9 replies to this topic

[johnrynne]

I'm a professional translator. I have used TypeIt4Me for years. In fact, I delayed upgrading to OSX for several years just because the OSX implementation of the program was so buggy. I am now using TypeIt4Me on Panther. Though not as buggy as v1, it is still very unsatisfactory.

Last week I discovered that SpellCatcher does what TypeIt4Me has always done, but without the bugs! As a result, I have purchased 2 licenses. It works fine, and the simple fact that it imported my TypeIt4Me abbreviations made it worth the license fee.

I am overjoyed with SpellCatcher's ability to keep up with my typing through several consecutive abbreviation expansions. In contrast, T4Me loses its marbles and will not take any notice of things typed while it was busy expanding.

HOWEVER .... SpellCatcher will only expand on encountering a SPACE. In contrast, TypeIt4Me will trigger on practically any punctuation mark (and the user can decide which ones are triggers and which are not). Attached is a screenshot of the TypeIt4Me preferences pane where you choose your triggers - note such things as @, &, %, <, >, !, +, TAB, RETURN, HARDSPACE, etc.

For example, if I want to type expenses/revenues (I specialise in financial texts), then in TypeIt4e I would write revs/exps(space)

However, in SpellCatcher, I have to write revs/(space)exps and I would have revenues/ expenses

Notice the space after the slash, since SpellCatcher doesn't recognise the slash as a "break", i.e. the beginning of something new. So I have to type the space (to expand revs and to tell SCX that I an starting a new abbreviation) and then go back and delete it. (Fortunately, SCX can "see" the space through the slash, otherwise I would have had to hit a space before the slash too)

Is there any chance of SpellCatcher responding to other triggers?

John  T4MEPrefs.jpg   22.88K   83 downloads

[Evan Gross]

I do know all about TypeIt4Me's trigger preferences, they are more extensive than ours for certain. One big reason that we only do white space and new line is that Spell Catcher is also, well, a spelling checker that must work (parse words properly) in 13 different languages. The only real common ground for word separators are the white space and new line characters, so that's what we use.

There may still be a way to get what you want, but I need to look into the specifics. You'll have to change some semi-hidden Spell Catcher preference(s) to do it, and I can't remember off the top of my head. I'll look it up in the next little while and get back to you.

[Evan Gross]

OK, looked up the basic first thing you can try. Be aware that there ARE potential side-effects from this modification.

HOWEVER, if all you want is for forward slash to be considered a separator, there is an easier way - simply uncheck the preference in Spell Catcher Preferences, Spelling pane, Checking tab to ignore Internet addresses. This adds the '/', ':', and '@' characters to the list of those that are considered to be separators.

(Note that I wasn't quite correct when I said that only white space and new lines were considered to be separators - the '<', '>', and '=' characters are as well, if that helps.)

If you want to have other triggers as well, you'll have to modify an entry in Spell Catcher's preferences file:

Open up the com.rainmaker.SpellCatcher.plist file in PropertyListEditor (TextEdit will do if you don't have the Developer Tools installed).

Find the "SCExtraWordSeparatorChars" key. It has a default (string) value of "<>=". Add the trigger characters you want to this string.

You'll have to log out and in again to be sure the changes "take". And don't edit the file while the Spell Catcher app is open.

Note that adding forward slash WILL BREAK the preference to ignore Internet address. Adding other characters may break other similar features.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have more questions.

[johnrynne]

Evan,

That worked! It doesn't matter to me that it "breaks" the spell-checking functions as I'm not using them (no offence, but your application is worth every penny for the Shortcut feature, even if it couldn't spell check at all).

John

[shayne]

Evan Gross, on Dec 1 2004, 09:05 PM, said:

If you want to have other triggers as well, you'll have to modify an entry in Spell Catcher's preferences file:

Open up the com.rainmaker.SpellCatcher.plist file in PropertyListEditor (TextEdit will do if you don't have the Developer Tools installed).

Find the "SCExtraWordSeparatorChars" key. It has a default (string) value of "<>=". Add the trigger characters you want to this string.

Hi Evan,

I fear I am out of my depth here. I would like SCX to ignore slashes, and quotation marks (single and double), and [] (which I use when quoting another work but have altered the capitalization, etc.).

I looked for the plist file, and found the following:



AvailableUpdatesWindow_ SCLastAddedToShorthandReferences_SCPostSelectAllInterval_SCExtraWordSeparatorChars_&NSTableView Sort Ordering LookupWindow_SCExtraWordSeparatorCharsNoURLs_SCUseKeypadCmdNumberKeys_SCPostCopyInterval_SCT
ypingIgnoreShiftSpace_SCScrollCompletionsByTen_SCOffsetToPosUseSelectedRange_Icom.rainmaker.Spel
lCatcher.preference.interactivechecking.lastselectedtab_ApplicationCrashedAfterRelaunch_NSWindow Frame DictServerWindow_%NSWindow Frame FindInReferencesWindow_SCCheckFrontAppInterval_SCAutoShowCompletions_SCFixDoubledCapitals_.NS
TableView Sort Ordering CheckSelectionWindow_&NSOutlineView Items SpellingReferences_"NSWindow Frame


Where exactly do I enter the slashes, etc., to have SCX ignore them? Or have I missed something entirely. Please excuse my ignorance.

kindest regards,
Shayne

[Evan Gross]

You need to use PropertyListEditor or the like (can't do it with TextEdit on Tiger, as .plist files are binary format) to edit the file.

It's part of the developer tools install. If you don't want to install all the tools, fire off an email to our feedback address and I can set you up.

[rolf]

Hi Evan,

I followed your instructions to modify the plist file so that hyphens would act as a trigger. There have been no problems until the latest version of Spell Catcher, in which I find that hyphens no longer act as a trigger. Has something changed? And is it safe to go back and modify the plist file as per your earlier instructions?

Rolf

[Evan Gross]

rolf, on Feb 9 2010, 03:12 PM, said:

Hi Evan,

I followed your instructions to modify the plist file so that hyphens would act as a trigger. There have been no problems until the latest version of Spell Catcher, in which I find that hyphens no longer act as a trigger. Has something changed? And is it safe to go back and modify the plist file as per your earlier instructions?

Rolf

Shouldn't be any difference in this area of the software. So go and (re)modify the plist file as before.

[rolf]

I checked the plist file and the hyphen was still there as one of the trigger characters. But it is not acting as a trigger. Any suggestions why this should be so? (I'm using SCX 10.3.4 on OS 10.4.)

Rolf

[Evan Gross]

rolf, on Feb 10 2010, 03:08 PM, said:

I checked the plist file and the hyphen was still there as one of the trigger characters. But it is not acting as a trigger. Any suggestions why this should be so? (I'm using SCX 10.3.4 on OS 10.4.)

Rolf

Not sure what's up. I do recall changing something in this area in 10.3. Probably the name of the key has changed. Can you tell me what you see, or else email the plist file to our feedback address?