[Solved] Spell check

[mike258]

Hi, Thanks for offering this awesome open office system.
I am running windows 7 and I downloaded the extension for a Dictionary, but every time I go to use the spell check
it comes up with no dictionary. Do I need to uninstall open office 4.1.2 and then reinstall it.
I am not computer savvy so please explain things to terms I can understand or point me in the direction to learn about it.

thanks Mike258

[RoryOF]

Delete or rename your OpenOffice user profile. As you are using Windows do this by:

Close OpenOffice and the Quickstarter. Open File Explorer. Copy and paste %appdata%\OpenOffice\4 in the File Explorer Address Bar and press Enter. Delete or Rename the "user" folder. Start OpenOffice.

This cures most spellcheck problems.

[mike258]

Hi thanks, I understand everything except file explorer?
where do I find this and what is it do?

Thanks mike258

[RoryOF]

Open any drive or folder and enter it into the address box.

[mike258]

Hi thanks, Sorry to be a pain, when you say user profile do you mean the folder name. If not which file do I find the profile in.

[mike258]

Hi thanks, this still did not fix the problem should I just uninstall now and download again
thanks for all your help much appreciated

[esperantisto]

Read this, this, and this for starters. You will find answers to all (or most) your questions.

[Bill]

Hi, Thanks for offering this awesome open office system.
I am running windows 7 and I downloaded the extension for a Dictionary, but every time I go to use the spell check
it comes up with no dictionary. Do I need to uninstall open office 4.1.2 and then reinstall it.
I am not computer savvy so please explain things to terms I can understand or point me in the direction to learn about it.

thanks Mike258

Why did you download a Dictionary? OpenOffice comes with a dictionary for the default language. Are you trying to add spell-checking for a new language? What does "comes up with no dictionary" mean? Is there an error message?

[RoryOF]

If you are using Windows it is probable that any dictionary (name usually of form dict-GB.oxt) has been renamed by Internet Explorer to dict-GB.zip. If this is so, outside of OpenOffice rename the dictionary back to type .oxt and double click on it to install. Of course the actual file may have a slightly different name, you will need to modify what you do if that is the case.

[esperantisto]

No need to rename, just use the file open dialog from within the extension manager rather than double-clicking.

[mike258]

Thanks for your help but I am just getting more confused. If I uninstall and then download it again this should fix the problem right?

[RoryOF]

Have you deleted the User Profile?

[mike258]

Yes as soon as I use spell check it goes to checks it and tells me it's fine when I know I have spelt words wrong

[RoryOF]

After you deleted the User Profile, were you prompted to enter your name and initials on next use of OpenOffice?

[mike258]

Yes I did this

[RoryOF]

You confirm you were asked for name and initials after deleting the User Profile

[edit} The reason for asking in the user was prompted for name/initials on next use of OpenOffice after deleting or renaming the user profile is to confirm that operation was carried out correctly. If the user is not prompted for name/initials then the User Profile was not deleted or renamed, no matter what the user thinks he did. [/edit]

[mike258]

Yes I confirm

[RoryOF]

In OpenOffice, using /Tools /Options /Language Settings on the Languages page please check that Default language for Documents Western documents is set to the variety of language you require: in my case this is English (UK). The selected variety of language should show a little blue ABC tick in front of it to indicate that it has a spellchecking dictionary - if not, we need to know. On the Writing Aids page under the same key check all available options in the "Available writing aids" window. In the Options window check "Check spelling as you type" and "check grammar as you type". Press the OK button.

Now start a new document and see if spellchecking works. If not, what language is shown in the middle of the Status Bar (bottom bar of OpenOffice window)? Does this match the exact variety of spellchecking language you set earlier? If not, use /Tools /Language /For all text to set it to the target language and see if that improves the situation.

[mike258]

YES!! YES!! YES!! IT works now thank you so very much RoryOF.

[RoryOF]

If you are pasting text from the internet and spelling doesn't work, check what it says on the Status Bar about the pasted text (your cursor must be in it). Often (I'm thinking of those using English (GB) or other varieties of English) pasted text can be English (US) and won't spellcheck on computers configured for other varieties of English until they have been changed by /Tools /Language.

[mike258]

I am from NZ so it's UK English for me. Cool thanks for the tip