dwl10@amdahl.UUCP (Dave Lowrey) (02/19/86)
I recently purchased SpellPack, the spelling checker from Batteries
Included. I thought that there may be interest in a brief review....
SpellPack is a spelling checker that can be used to check spelling
of words in files produced by "Most of the Major word processors
for the Commodore 64, such as PaperClip and Word Pro".
Included in the package are:
o The SpellPack program disk.
o The SpellPack dictionary disk.
o A "key" that fits in the joystick port.
o Instruction manual.
The program disk contains the spelling checker, a file maint. program,
and PaperClip 64 (with all of it's many files).
The dictionary disk contains the "core" dictionary, which B.I. claims
contains over 15,000 words. It also contains a "user" dictionary, that
contains words added by the user.
The program can be run two ways: Stand alone, or as part of PaperClip 64.
In order to run it with PaperClip, you have to already own the key
that is used with PaperClip. To use SpellPack within PaperClip, you
enter <cntl> (shift) Y.
The stand alone version has functions to read a file, write a file,
check & correct the spelling, and list a disk directory.
Once in the spelling checker, both versions ask the same way. You are
asked if you want to use the "user" dictionary. Then the speller
goes to work.
The dictionary is divided into files that contain all the words of
the same length. So the pgm. reads the dictionary file with all
of the 2 letter words into memory. Then it checks all of the two
letter words in the document. If there are no two letter words, then
that dictionary entry is not loaded. This goes on till
every length of word in the document has been checked (up to 22 letters).
Because they use this method, the time difference between checking a
"large" document and a "small" one aren't much different. The majority
of the time is spent reading the dictionary entrys into memory.
When the checking has completed, you are presented each word that wasn't
found in the dictionary. You are also shown the document, with that word
hi-lighted, so you can see it's context.
You now have the choice of: Ignoring the word, and going on to the next.
Ignoring all further occurences of the word.
Fixing the spelling for this occurence.
Adding the word to the "user" dictionary
Note, that if you mis-spelled a word 40 times in a document, you are
better off telling the checker to ignore all further occurences, and then
use your editor to globally change the word. Otherwise, you will be
presented with the word 40 times to correct. There is no "global"
change function.
When fixing a mis-spelling, the checker doesn't check your substitution
for valid spelling.
The "core" dictionary appears to be very complete. I have found several
"common" words that weren't in it, but that is to be expected. My user
dictionary contains mostly technical terms (UNIX, assembler, etc) and
proper names ('David' & ' Lowrey' for example).
There is one "bug" that bothers me. If you make a word posessive by
adding apostrophe s ('s) to it, the checker doesn't ignore the 's.
So, while "boy" would check ok, "boy's" wouldn't.
Benchmark:
I checked a 1500 word paper that I had written. The time to check
it was aprox. 2.5 min. This is with a 1541 disk drive.
They support IEEE bus drives, and claim that the checker runs three times
faster when using these drives.
If you don't use the "user" dictionary, the time is faster. The
Maintance program can merge your user dictionary into the core dictionary.
Summary:
I think that they did a fairly good job with the program. It is certainly
faster than I would have thought it possible on a 1541 drive! I would
like to see it support the 's situation better, and I would like to
see a global replace when making a spelling correction.
If you plan to use it with a word processor other than PaperClip, I
would verify that it's files are compatable with SpellPack before buying.
I use it as Part of PaperClip, so I don't have to exit my word processor,
load and run SpellPack, the re-load the word processor and document. So
this may be a disadvantage to folks that don't have PaperClip.
Another minor complaint is that the PaperClip 64 program on the SpellPack
disk is version D. My PaperClip 64 is at version E. I called B.I. to see
if I could get an updated disk, but they say one isn't avaliable because
version E of PaperClip is physically larger, and there wasn't room on
the SpellPack disk for it! I think that they could spring for a two
sided disk, or a third disk, don't you?
I paid $39.00 for it at Crown Books. I think the list price is $49.00.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Lowrey
"To vacillate or not to vacillate, that is the question....
....or is it?"
...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,hplabs}!amdahl!dwl10
[ The opinions expressed <may> be those of the author and not necessarily
those of his most eminent employer. ]