userdict.txt not being written to

Posted by Gwilliams on Sat 14 Jul 2012 08:10 PM — 5 posts, 21,487 views.

Gwilliams Canada Sat 14 Jul 2012 08:10 PM #0

I'm using MUSHclient 4.73 with the spell checker enabled in global preferences. As I run MUSHclient on several machines, each one is slowly developing its own custom spelling dictionary. I wanted to merge all these custom dictionaries, but found that spell\userdict.txt is empty on all machines. Where are the custom dictionaries being written?

I've looked into %appdata% but don't see anything MUSHclient-specific in there.

Worstje Netherlands Sun 15 Jul 2012 05:59 AM #1

It's in spell.db or spell.sqlite, whatever it is called. Use a SQLite managing program to export them, or you can write a script in MUSHclient to do it.

I've suggested before that the user dictionary stuff needs more UI, but I don't think Nick has found the time to work on that yet. :)

Nick Gammon Australia Forum Administrator Tue 17 Jul 2012 09:54 PM #2

The file userdict.txt was for backwards compatibility. It is only read when the database is initially created. After that, user words are added to the main database (spell.sqlite) on the fly.

Here's how you can merge them.

Grab the sqlite3.exe program from the SQLite site. ie.

http://www.sqlite.org/download.html/

Look for "A command-line shell for accessing and modifying SQLite databases." a little way down the page.

Plonk that somewhere on your disk and execute it from a "command" window. Open your MUSHclient spell database, eg.


sqlite3 "C:\Program Files\MUSHclient\spell\spell.sqlite"

Type in this SQL to get a list of your user-added words:


SELECT name FROM words WHERE user = 1;

Copy them and paste into userdict.txt.

Exit the program, ie.


.quit

Repeat this process for each machine on which you had added words. You should now have a file per machine with the user-added words.

Using some suitable program (text editor) merge these together and remove duplicates.

Now on your target machine (one which you want these words inserted into):

Close MUSHclient.
Delete the database: spell.sqlite (or rename it, for safety)
Put your new userdict.txt in the spell directory, replacing the empty one if necessary.
Restart MUSHclient. The spell database will be rebuilt, including the user words.

The caveat here is that the user words will now be in the database as "normal" words (they were added at startup time). So if you repeat the process later on, only newly-added words will be found by the SELECT statement above. So you need to add to the userdict.txt file next time, not replace it.

Seril1 Sat 25 Aug 2012 01:24 AM #3

Hi. I have a problem somewhat similar. In my case, however, I've accidentally added a misspelled word, and would like to remove it. Could someone please help me with how to do that?

(Gosh I wish the spell correct the browsers use, with the underlined words in red worked in all applications!)

Nick Gammon Australia Forum Administrator Sat 25 Aug 2012 07:08 AM #4

See reply further up about getting sqlite3.exe from their web site.

In a command window start that up using the appropriate directory, eg.


sqlite3 "C:\Program Files\MUSHclient\spell\spell.sqlite"

Then enter:


delete from words where name = 'foobar';

Where "foobar" is the misspelt word. That will delete it from the dictionary.

Then to leave the program, type:


.exit