Selecting a dictionary

When you check spelling, AppleWorks uses the main dictionary and the most recently selected user dictionary. If you have other main or user dictionaries installed, you can choose which to use.

To select a different dictionary:

1	Choose Writing Tools from the Edit menu, then choose Select Dictionaries from the submenu.
2	Click a dictionary type, then click Choose.
3	Select a dictionary in the scrolling list, then click Select.
	AppleWorks installs dictionaries in the Dictionaries folder of the AppleWorks Essentials folder (within the AppleWorks application folder).

Creating a new user dictionary

When you install AppleWorks, it includes one empty user dictionary. You can create additional user dictionaries if, for example, you're working on a project using unusual spellings that wouldn't be correct in other contexts.

To create a new user dictionary:

1	Choose Writing Tools from the Edit menu, then choose Select Dictionaries from the submenu.
2	Click User Dictionary, then click New.
3	Type a name for the new user dictionary.
	If desired, choose a different location for the new dictionary. It's a good idea to save the dictionary in the Dictionaries folder of the AppleWorks Essentials folder (within the AppleWorks application folder).
4	Click Save.
	Note: The new user dictionary is now the active dictionary. To use a different user dictionary, select it as the active user dictionary, as described above.

Editing a user dictionary

To add or remove words in the current user dictionary:

1	Choose Writing Tools from the Edit menu, then choose Edit User Dictionary from the submenu.
2	To add a word, type it in the Entry box and click Add. To remove a word you've added, select it and click Remove.
	Note: You can also add words to the current user dictionary during a spelling check or by importing words from a word-processing document (see below).

Importing or exporting user dictionary terms

You can import words from a text file into the current user dictionary. Each word in the document must be separated by a space, and the document must be saved in text format. You can also export the contents of the current user dictionary to a text file.

Tip: To add the contents of one user dictionary to another, export the contents of the first dictionary to a text file and then import that document into the second dictionary.

To import words from a text file into the current user dictionary:

1	Choose Writing Tools from the Edit menu, then choose Edit User Dictionary from the submenu.
2	Click the triangle next to Text File in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
3	Click Import.
4	Select the file you want to import, then click Open.

To export the contents of the current user dictionary to a text file:

1	Choose Writing Tools from the Edit menu, then choose Edit User Dictionary from the submenu.
2	Click the triangle next to Text File in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
3	Click Export.
4	Type a name for the text file.
	If desired, select a different location for the text file.
5	Click Save.

Related topic

Checking spelling