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Using Word's spellchecker in C#

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17 Jul 2003CPOL 246.4K   9.2K   75   37
An article on using Word's spellchecker from a textbox in C#

Image 1

Introduction

This little function written in C# will invoke Microsoft Word's spellchecker and check the spelling of a given textbox.

Background

I had written a program in C# in which a spellchecker could be useful. Since I had a hard time finding any information on the net or in the MSDN Library for .NET, on how to use Word's spellchecker from a C# application I was wondering if it was because it was a trivial affair to program, something only a few people would use or because it was actual difficult to program. I decided to dig deeper into it. A VBA script that I found on the net convinced me that it would be possible to find a solution. The following article in MSDN "AutoWord Sample: Demonstrates Automating Microsoft Word" pointed in the right direction and from there it was straight forward.

Using the code

Remember to reference the Microsoft Word xx Object Library. (Interop.Word.dll) There are so many properties and functions for the document object that if you want to use a similar logic for a RichTextBox it should be fairly simple.

C#
...
using Word;
using System.Reflection;

........................

private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) 
{ 
    fSpellCheck(textBox1 , label1 ); 
}
 
public void fSpellCheck(TextBox tBox, Label lLbl) 
{ 
    int iErrorCount = 0; 
    Word.Application app = new Word.Application(); 
    if (tBox.Text.Length > 0) 
    { 
        app.Visible=false; 
        // Setting these variables is comparable
        // to passing null to the function. 
        // This is necessary because the C# null
        // cannot be passed by reference. 
        object template=Missing.Value; 
        object newTemplate=Missing.Value; 
        object documentType=Missing.Value; 
        object visible=true; 
        object optional = Missing.Value; 
        _Document doc = app.Documents.Add(ref template, 
           ref newTemplate, ref documentType, ref visible); 
        doc.Words.First.InsertBefore (tBox.Text ); 
        Word.ProofreadingErrors we = doc.SpellingErrors; 
        iErrorCount = we.Count; 
        doc.CheckSpelling( ref optional, ref optional, ref optional, 
            ref optional, ref optional, ref optional, ref optional, 
            ref optional, ref optional, ref optional, 
            ref optional, ref optional); 
        if (iErrorCount == 0) 
            lLbl.Text = "Spelling OK. No errors corrected "; 
        else if (iErrorCount == 1) 
            lLbl.Text = "Spelling OK. 1 error corrected "; 
        else 
            lLbl.Text = "Spelling OK. " + iErrorCount + 
                                    " errors corrected "; 
        object first=0; 
        object last=doc.Characters.Count -1; 
        tBox.Text = doc.Range(ref first, ref last).Text; 
    } 
    else 
        lLbl.Text = "Textbox is empty"; 
    object saveChanges = false; 
    object originalFormat = Missing.Value; 
    object routeDocument = Missing.Value; 
    app.Quit(ref saveChanges, ref originalFormat, ref routeDocument); 
}

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Web Developer
Canada Canada
Working as a software developer - currently workflow management tools - and enjoying every minute of it.

Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionBring Spell Check POP-UP to the front. Pin
DerrellGore1-Jun-15 10:09
DerrellGore1-Jun-15 10:09 
QuestionSpellChecker goes to the back Pin
DerrellGore29-May-15 4:22
DerrellGore29-May-15 4:22 
GeneralThanks, this was plug and play... Pin
John Ritchie16-Sep-14 11:01
John Ritchie16-Sep-14 11:01 
Questionhey this algorithm will make it work better because it checks for canceling and gives the number or errors corrected! ;) Pin
bgsjust24-Aug-13 3:43
professionalbgsjust24-Aug-13 3:43 
QuestionIs it possible to have multiple dictionarys ? Pin
bgsjust24-Aug-13 0:45
professionalbgsjust24-Aug-13 0:45 
QuestionError in Source code Pin
hardiktrivedihart2-Aug-13 6:22
hardiktrivedihart2-Aug-13 6:22 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Amsath ali26-Apr-11 19:08
Amsath ali26-Apr-11 19:08 
Generalis there a updated version of libraries Pin
mahesh152925-May-10 3:22
mahesh152925-May-10 3:22 
QuestionAdd/Remove entries from default dictionary? Pin
dadada71118-May-10 23:23
dadada71118-May-10 23:23 
GeneralWord cannot save this file because it is already open elsewhere Pin
Sreejith Kulamgarath17-Aug-09 2:12
Sreejith Kulamgarath17-Aug-09 2:12 
GeneralUse the Open Office Spell Checker from .NET and get no licence problems Pin
Thomas Maierhofer (Tom)21-Jul-09 1:24
Thomas Maierhofer (Tom)21-Jul-09 1:24 
GeneralRe: Use the Open Office Spell Checker from .NET and get no licence problems Pin
RealSkydiver13-Nov-09 0:43
RealSkydiver13-Nov-09 0:43 
Sure, you'll get no license problems by using Hunspell - but finding the right version of the dictionary file itself on the web is an adventure that – at least in my case - ends up with frustration.
GeneralRe: Use the Open Office Spell Checker from .NET and get no licence problems Pin
Thomas Maierhofer (Tom)14-Nov-09 2:50
Thomas Maierhofer (Tom)14-Nov-09 2:50 
Generalcount is missleading on the number of errors actually corrected Pin
wleon14-Nov-08 6:13
wleon14-Nov-08 6:13 
Generalcheckspelling dialog not appearing Pin
Gijo_ Joseph14-Aug-08 13:01
Gijo_ Joseph14-Aug-08 13:01 
GeneralRe: checkspelling dialog not appearing Pin
i006-May-13 21:23
i006-May-13 21:23 
QuestionHang? Pin
kikytan20-Apr-08 21:07
kikytan20-Apr-08 21:07 
AnswerRe: Hang? Pin
mnevis2-Jul-08 6:29
mnevis2-Jul-08 6:29 
GeneralRe: Hang? Pin
davidc@innosphere.ca6-Aug-08 4:40
davidc@innosphere.ca6-Aug-08 4:40 
AnswerRe: Hang? Pin
felchaal28-Aug-08 8:44
felchaal28-Aug-08 8:44 
GeneralRe: Hang? Pin
pronning30024-Aug-10 0:41
pronning30024-Aug-10 0:41 
Generalspell-checking service Pin
hnipak19-Oct-06 3:56
hnipak19-Oct-06 3:56 
GeneralMore than just the count Pin
JAR_5-Jun-06 7:32
JAR_5-Jun-06 7:32 
Generalspell check for website without it's dialog Pin
hala_ref3at3-May-06 11:18
hala_ref3at3-May-06 11:18 
Questionhow to have rtf style in richtextbox? Pin
hduani7-Nov-05 2:02
hduani7-Nov-05 2:02 

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