WD97: New Word Is Not Added to Custom Dictionary

ID: Q198308

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you check the spelling in your document and click Add to add a word to the custom dictionary, the word is not added to the custom dictionary and you do not receive any error message.


CAUSE

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


WORKAROUND

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 files typically are installed in either of the following folders on your hard disk:
<drive>\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof

-or-

<drive>\<windows folder>\Msapps\Proof
where <drive> is the letter of the hard disk that contains either of these folders.

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 the Dictionaries button.


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

    NOTE: You need to remove your custom dictionary, so the new dictionary you will 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.


    8. You can now add words to your new custom dictionary, and Word will use both custom dictionaries to check the spelling of your documents.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.


MORE INFORMATION

The following are approximate limitations for a custom dictionary:

Number of words in custom dictionaries 5,000

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


REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q142339 WD95: Operating Parameter Limitations and Specifications

Q159790 WD97: Words Missing from Custom Dictionary After Undo

Q162970 Installing Project 4.1 Breaks Office 97 Spelling Checker

Q168804 WD97: Operating Parameter Limitations and Specifications

Additional query words:

Keywords : word97
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: August 17, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.