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One of the cool features built into OS X is its Spelling service, which provides spell checking to OS X-native Cocoa applications and even has a correct-a-you type feature. This is very convenient for those who work in applications like the Text Edit text editor, the Okito Composer beta, or even Stickies, providing a spell check function without having to launch a separate spell check application. The downside of Apple's OS X spelling service is that dictionary support is more than a bit sparse, and I'm personally not enchanted by the interface window, which is serviceable but minimalist in terms of options and controls. cocoAspell is a freeware enhancement to the OS X spelling service, actually the port by Anton Leuski of Kevin Atkinson's Open Source Aspell UNIX command line spell check application. An extensive selection of Aspell dictionaries is available, but the four bundled with the basic cocoAspell Service/Preferences Pane download -- American English, Canadian English, British English, and just plain English, pretty much cover the bases for me. However, there are dictionaries for Breton, Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, German, Esperanto, Faroese, French, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Anton says there are two major improvements in cocoAspell over the original UNIX project: 1. cocoAspell is created as a service provider for the system-wide spelling services on Mac OS X. It means that any Mac OS X application that uses system's spell checking APIs can take advantage of Aspell's features. For example, Mail, OmniWeb, Project Builder, and TextEdit can use Aspell's ability to check spelling in different languages. 2. A preference panel named Spelling is provided with cocoAspell as an interface for dictionary selection and setup. Multiple Aspell options are available through this panel and allow the user to tune up the dictionary properties to his or her needs. To install cocoAspell, 1. Download and expand the cocoAspell folder. You will need StuffIt Expander to decompress the files. 2. Choose the "Library" folder where you are going to install the software. Use /Network/Library if you want cocoAspell to be available to all users on the local network. /Library if you want cocoAspell to be available to all users on the local machine. <your home folder>/Library if you want cocoAspell to be available only to you. 3. Put the cocoAspell.service file into the "Services" subfolder of the selected "Library" folder. If that subfolder does not exist, create one first. 4. Put Spelling.prefPane file into the "PreferencePanes" subfolder of the selected "Library" folder. If that subfolder does not exist, create one first. 5. If the System Preferences application is open, quit it. 
6. Open the System Preferences application, select the Spelling preference panel and enable the dictionaries you need. 
7. Select the Login preference panel and add the cocoAspell.service to Login Items. 
8. Logout and log back into your system. 
Note that cocoAspell does not show up in the Services menu, but rather its dictionaries are aded to the dictionaries submenu in the Spelling window that is accessed from the Spelling submenu in the Edit menu of Cocoa applications that support OS X Spelling. To add additional dictionaries to cocoAspell: 1. Download a compiled dictionary. 2. Choose the Library folder where youwant to install the dictionary. (see installation instructions for acess above. 3. Create a subfolder Aspell in the Application Support subfolder of the Library folder you have selected. 4. Move the dictionary folder into the Application Support/Aspell subfolder of the Library folder you have selected. 5. You may now enable the dictionary in the Dictionaries tab.
System requirements:
cocoAspell is freeware
For more information, visit:
Mac OS X shortcoming From dxtr Hi Charles, I think I may have a solution to your notes problem. "I don't doubt that what you describe would work, but it won't help me. I need to transfer text info and URLs into my Notepad Deluxe Database for future reference. I actually don't edit in NPD. The process involves at least two switches back and forth between the applications per item, and for this OS X is very draggy." Try a program called "Notes" (http://homepage.mac.com/richards9/) it has some very powerful services features. You can copy a URL then the text right behind it without ever leaving your browser. Sounds like the answer to your problem. Attached is a small pict of your reply to Steven with URL. Also the price is excellent...Freeware. 
seeya
Thanks dxtr. Looks cool. I'll Have to check it out.
Charles From etseo FYI: http://web.mit.edu/is/help/macos/macosx/OSXtest http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@46.yqjGajX3Ar8^0@.ee6b37a http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@87.4q1FajB7AYb^0@.ee6b302 The OS X Odyssey archives may be accessed here: Note: Letters to Moore's Mailbag may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context. Opinions expressed in postings to Moore's MailBag are those of the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or Applelinks management. If you would prefer that your message not appear in Moore's Mailbag, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published. CM
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