list of all the words in the custom dictionary.  You can use this box to edit what is in the custom dictionary.  If you want to send in a list of extra words the easiest way is just to pull the words straight out of the list into a text file using the clipboard.  Use Ctrl-Insert to copy to the clipboard from the edit control.  Please do not attempt to spell check this list.


Make the custom dictionary read only.  It will still be checked to see if a word is in it but you will not be able to add to it.


Tells you how many words are in the dictionary and how many bytes it takes up.


Temporarily disable the use of this dictionary.  It will be ignored completely.


Copyright and disclaimer

Spell checker for edit boxes has been written by and is copyright © 1995 by Brian Quinion. All rights reserved.

Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this application, it is provided 'as is' and the author shall not be held responsible for any error, omission or consequential loss.

Spell Checker for Edit Boxes is freeware.

What is freeware?

Freeware is software that may be freely copied and used as long as no charge is made (except minimal handling costs).  This package has been released into the public domain in an attempt to improve the literacy level of communication on the net, and to remove all excuse for bad spelling :-)  The only condition for using it is that you DO use it.

If you like this product, please write to me and tell me so or I'm always willing to receive cash :-)


Problems
Problems (or the FAQ)

Q:	Do I need to copy the program to the startup group to get it to run every time?

A:	You don't need to, the program installs itself using a different method.  If you are having problems (especially if you are using Novel 3.12) you may wish to use SPLoad to start the program instead of the usual method.

Q:	I moved the program and now I can't get it to work?

A:	The directory pointers that it has installed may no longer work.  You will need to run setup, and press the 'Remove' button and then when it changes to 'Install' hit it again.  Spell should be installed either when you close setup, or if things are more corrupt when you restart windows.

Q:	The setup program does not seem anything like a normal install program.  How do I get it to install?

A:	A small amount of installation is performed the first time you run setup, from then on it is just a program to let you change options.  If for any reason it has become uninstalled you can re-install it by pressing the install button in the setup box.

Q:	I can't get the spelling checker to start using the hot key, nothing at all happens.

A:	You have probably uninstalled the program by accident.  Go to the Options box and look for a button marked either 'Install' or 'Remove' or possibly 'SPLoad!'.  If it says Install click it and follow the instructions, it should work.  If it is marked 'SPLoad' then you are setup to start spell using SPLoad.exe.  Otherwise you could check the file system.ini, in the first section there is an entry marked 'drivers'.  Look for the spelling check entry in that line and see if it looks 'strange'.

Q:	Will it work with XXXXX?

A:	It may if you change the option 'Edit only', one the previous version this options was set off by default, it now defaults to on.  Read the information in about the options box.  As yet I have not found, or heard of any application which causes problems with this option changed to the more open setting, so if anyone can let me know if they do...
If it still does not work, sorry, there are limits, and you have just reached them.  Complain to the author of the package and see if you can get them to change it :-)  Point them in the direction of the developers kit.

Q:	I want to include your program inside my VB application.  How do I do it?

A:	See the developers guide.

Q:	Are you going to change over to shareware at any point?

A:	I have no plans to at the moment, and in fact I've changed to freeware from shareware since the first release, mainly after feeling guilty about all the free software I've download from the internet (Netscape, NewsAgent etc.).  Donations are always welcome though.

These are the most asked questions of the moment,  I'll try to keep it up to date


WWW page

The latest information is always available on my home page:

http://www-bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu/cgi-bin/hpp/BriQui.html

This gives information on changes to the FAQ, information about other products that I have produced and any changes to the contact information.  Announcements will be made of new releases and updates.

At some point in the next few months this address is likely to change, but not probably before the next release.


Coming Soon...

The wish list:

Checking the clipboard.

Extended developers interface. (something between the too current versions)

Check multiple edit boxes

Finally release of the foreign language dictionaries (contact me if you are willing help with the beta tests)

Plus anything else I get requests for.


Developers

The spellchk.dll module used by this program and edit box interface spelledt.dll can be integrated into any program that requires spelling checking facilities.  Freeware and shareware products can use this free of charge, for commercial software please contact me to arrange a licence.

Information on integrating spell check into other programs, function definitions and code examples are provided in the file devel240.zip.  Full code examples are provided for C, and partial example for VB and MS Access.

For more details contact me or see the file devel240.zip.  Developer information is available by ftp as:

ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/ibmpc/windows/spell/devel240.zip


About the Author

I am currently a second year A level student at the Castle School, Thornbury, which is near Bristol in the UK.  I'm taking doing Physics, Maths and Chemistry.  Within the next six months I will be going on to do a software engeneering course at either Sheffield or Bradford university.

I'm a keen programmer and in the last few years have released:
Spell checker
Autostereogram
URLext
Other than computers cycling, squash and juggling are my main hobbies.  I also read a fair bit of S.F.

Contact:

 I can be contacted by Email at either:

SpellChk@quinion.demon.co.uk
Brian@quinion.demon.co.uk

By mail:

18 Pittville Close,
Thornbury,
BRISTOL
BS12 1SE
UK

If I am online I will probably be on IRC as BriQui,  (yes I know, very unimaginative)

The latest information will be on my home page.