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Technical Notes - Spell Check Dictionaries

Beginning with the August 24, 2007 update, NCDesk operates two separate spell check dictionaries. The original dictionary continues to be functional during test mode. An additional local dictionary is now included. The local dictionary improves the spell checking ability of the NCDesk editor when being used in non-test mode.

Below is additional information concerning the non-test mode or local NCDesk dictionary.

  1. NCDesk's local dictionary is a simple text file (“dictionary.txt”) that is automatically installed in the NCDesk application folder as part of a new NCDesk installation. This file is also automatically added to a pre-existing NCDesk installation via NCDesk's Autoupdate feature, but ONLY when Autoupdate detects that the local dictionary file is missing.
  2. When using NCDesk in non-test mode, any changes made to the installed version of the local dictionary file by default remain as part of that file. So if, during a practice session, a student adds incorrect or undesirable words to NCDesk's local dictionary, these words will remain a part of that dictionary until the modified file is edited to remove the added words, or until the modified file is replaced by a fresh copy of the original.
  3. An easy way to restore the local dictionary to the basic version provided as part of the NCDesk application is to:
  4. A school or teacher may want to maintain a "managed" copy of the local dictionary including approved (non-student additions) and use that dictionary.txt file to replace each copy of this file modified by students during practice sessions.
  5. If a computer is managed with a system state preservative (Deep Freeze, GoBack, Ghost, etc.) and a customized local dictionary is desired, make sure the customized dictionary is in place prior to creating a set point for the computer.
  6. Another way to preserve either the standard or a customized local dictionary is to place the file out of the NCDesk application folder to a location that students can access but do not have rights to modify. If you choose to do this, you must also choose the File/Preferences option from the NCDesk application’s main page, then switch to the ADMIN tab, and then change the default location of the local dictionary file to point to the protected location where you have elected to place it. It may appear to the user/student that they can still add words to the read-only dictionary, but the words are only valid for the current instance of NCDesk.
  7. The dictionary.txt file can be edited in two ways. Outside of NCDesk, you can use a plain text editor (i.e., Notepad) to add or delete words as you wish. Inside of NCDesk, you can add words by using the new “Add to Dictionary” feature of the Editor’s spell-checker. Note that any words added by using this new feature within NCDesk will appear at the bottom of the file rather than in alphabetical order.
  8. There is no Delete Word feature available within the NCDesk application.
  9. The location of the NCDesk application folder varies depending upon the version of the operating system being used. On a Windows computer running Windows XP, the default location of the application folder is "C:\Program Files\NCDesk" and the local dictionary file (“dictionary.txt”) is stored by default in this application folder.

This file was modified on Wednesday, August 29, 2007; at 1:36:41 PM