Reading a Welsh docx file in writer

[GarswoodTech]

Had to install fresh copy of Windows 10 on a laptop. I copied all personal documents to a USB key prior to the new installation, and have since copied the documents back onto the laptop.

A lot of these documents are Microsoft Office .docx format and in the Welsh language. The owner has lost the original Office installation media and doesn’t really want to have to pay out again for a new copy, or pay monthly for Office 365.
I suggested using the compatible LibreOffice, which I then installed. However, no matter what I do, I can’t get these old documents to display without every word being underlined in red - ie. Even though I’ve installed Welsh dictionary it still sees everything as incorrectly spelt.

Can’t find a simple straightforward answer to this on any forum or search result.

Please help

[gabix]

Read this tutorial.

[GarswoodTech]

Answering my own question.

Because the Microsoft Word document doesn’t have the LibreOffice ‘Welsh’ formatting symbol embedded within the document, you have to add it once you’ve loaded the document into LibreOffice.

Along the bottom of the LibreOffice window there is a task bar. One of the boxes will have the words ‘English US’ or ‘English UK’ in it, showing that it’s defaulted to the English dictionary. As long as you have the Welsh dictionary installed. you can drag your mouse over some or all of the text in the document to highlight it. Now right click on the ‘English’ box at the bottom and you’ll see a list of languages including Welsh. Select Welsh (left click on it) and all the text will no longer be underlined in red, showing that the Welsh dictionary is now active on that block of text.

Save the document and next time you open it, the text will be displayed correctly without the red underlining - except of course any unusual words which are not in the Welsh dictionary…

QED