Making a dictionary

[liddlem]

Does anybody know if its possible to export data from Access into a "filename.LEX" file for use in MS Word?

If so - Do you have any idea what the fieldnames/file structure looks like.
I have tried oipening a .LEX file to check this out, but with no success.

Thanks

 

[jenp]

.lex files are binary and not just flat text files and there isn't really a way to view the MS Word .lex file; see:

http://help.lockergnome.com/office/view-edit-lex-file-ftopict632926.html

Particularly the response from Doug Potter. If you want to create a proper custom .lex file, the best place to start is:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;262605

I'm not really sure what you're after, but you can add in a custom user dictionary (.dic file) with very little effort... Those are just plain text files created in notepad with a word on each line. MS Word allows you to have up to ten. They go in the:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof

directory. To use the new .dic file, make sure you close Word and then open it back up again after placing the file. Go to Tools -> Options, click on the Spelling and Grammar tab, and click on the 'Custom Dictionaries' button. The new file should be listed along with CUSTOM.DIC in the 'Dictionary List' field. Just tick the box and you're good to go. You can also change the default dictionary to your custom one by clicking on the name of the dictionary and choosing 'Change Default'. I don't think you can forgo using the MS dictionary altogether, though.

Not sure if any of that's really useful, but I hope it helps.

 

[liddlem]

Thanks Jenp
Thats is certainly most helpful - even though it confirms that I cannot create my own .lex file.
I am busy creating an application which (hopefully) will teach illiterate, non-english speakers how to read in their own language.

I want to make the application easy for developers to use. This includes typing up their text (stories), running a spell check and then converting to XMl (which is the format that I will ultimately need.)

Hence the reason for a spell checker - and so 10 words at a time is not going to do it for me.

I guess that I will have to write an "on change" event function in Word that makes a call to my database each time that the user presses the space key.

Thanks for your input.

 

[jenp]

Ah, sorry - I wasn't clear. It's not 10 words at a time, it's 10 custom dictionary files. The files can be up to 64KB in size. Still may not be big enough for what you need, though. That 'on change' thing sounds like it would cost a *whole* lot in system resources. I'd check into the second link I gave you - there were some sites listed there that have created some tools that might be useful. Not sure what they cost or what your budget is, but it might be worth having a look. It also sounds like you're a fair programmer - the CSAPI stuff from MS might really be useful to you.

Good luck!

 

[liddlem]

Thanks Jen - I think it might well be worth my while looking into the custom dictionaries then. 64kb should be ample. The languages consist of about 3000 to 5000 words tops - and I only need to store single words. No cross refs or definitions etc.

I might run out dictionaries though. I will be dealing with more than one language, but I am sure we can work our way around that.

As for programming skills - No - dont let me fool you. If you look at some of my contributions on this site you'll realise that I am just a
"JOATMON" - Jack of all trades......master of NONE.

I know that I can achieve what I am setting out to do.... its just a matter of time. I would like to be done in about 6 months to a year.