Microsoft KB Archive/123073

PPT4: Prompt to Locate Speller Starting PowerPoint Speller

PSS ID Number: Q123073 Article last modified on 05-16-1998

4.00

MACINTOSH

================================================================ ==

The information in this article applies to:

 Microsoft PowerPoint for the Macintosh, version 4.0 == Microsoft Office for the Macintosh, version 4.2 == 

= SYMPTOMS =

After you install Microsoft Office 4.2 and run the PowerPoint spelling checker, you may receive the following message:

Please locate the speller.

If you then locate MS Spelling 2 in the Microsoft folder using the dialog box, PowerPoint gives this message:

Please locate the speller dictionary.

At this point, one of two things may happen:

  You can select the US English Dictionary, but you get the following message: Sorry, unable to load the main spelling dictionary. You should run PowerPoint Setup. This happens because MS Spelling 2 does not recognize the US English Dictionary located in the Microsoft folder, so although you can select it, you cannot spell check the document. By selecting MS Spelling 2 instead of MS Spelling, you have cross-referenced the dictionaries for PowerPoint and Office.   PowerPoint does not recognize the “English Dictionary” located in the Microsoft folder, so you cannot select it, and you cannot spell check the document. 

= CAUSE =

This behavior occurs when the Microsoft PowerPoint Settings (4) file either has been deleted from the System Folder:Preferences folder or has become corrupted.

= RESOLUTIONS =

Method 1: Rebuild the PowerPoint Settings (4) File
  Drag the “PowerPoint Settings (4)” file to the trash.   Run Microsoft Office Setup (in maintenance mode) and choose Add/Remove. </li>  Under Installed Components, click the option triangle for Microsoft PowerPoint. </li>  All options will be selected by default. Leave the Microsoft PowerPoint option on the second level selected. Click the following options (which do not need to be removed) to clear them (remove the “x” from the check box) :  Presentation Translators</li> Help, Quick Preview</li> Templates</li> Genigraphics Drivers</li> Clip Art Files</li></ul> </li>  Under Installed Components, click the option triangle for Tools. </li>  Leave the Spelling option selected (that is, leave the “x” in the box). Click the other four options to clear them:  Microsoft System Information</li> Setup</li> Fonts</li> Shared Converters</li></ul> </li>  Click Continue and then click OK. </li> <li> Restart your Macintosh with the extensions turned off. NOTE: If you are running 7.6 or higher, turn extensions off via Extensions Manager. Leave the following extensions and control panels turned on: <ul> <li>Mac Os Easy Open (it may also be called Macintosh Easy Open)</li> <li>Shared Library Manager</li> <li>Shared Library Manager PPC</li></ul> </li> <li> Run Microsoft Office Setup again and click Add/Remove. </li> <li> Under Components Not Yet Installed, click the following two items to select them: Microsoft PowerPoint Tools </li> <li> Click Continue, and then click OK. </li></ol>

Method 2: Reset the Spelling Checker Locations
If you can select the US English Dictionary but cannot spell check your document, reset the spelling checker locations by doing the following:


 * 1) Drag the Microsoft PowerPoint Settings (4) file to the Trash and empty the Trash.
 * 2) Start PowerPoint. On the Tools menu, click Spelling. When the Locate Speller dialog box appears, click MS Spelling.
 * 3) When the Locate Speller Dictionary dialog box appears, click US English Dictionary.

If neither of the above methods corrects the problem, or if the US English dictionary does not appear as an option, you need to reinstall Microsoft Office:


 * 1) Drag the Microsoft PowerPoint Settings (4) file to the trash and empty it.
 * 2) Run Microsoft Office Setup (in maintenance mode), and click Remove All.
 * 3) Run Microsoft Office Setup from the disks, network, or compact disc, and reinstall Office.

This resolution installs the Office 4.2 MS Spelling 2 and English Dictionary and the Microsoft PowerPoint Settings (4) file, which makes it possible for PowerPoint to use the English Dictionary.

NOTE: If the PowerPoint Settings(4) file is damaged or deleted again, the behavior will reoccur.

= MORE INFORMATION =

As a stand-alone program, PowerPoint 4.0 for the Macintosh installs its own MS Spelling and US English Dictionary into the Microsoft folder. MS Spelling looks for a dictionary with a file type of CDIC, which is what the US English Dictionary is. MS Spelling cannot see the English Dictionary, which has a file type of HMSD.

Microsoft Office 4.2 installs MS Spelling 2 and English Dictionary into the Microsoft folder but does not install MS Spelling and US English Dictionary. PowerPoint can use MS Spelling 2 and English Dictionary, as long as the Microsoft PowerPoint Settings (4) file has not been removed from the system. Once that file has been removed or damaged, PowerPoint cannot use MS Spelling 2 and the English Dictionary. MS Spelling 2 looks for a dictionary with a file type of HMSD, which is what the English Dictionary is. It can “see” the US English Dictionary, but it cannot read it.

Additional query words: 4.00 power point powerpt mac ppt spellcheck macppt spell errmsg preferences settings 3.00 ====================================================================== Keywords : kbproof kberrmsg kbinterop Version : 4.00 Platform : MACINTOSH Issue type : kberrmsg ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.