news.software.readers

"-Lost" wrote in
news:Xns998D65FA85E68lostthreads@ :

> -Lost's response:
>
>> Guy's response:
>>
>>> -Lost wrote:
>>>
>>>> Oh, and I don't know what genius decided to list this as a tool
>>>> that works well with Xnews.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Aspell called from the external editor function
>>> is one of the best solutions.
>>
>> It'd be nice if I could compile the latest version under Windows,
>> but I'm getting a strange error I don't understand.
>>
>> I don't suppose your expertise extends to programming as well?
>
> Or forgetting all that, when I use Aspell as the external editor
> it flashes the console.
>
> Any tips?
>

Hiya, Lost.
Here are my notes on setting up Aspell. The flashing in the console
indicates that you need to adjust the batch file that calls Aspell.

In order to use Aspell Win 32 an the external editor for Xnews, Aspell
must be installed in the default folder C:\Aspell. Apparently there is
an internal call to that folder location by the Aspell program. If
installed in another location, for example C:\Program Files or
D:\Program Files, you will get a 'bad command or filename' error.
[added Aug 2005: The batch file must indicate the absolute path to the
Aspell binary/executable. The location doesn't matter as long as it is
noted in the path.] In the Set-up screen/utility of Xnews when you are
setting up Aspell as the external editor, don't check the box that says
"Always use external editor". If that box is checked, any time you
compose an email or follow up, Aspell is launched and will check the
header and any other text. When that happens, you have to re-launch
Aspell to check the newly composed text. You have to include the
correct 'switches' in the batchfile that is used to call Aspell. Hence
the batch file should be: "C:\Aspell\bin\ " and the following
switches: "-c -e -x %1". The -c switch calls the check function, the -e
switch tells it to work in email mode, so it won't bother you with
checking stuff inside of , and it won't check stuff
that's been quoted (unless someone's used nonstandard quoting, just to
be "different"), the -x turns off making a backup.



(You will need to write a batch file and place it in the Xnews
folder. The correct syntax for the batch file is
"C:\Aspell\bin\ -c -e-x%1". Use this (browse to the batch
file location) in the Setup\Compose menu of Xnews to call the spell
checker. Don't try to browse to the location of ! See
above for configuring Xnews Set-up to use Aspell.)

For use with Metapad under Options>external viewers, browse to the
location of the Aspell executalbe "C:\Aspell\bin\ " or
"C:\Program Files\Aspell\bin\ ". Input your preference in the
'args' text box: -c; -e; or -x or any combination (see above for a
description of the arguements). If you don't check the "automatic save"
or "prompt to save" option boxes, Aspell will not make a backup of the
original file that you are editing. It is best to leave the "automatic
checkbox checked.

Someone may argue that all this is BS. Or that I'm wrong, and I could
be. But my set up works for me. Becareful of your batch file and the
path statement, those tend to goof things up.

--
Cheers,
Kurt