looking for third party spell checking + dictionary software 1

[gib99]

We're working on a software project in which we want to implement spell checking. We don't want to write our own spell checking software from scratch, and we definitely don't want to write our own dictionary from scratch. We'd like to know what our options are.

Can we buy a spell checking dll along with a dictionary from Microsoft? We're not limited to Microsoft, so even though this is a Win API forum, we're open to suggestions pertaining to other software company? We're also open to any open source freeware that we can download?

Also, we would like to know what kind of overhead would be involved in incorporating such a package into our project. We're working in Visual Studios 2008 (possibly upgrading to 2010). How easy would it be to integrate third party spell checking/dictionary? What kind of access would we have in Visual Studios into that third party software (i.e. how easily can we customize the software via function calls, deleting/adding components (e.g. words in the dictionary), deleting/adding event handlers to events, etc.?)?

We would like as wide a variety of options as possible, so please, the more suggestions you have, the better. Thanks very much.

 

[HughLerwill]

Have you considered automating MS Word

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q243844

 

[gib99]

That's one option. I've also found that the dictionaries and spell checkers that Word uses are available (assuming you have Office installed) as a dll within our IDE.

 

[majlumbo]

Did you check out Addictive Software?

http://www.addictivesoftware.com/

They work in Delphi and C++ Builder

 

[strongm]

>I've also found that the dictionaries and spell checkers that Word uses are available

But unfortunately

the use of any of the spelling files shipping with any Microsoft product is not allowed by external parties. This includes the use of the spelling engine/dictionary on their hard drives if it was installed with a Microsoft application

which is a shame. In the early days, the Common Spelling API was going to give direct access to the Mocrosoft engine and dictionaries, but Microsoft then licensed a 3rd party spelling solution (from INSO Corporation), and that licence precludes the use of that solution by anyone except Microsoft.

The technique linked to by HughLerwill gets around this issue, as it is Word that is actually using the spelling engine/dictionary.