Error Message: The Custom Dictionary Is Not Available

• 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.

• 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.