PlanetCatfish.com

How about a spell checker for the messages, I look like an idiot with out a spell checker.

Good question!

Spell checking is something browsers can do for you rather than a be a function of a specific website. For example, I am writing this using the Firefox browser with the British English dictionary extension installed. Like using Microsoft word, this extension underlines misspellings with a red line and then you can right click on the erroneous word and get a list of suggested corrections.

It's great - try it! I think similar things are in MSIE 7 too?

Jools

I'm not sure but I think I use MSIE6, how do I find out which one I am using?

Jools wrote:Good question!

Spell checking is something browsers can do for you rather than a be a function of a specific website. For example, I am writing this using the Firefox browser with the British English dictionary extension installed. Like using Microsoft word, this extension underlines misspellings with a red line and then you can right click on the erroneous word and get a list of suggested corrections.

It's great - try it! I think similar things are in MSIE 7 too?

Jools

Moontanman, go to HELP then ABOUT INTERNET EXPLORER.


You should be able to find your version number.


I just had a quick go on IE7, but I can't figure out the spellcheck, so I suggest you install Firefox.

I use it too, and it is a very good browser.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

I used to use firefox but long term it caused me some problems. I am having so many problems now I need to get as registry cleaner or what ever it is to clean up your computer to make it run better. Do you knwo of any of those that are share ware?

racoll wrote:Moontanman, go to HELP then ABOUT INTERNET EXPLORER.


You should be able to find your version number.


I just had a quick go on IE7, but I can't figure out the spellcheck, so I suggest you install Firefox.

I use it too, and it is a very good browser.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

Actually, many websites, forums specifically contain spell checkers and phpBB has quite a few of them as add-on's including
http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.ph ... ll+checker

For those using IE7 you need to use the following:
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/detai ... id=1513531

I used to use firefox but long term it caused me some problems. I am having so many problems now I need to get as registry cleaner or what ever it is to clean up your computer to make it run better. Do you knwo of any of those that are share ware?

I'm afraid not.

Do you use spybot? I find this is a very good programme that sorts out lots of problems.

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Yeah I use a spy bot, supposed to be a good one but you never know really. I guess icould use another one just to be sure but my firewall usually kicks up a fus about new programs like that.

corysrus wrote:Actually, many websites, forums specifically contain spell checkers and phpBB has quite a few of them as add-on's including
http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.ph ... ll+checker

For those using IE7 you need to use the following:
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/detai ... id=1513531

I agree that the phpbb2 spelling MOD is one of the best, but I'm trying to avoid MODs to the forum wherever possible. I guess I like having the browser do it as it means it then works for all sites everywhere.

If there's a strong feeling towards installing it, I could be persuaded, however I do think it's a browser function not one for an individual web site.

But at least we have lots of solutions to the question!

Jools

If I get a vote, I vote for having a spell checker. most other forum type sites seem to have them and it is very handy not to have to copy and past it to your e-mail program to spell check a long message. Half the time you lose it as it is transfered back and forth. Maybe more people should be aware of this

Jools wrote:

corysrus wrote:Actually, many websites, forums specifically contain spell checkers and phpBB has quite a few of them as add-on's including
http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.ph ... ll+checker

For those using IE7 you need to use the following:
http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/detai ... id=1513531

I agree that the phpbb2 spelling MOD is one of the best, but I'm trying to avoid MODs to the forum wherever possible. I guess I like having the browser do it as it means it then works for all sites everywhere.

If there's a strong feeling towards installing it, I could be persuaded, however I do think it's a browser function not one for an individual web site.

But at least we have lots of solutions to the question!

Jools

But if you install a spell-checker option into your browser, it works for ALL sites that you use, and it reduces the effort needed to update the site when we change from one version of phpBB to another.

You could for example try: http://www.iespell.com/

(I use FireFox, so I can't vouch for whether that product works to your satisfaction or not).

[Searching for "Internet Explorer 6 Spell Check" out turns up quite a few hits (521000 or so), many of which seems like a reasonable solution - I picked the above because it had a snazzy short URL]

--
Mats

some of us usethings like AOL that won't allow you to do that. I know I should dump aol but it's free and all my info is stored there!

MatsP wrote:But if you install a spell-checker option into your browser, it works for ALL sites that you use, and it reduces the effort needed to update the site when we change from one version of phpBB to another.

You could for example try: http://www.iespell.com/

(I use FireFox, so I can't vouch for whether that product works to your satisfaction or not).

[Searching for "Internet Explorer 6 Spell Check" out turns up quite a few hits (521000 or so), many of which seems like a reasonable solution - I picked the above because it had a snazzy short URL]

--
Mats

Another way of looking at it is this: Most of the internet sites I vcisit are Dutch (after all, that what i am myself)

Thus I will not install an English spelling cheker, because most of the time it would be a nuisiance.

I think this forum is only 80 % or less used by native speakers, all the others are in similar shoes

Bas Pels wrote:Another way of looking at it is this: Most of the internet sites I vcisit are Dutch (after all, that what i am myself)

Thus I will not install an English spelling cheker, because most of the time it would be a nuisiance.

I think this forum is only 80 % or less used by native speakers, all the others are in similar shoes

That doesn't really change the argument one way or the other; Firefox and the forum mod both have Dutch dictionaries (and many other languages).

Jools

MatsP wrote:You could for example try: http://www.iespell.com/

This is a good one, but I'd recommend the Google toolbar for MSIE or Firefox as a basic tool for spelling and a whole bunch of other things such as automatic form filling out (never type your address in again! ).

Jools

Moontanman wrote:some of us use things like AOL that won't allow you to do that.

We don't test Planet on AOL specifically, so it's a bit of a moot point. However, AOL explorer 1.5 is based on internet explorer - are you saying you can't install the same plug ins?

Jools

OK, time for a decision from the webmaster. I've thought about this quite a bit, it's not ACTUALLY t6hat hard for me to install a spell checker, however I have decided not to in order to keep the speed and the simplicity of the forum to the fore - this is for several reasons.

a) The blog has seen to it that modern browsers are offering spell checking.

b) If you install site specific spell checking, it cannot give you "add to dictionary" type functionality. (That's the killer point 1 for me).

c) Should the spelling site go down (it's unlikely) it takes the forum at least partially with it.

d) I'm not sure AOL explorer isn't compatible - see http://www.spellingcow.com/

e) Web site or service based spell checking can actually interfere with browser spell checking (killer point 2 for me - it made things really ugly in Firefox for me when I was testing this stuff out).

Good suggestion, but now you have my reasons for going down the route of browser, as opposed to Planet specific, based functionality.

Jools