Microsoft KB Archive/89320

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Excel: Centrally Locating Spelling Files on a Network

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0

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SUMMARY
The Spell Checker and Standard Dictionary files used by the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above can be moved to a central location on the server when using Excel on a network. This is done by moving the files to the new directory and changing the WIN.INI file to reflect their new location.

MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft Excel installs the files MSSPELL.DLL (Spell Checker) and MSSP_AM.LEX (Dictionary) to the directory MSAPPS\PROOF in the user's Windows directory when doing a Workstation installation of Excel. The Spell Checker (MSSPELL.DLL) is also used by some other Microsoft applications, such as Publisher and PowerPoint. Word for Windows uses a different Spell Checker.

You, or your network administrator, can move the Spell Checker and Standard dictionary files to a shared directory on the network, provided you update your WIN.INI file with the new location of these files. If your WIN.INI file is not updated, applications that use MSSPELL.DLL will be unable to find the file and, therefore, unable to use their spell checking facilities.

Only one copy of the Spell Checker and Dictionary (MSSPELL.DLL and MSSP_AM.LEX) files is needed in the shared directory. You may have different versions of these files, installed at different times by different applications. Use the files with the most recent dates. Currently, files dated 4-1-1992 or later are the preferred versions to be shared by all applications.

Steps to Change the WIN.INI file
The WIN.INI file can be found in the your Windows directory and can be edited using any text editor such as Windows Notepad.

After moving the Spell Checker and Dictionary files to the shared directory on the network, you need to change the WIN.INI file for all workstations that will use these files.


 * 1) Open your WIN.INI file in Windows Notepad or your preferred text editor.
 * 2) Locate the section heading [MS Proofing Tools].
 * 3) Change the reference line for the Spell Checker and Dictionary to the shared directory.

Change:

Spelling 1033,0=\msapps\proof\msspell.dll,\msapps\proof\mssp_am.lex

To:

Spelling 1033,0= \msspell.dll, \mssp_am.lex

Example

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Suppose the new shared directory is F:\spelling located on the network drive F and your current Windows directory is WIN31 on drive C of the local workstation.

You would change:

Spelling 1033,0=C:\WIN31\msapps\proof\msspell.dll,C:\WIN31\msapps \proof\mssp_am.lex

To:

Spelling 1033,0=F:\spelling\msspell.dll,F:\spelling\mssp_am.lex
 * 1) Save your WIN.INI and restart Windows for the changes to take effect.