Dictionaries: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Installing a dictionary: add link to TB addons)
(→‎Installing manually: mention short file names like en.aff)
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# Use a zip or jar tool to open the file that you downloaded.  (If the file extension is <tt>.xpi</tt>, then some zip tools require you to rename it <tt>.zip</tt> first.)
# Use a zip or jar tool to open the file that you downloaded.  (If the file extension is <tt>.xpi</tt>, then some zip tools require you to rename it <tt>.zip</tt> first.)
# Store the <tt>.dic</tt>, <tt>.aff</tt> and <tt>README-</tt> files in the <tt>dictionaries</tt> directory.
# Store the <tt>.dic</tt>, <tt>.aff</tt> and <tt>README-</tt> files in the <tt>dictionaries</tt> directory.
# If the <tt>.dic</tt> and <tt>.aff</tt> files you stored do not have names like <tt>xx-XX.xxx</tt>, rename them.  (For example, rename <tt>en_US.aff</tt> as <tt>en-US.aff</tt>.)
# If the <tt>.dic</tt> and <tt>.aff</tt> files you stored do not have names like <tt>xx-XX.xxx</tt> or just <tt>xx.xxx</tt>, rename them.  (For example, rename <tt>en_US.aff</tt> as <tt>en-US.aff</tt> or just <tt>en.aff</tt>.)
# Restart the application.
# Restart the application.
# Optionally delete the file that you downloaded.
# Optionally delete the file that you downloaded.

Revision as of 10:40, 13 April 2007

This article is about dictionaries that you can use to check spelling in Firefox and Thunderbird. It applies to releases of these applications starting from 2.0. For information about dictionaries for Thunderbird releases before 2.0, see: Dictionaries (Thunderbird)

Install an extra dictionary when you want to be able to check spelling in an extra language or in a regional variant of a language.

Notes: 

  • Alternatively, you can download and install a localized build of Firefox or Thunderbird, or a language pack. When you use a localized build or a language pack, all of the application's user interface interface (including the default spelling dictionary) appears in the language.
  • The spelling checker does not support all languages.

Installing a dictionary

You can get dictionaries from any of the following sources. Add-on dictionaries are easier to install than other dictionaries:

Installing directly

This is the easiest method, but it only works for add-on dictionaries.

Use this method to install a dictionary in the current profile. To install the dictionary in another profile, switch to that profile and repeat the procedure:

Firefox:

  1. On the web page, click the link that points to the dictionary.
  2. When a Software Installation dialog opens, wait three seconds for the Install Now button to become enabled, then press it. Firefox downloads the dictionary.
  3. When the download is complete, press the Restart Firefox button in the Add-ons window. Firefox closes and restarts.

Thunderbird:
On the web page, do not click the link that points to the dictionary.

  1. In Thunderbird, choose Tools – Add-ons. Thunderbird's Add-ons window opens.
  2. From the web page, drag the link that points to the dictionary and drop it in Thunderbird's Add-ons window.
  3. When a Software Installation dialog opens, wait three seconds for the Install Now button to become enabled, then press it. Thunderbird downloads the dictionary.
  4. When the download is complete, press the Restart Thunderbird button in the Add-ons window. Thunderbird closes and restarts.

Installing by downloading manually

This method only works for add-on dictionaries. Use it when you want to download the dictionary just once and install it in more than one profile.

To install the dictionary in another profile, switch to that profile and repeat the procedure from step 2.

  1. From the web page, get a context menu for the link that points to the dictionary (for example, by right-clicking it). From the context menu, choose Save Link As... and choose where to save the downloaded file on your computer. You can save it in a temporary directory or on your desktop.
  2. Firefox — either:
    • Use your mouse to drag the file that you downloaded and drop it in Firefox.
    or:
    • From the Firefox's menu bar, choose File – Open File..., then choose the file that you downloaded.
    Thunderbird:
    a. From Thunderbird's menu bar, choose Tools – Add-ons. Thunderbird's Add-ons window opens.
  3. b. Either:
    • Drag the file that you downloaded and drop it in Thunderbird's Add-ons window.
    or:
    • Press the Install... button and select the file that you downloaded.
  4. When a Software Installation dialog opens, wait three seconds for the Install Now button to become enabled, then press it. The application installs the dictionary.
  5. Press the Restart Firefox or Restart Thunderbird button in the Add-ons window. The application closes and restarts.
  6. Optionally delete the file that you downloaded.

Installing manually

This method works for all dictionaries. Use it to install a dictionary that is not packaged as an add-on, or when you want to make the dictionary available in all profiles.

This method installs the dictionary in the application itself, making it available in all profiles.

At step 5 you usually need a program to open the downloaded file. You can use any zip tool or jar tool—for example: 7-Zip

  1. From the web page, get a context menu for the link that points to the dictionary (for example, by right-clicking it). From the context menu, choose Save Link As... and choose where to save the downloaded file on your computer. You can save it in a temporary directory or on your desktop.
  2. From the menu bar in the application's main window, choose File – Exit. The application closes.
  3. Go to the application's installation directory. (You can often find it by looking at the properties of the shortcut or launcher icon that you use to start the application.)
  4. Go to the dictionaries directory there.
  5. Use a zip or jar tool to open the file that you downloaded. (If the file extension is .xpi, then some zip tools require you to rename it .zip first.)
  6. Store the .dic, .aff and README- files in the dictionaries directory.
  7. If the .dic and .aff files you stored do not have names like xx-XX.xxx or just xx.xxx, rename them. (For example, rename en_US.aff as en-US.aff or just en.aff.)
  8. Restart the application.
  9. Optionally delete the file that you downloaded.

Uninstalling a dictionary

To uninstall a dictionary that you installed as an add-on:

  1. Choose Tools – Add-ons.
  2. Select the dictionary.
  3. Press the dictionary's Uninstall button, then confirm the uninstall.
  4. Restart the application.

To uninstall a dictionary that you installed manually:

  1. Delete the files that you installed.
  2. Restart the application.

Troubleshooting

Some common problems with dictionaries are:

  • A dictionary is not compatible with your version of the application. Either download a compatible version, or install the dictionary manually.
  • You did not close the application completely. Choose File – Exit from the main menu bar to ensure that all the application's windows close.

Some less common problems are:

  • You installed a Thunderbird dictionary in Firefox by mistake. Either download the Firefox dictionary, or install the Thunderbird dictionary manually.
  • Users do not have permission to read manually-installed dictionary files. On a multiuser system, ensure that all users have read access to the files specified in the Installing manually section above. For example, on a Unix system use chmod to set these files' permissions to 644.
  • The dictionary is faulty. Try a dictionary from another source.

Note:  The contents of dictionaries are not maintained by Mozilla. In some cases they are not maintained by anyone. If you think the contents of a dictionary should be updated, you might be able to find out who maintains it by looking in its README file (if it has one). You can find the README file by using a zip tool or jar tool to open the dictionary's installation file.

Personal dictionary

Your personal dictionary is stored in the file persdict.dat in your profile folder. It is simply a list of words in plain text format.

You can import a list of words from somewhere else by replacing this file, or you can copy this file to use it in a different profile.