Microsoft KB Archive/107586

Knowledge Base

Works Error Msg: Cannot Initialize Speller

Article ID: 107586

Article Last Modified on 10/3/2003

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Works 2.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Works 2.0a

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This article was previously published under Q107586

SUMMARY

When you choose Check Spelling from the Options menu in Works for Windows, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot Initialize Speller

MORE INFORMATION

This can occur in two different situations:

1. This can be the result of Word for Windows 2.0 and Works handling the custom dictionary differently.
   
   
   1. This problem has been corrected in Word for Windows 2.0a. To obtain new or updated Microsoft products, call Microsoft End User Sales at (800) 426-9400.
   2. A new custom dictionary can be specified for the Works for Windows program so that Word for Windows 2.0 cannot interfere with it, using the following steps:
      
      NOTE: The following steps assume that Windows is installed in the C:\WINDOWS directory.
      
      
      1. Open the C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI file in a text editor such as Notepad.
      2. Add the following line to the [MS Proofing Tools] section of the WIN.INI file:

         msworks Dict 1=C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\PROOF\custom1.dic

      3. Save changes to the WIN.INI file and close the file.
      4. Open the C:\WINDOWS\MSWORKS.INI file in a text editor such as Notepad.

      5. Change the line in the [Word Processor] section that reads

                     CustomDict=custom dict 1
                                                 

         so that it reads:

         CustomDict=msworks dict 1

      6. Save changes to the MSWORKS.INI file and close the file.
2. This error message can also occur in Works for Windows on a machine without Word for Windows. It can occur if the CUSTOM.DIC file has become corrupted, and needs to be re-created using the following instructions:
   
   
   1. Rename the CUSTOM.DIC file, which can be found in the C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\PROOF directory.
   2. Works for Windows will then create a new CUSTOM.DIC file, which should correct the problem. Once the CUSTOM.DIC file is renamed, the words added to it previously will need to be re-added.
      
      If you've added many words to the CUSTOM.DIC file, you can open the old CUSTOM.DIC file in Works for Windows as a Word Processor file and use the Check Spelling command to add the words to the new CUSTOM.DIC file. Do NOT save the old CUSTOM.DIC file.
      
      The file corruption can occur for different reasons, but one of the main reasons is improper changes to the CUSTOM.DIC file, such as adding or editing words from within the file itself.

3. This error can also occur if the path for the CUSTOM.DIC in the [MS PROOFING TOOLS] section of your WIN.INI file is incorrect. It should read:

         Custom Dict 1=C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\PROOF\custom.dic
                           

   Make sure this path points to a relevant CUSTOM.DIC file.

Additional query words: kbhowto spelling wp custom can't

Keywords: kbhowto KB107586

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