Works: Spelling Checker Does Not Flag Misspelled Words (139019)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 7.0
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2003
  • Microsoft Works 6
  • Microsoft Works 2000
  • Microsoft Works 4.5
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0
  • Microsoft Works for Windows 95, version 4.0 4.0a

This article was previously published under Q139019

SYMPTOMS

If you try to run the Works spelling checker on a document that contains misspelled words, and the spelling checker fails to flag any of the words, there may be something wrong with the specific document, the spelling files, or the Windows environment.

RESOLUTION

To troubleshoot this problem, do the following:

  1. Verify that the document was created in uppercase. By default, the spelling checker ignores words in uppercase.

    To change the spelling checker options for Works 7.0:

    1. Click Tools, and then select Options.
    2. When the spelling dialog box appears, click to clear the Ignore words in UPPERCASE check box.
    3. Click OK.
    To change the spelling checker options for earlier versions of Works:
    1. Intentionally misspell a word in lowercase.
    2. Run the spelling checker again.
    3. When the spelling dialog appears, click to clear the Ignore words in UPPERCASE check box.
    4. Click Close.
  2. Create a new document, and try running the spelling checker on it. If the new document does find misspelled words, there is most likely something wrong with the previously saved document. Verify the following in the original document:

    1. Verify that the words that are not being flagged, to make sure they are spelled incorrectly and are not in uppercase.
    2. Type a new, incorrectly spelled word in the document and run the spelling checker.
    3. The document itself may be corrupted if the new word is not flagged. Try saving the file as a text file and reopening it.
    4. If the spelling checker works correctly with new words, verify if the suspect words are listed in the custom dictionary.
    To edit the custom dictionary for versions later than Works 2000:
    1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
    2. Type Custom.dic, and then click Find Now.
    3. Right-click the mouse to click the Custom.dic file that is located in the following folder, and then click Open:

      Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof

    4. Select the option to select the program from the list. Select Notepad from the list and then click to clear the Always use this program to open this kind of file check box.
    To edit the custom dictionary for versions earlier than Works 2000:

    1. Type an incorrectly spelled word and run the spelling checker.
    2. Click Edit Custom Dictionary.
    3. Scroll through the list of words. If you see the misspelled word listed, select it, and then click Delete. Click Done.
  3. Restart Windows in Safe mode. If the spelling checker works correctly in Safe mode, check the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files, as well as the load= and run= lines in the Win.ini file for any terminate-and- stay-resident (TSR) programs. TSRs that may cause this to occur include:

    • Numoff

    • Fastopen

    • Capson

    NOTE: For information about how to restart in Safe mode, see your Windows printed documentation or online Help.
  4. The custom dictionary Custom.dic may be corrupted. Try renaming the Custom.dic file located in the Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof folder. When the existing Custom.dic is renamed, Works will create a new, blank one the next time you run the spelling checker.

    To rename the Custom.dic file:
    1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
    2. Type Custom.dic, and then click Find Now.
    3. Use the right mouse button to click the Custom.dic file located in the Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof folder, and then click Rename.

      Note that you may have more than one Custom.dic file in another Proof folder. If you have more than one Custom.dic file, you must rename all your Custom.dic files.
    4. Name the file Custom.old and press ENTER.
  5. Run the Microsoft Works maintenance mode installation program to remove and reinstall the Proofing Tools.

    NOTE: This step only applies to Works 4.0 and Works 4.5.

    To start the maintenance mode Setup:
    1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
    3. Click the Install/Uninstall tab.
    4. Click Microsoft Works 4.0, and then click Add/Remove.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/15/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB139019