Easier way to switch custom dictionaries?

[Offutticus]

I use several custom dictionaries, a different one for each project or series or stand alone. I also work on several projects at once so if each as its own dictionary, I have to remember to switch between them each time I open a document. Not really that big a deal but it causes me to say mean words.

I ask this every few years or so:

• is there a way to assign a document a dictionary and have that dictionary be the one active upon opening that document, despite whatever document is also open or was opened last?
• is there a way to make a toolbar shortcut to the dictionary selection so switching is easier than delving into the options?

[Warwick]

I’m adding my voice to this request as a way to, hopefully, bring it to attention!

As a fiction writer, I have created my own dictionary for the novel I am writing. If all Dictionaries are ticked (via Tools/Options/Language Settings-Writing Aids), the created dictionary is applied to all documents, as is the normal dictionaries to the fiction document.

Instead of having to go into Language Settings every time I open the fiction document, deselecting normal dictionaries so only created dictionary is active for fiction document, and then doing the same process vice versa when changing back, would it be possible to integrate a dictionary toggle in the toolbar as a drop-down menu similar to the font style and size toggles?

Either the above, or designate specific dictionaries to only be active with chosen documents.

If fonts can be selected or deselected at will for each document, then why can’t dictionaries be selected or deselected just as easily?

[robleyd]

Feature requests

[fpy]

@Warwick

voice

→ 90007 – associate a custom spell-check dictionary with some documents and not other docs

could be an extension to provide basic shortcuts → LibreOffice SDK Guide: Chapter 10. The Linguistics API - The Document Foundation Wiki

[eenbeetjelaat]

I just encountered this issue.

Pre-teen bilingual dyslexic child needs a quick way to switch document languages and hence spell checking. Going through the menus is a bit clumbersome to say the least. The child also needs to be able to easily change the document language and hence spell checker for existing documents.

I am trilingual so can need to write in three languages.

A drop down allowing selection of document language on the basis of those with dictionaries installed or a set of commonly used languages configured by the user that then allows the correct spellchecker to be automatically configured.

I would very much appreciate a drop down button on the toolbar allowing language and hence spell checker to be chosen either when starting a document or while editing an existing document.

Given the abovementioned child’s dyslexia could this be prioritised as an accessibility issue rather than just an ease of use issue?

[Wanderer]

@eenbeetjelaat

could

Yes, but this is not the place, where potential developers look for tasks. The feature request is already linked above.
.
I guess I would simply prepare different paragraph styles for the needed languages.
.
Please note that a selection of languages is not the same as having special additional dictionaries per document.

[Warwick]

Some pics to show the difference between LibreOffice Writer ‘Add to Dictionary’ menu key on: Windows

As you can see, Windows does not show any of the available dictionaries to add to and will just add to whatever is pre-selected from Tools>Options>Languages>Writing Aids

[cont…]

[Warwick]

[…cont]

Linux (Ubuntu Unity)

Whereas, Linux allows you to add to to pre-selected and User Defined dictionaries within the document itself.

[EarnestAl]

@Warwick

Add to Dictionary’ menu key on: Windows

User dictionaries are what you add words to, LibreOffice checks against the installed dictionary and the user dictionary
You need to add a user language or technical dictionary before you can add words to it.

1. Open a new blank document and click Tools > Spelling
2. In the dialogue, click the Options button
3. Next to User-defined Dictionaries, click New
4. In the new dialogue, choose a name for the new user dictionary, e.g. “Spanish”, “Dim Day”, “Plants” or whatever name is relevant. Then choose a language if for a language like Spanish (where you don’t want Spanish words appearing in your English spell check), or [All] if you you are using international names, such as for Plants. OK

[Warwick]

Yes, I know how to add user-defined dictionaries - ‘Dim Day’ is my user defined dictionary on both Windows and Linux laptops.

These two posts show you how Windows doesn’t show user defined dictionary, or any dictionary, in the in-document drop-down menu, but Linux Ubuntu does. Both Windows and Linux have operated like this for over a decade.

As you can see in this following pic of my Windows laptop, the user-defined dictionary is activated, but, as per the above Windows image, does not show in the drop-down menu. Because only that user-defined dictionary is activated, new words will only be added to that dictionary (hoorah!), but this entire thread is about accessing and activating user-defined dictionaries from the document itself without accessing the Tools>Options… menu.

[EarnestAl]

@Warwick

Both Windows and Linux have operated like this for over a decade.

I guess that there has been a problem in your user profile in Windows in that it doesn’t show the second dictionary.
I see two user dictionaries in my Windows LibreOffice installations.

[eenbeetjelaat]

I see that I misunderstood your issue. Thank you for correcting me.

Your is thus not to do with difficulty selecting already installed dictionaries and/or switching languages.

I will see where I can post a request for my specific problem.