Using MicroSPELL 1.0 Author: Brian Straight Introduction MicroSPELL 1.0 is a compact, efficient, fast spelling checker for use both as a stand alone program, and with MicroEMACS v3.9 and above on many different computers. This document briefly describes how to use MicroSPELL. Command Syntax spell {} {.........} The currently available options are: -d debugging mode -e use MicroEMACS to scan errors -u use a user word list -w output a word list instead of a location list Example Let's assume that you want to spell check a text file called text.txt which is on the B drive of your machine. To invoke spell type: spell -e b:text.txt Be patient. It will take SPELL a short while to complete its setup procedure. If would like to know more about what SPELL is doing at this point, you can set the debugging switch (-d} when you first invoke the program. SPELL will then give you detailed information about what it is doing. When SPELL has finished checking your file against its internal dictionary, it will give you a brief report of how many suspect words it found, and then, since we used the -e switch, it will invoke MicroEMACS in order to scan through the suspect words. Notice that the screen is very like the standard MicroEMACS screen, except that the function key window (if it is normally there) is now replaced by the SPELL functions and status window. There are a number of elements in this function window that you need to be aware of. On the top line, the "File" field lists which file the scan is currently on. This is useful when many different files are spell checked together in one run (many file names can be put on the command line at once). The first number is the current file, and the second number is the total number of files. The second field on the top line is the "Word" filed. This describes the current suspect word and the total number of suspect words in the current file. This will give you an idea of how far throughout the file you have progressed during the scan. One at a time, each suspect word in the file is presented to you for you to decide on its disposition. The suspect word is displayed, and the question "Option:" appears in the Dialog Window. The options you have include: (S)kip Skip this word, leaving it alone, and go on to the next. (I)gnore Ignore this word and all other occurences of this word during this scan. (C)hange Change this word. You will be asked to type a replacement word. This word will replace the original and MicroEMACS will remember the replacement. (D)efault If you have already replaced an identical occurance replace of this suspect word, MicroEMACS will present the last replacement as a "Default Replacement". Picking this option automatically replaces the suspect word with this default word. (G)lobal When you first encounter a suspect word, if you wish change it to be replaced in the entire document, use this option. You will be prompted for the replacement word. (A)dd word To a user dictionary. This word will then be remembered for the remander of the current scan, and also for all future scans when that user dictionary is invoked. (U)pper case Add a word to a user dictionary in its current case. This is good for names, proper nouns and acronyms. (Q)uit Finish the current scan, saving the file with the already completed changes. Note: Scanning document files will be availible on the IBM 370 series under the CMS operating system in September 1987 using an XEDIT script. - 2 - a word list instea