Need Feedback on UserDictionaries feature of Sigil

[KevinH]

We are currently working on adding multiple language spellchecking support to Sigil. So we need to better understand if and how users are currently using the UserDictionary feature of Sigil's current Spellchecking.

One proposal on the board is to make UserDictionaries be language/region specific (ie. en_US or de_DE) and therefore establish a user dictionary naming convention where each user dictionary name would start with a language and region in its file name (just like Hunspell dictionaries do now) and with a file extension of ".dic_delta" to match what Chromium and other browsers based on it use to extend their Hunspell dictionaries.

So before going in this direction,
we would like info from you if you are a user that makes use of the UserDictionary features now.

1. How many UserDictionaries do you use for each book? More than one?
2. Are they book specific or do you use them across multiple books?
3. Are they typically words from the same language?
4. Do you want to use these word lists with other programs spellchecking like Chrome based browsers?

If you never use this feature or only use the "default" user dictionary, we would love to know that as well just to understand the impact of making this change going forward on current users.

Thanks

[Turtle91]

I typically use multiple dictionaries but not because of language differences...at least not languages found on Earth.

My default User Dictionary is for normal Earth-bound words of any language; the default dictionary is always enabled.

I then have a different User Dictionary based on the series I am editing (eg. "Midkemia", "Pern", "Dune", "Pandemia", or "Witch World"). I add words/Proper Names to that dictionary that are peculiar to that series. I then enable the "world/series" specific dictionary when editing a book to which it applies.

This eliminates almost all of the false spelling errors and leaves the ones that I actually have to look at.

Hope that helps!

[theducks]

I like to use the Books regional Language (en_xx) when spell checking rather than force MY region (en_US) spelling.

I would like to see some support for common international words that see common usage in en_xx books . (a lot are French and Spanish)

(I only use en_xx books as an example. en_xx words found in other language books should be handled.)
Bonus feature: when Correcting offer to wrap the word in the proper <span lang=

[DiapDealer]

If I'm being totally honest, Sigil's spell-checking in general is completely wasted on me (one language or multiple). I'm just not a proof-reader. And if I was, Sigil probably wouldn't be my proofing tool. My usage tends to be with content that is already finalized. It's not that I don't care if the source has misspellings, it's that .... no, it really is that I don't care. Fixing that stuff is someone else's job. I'm the nuts and bolts guy.

I realize it's an important feature for some, though, so I hope lots of people give their feedback on it.

[DNSB]

Looking back over the last few months, I have used a second language dictionary around 5% of the time. Most of the books I work on are unilingual English. Basically, I'm cleaning up errors that keep them from validating and trying to improve the layout on multiple devices. Spellchecking is not a major concern. There have been a few books that have used a large number of non-English phrases, for those, a second dictionary has been useful. I consider myself lucky if those phrases are wrapped in italics never mind the correct language tag.

[KevinH]

You can do that now by using Sigil Preferences to change dictionary to the language and region of your choice.

As for support for common "foreign" words, that is up to the developer of the Hunspell dictionary for that language, not Sigil. That said using Sigil UserDictionaries to store the set of common "foreign" words that are not covered by the Hunspell dictionary of choice is probably a good idea.


As for correcting and offering to wrap the word in a span tag, that will depend on how lang and xml:lang attributes are being used in the html. It would probably be easier to create and use a clip to do that (one for each common language you use).

Originally Posted by theducks

I like to use the Books regional Language (en_xx) when spell checking rather than force MY region (en_US) spelling.

I would like to see some support for common international words that see common usage in en_xx books . (a lot are French and Spanish)

(I only use en_xx books as an example. en_xx words found in other language books should be handled.)
Bonus feature: when Correcting offer to wrap the word in the proper <span lang=

[KevinH]

So in your case, you would need multiple UserDictionaries to be applied alongside a single (main) dictionary. Your UserDictionaries are not language or region code specific and you would never want to have to use lang or xml:lang attributes for them.

This is kind of what I expected. And syncs well with people who like to add extra "foreign" words to their main language that may be so common they should have been in their main dictionary anyway. No one would want or need to use lang or xml:lang attributes for these.

Originally Posted by Turtle91

I typically use multiple dictionaries but not because of language differences...at least not languages found on Earth.

My default User Dictionary is for normal Earth-bound words of any language; the default dictionary is always enabled.

I then have a different User Dictionary based on the series I am editing (eg. "Midkemia", "Pern", "Dune", "Pandemia", or "Witch World"). I add words/Proper Names to that dictionary that are peculiar to that series. I then enable the "world/series" specific dictionary when editing a book to which it applies.

This eliminates almost all of the false spelling errors and leaves the ones that I actually have to look at.

Hope that helps!

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by KevinH

So in your case, you would need multiple UserDictionaries to be applied alongside a single (main) dictionary. Your UserDictionaries are not language or region code specific and you would never want to have to use lang or xml:lang attributes for them.

Correct. I would never want to "require" xml:lang attributes around the words. If they are already there, then it would be nice if they referenced the correct language dictionary, if it is installed, rather than my user dictionaries.

I haven't needed "multiple" user dictionaries in addition to the default one. I've only needed 1 default and 1 user defined. I guess it wouldn't hurt to allow multiple - except perhaps to slow down the word search ever so slightly the more you have enabled. That would be a self-critiquing experience for the user IMO.

[Thasaidon]

I only use the spell checker when the title contains may spelling errors. I prefer English spelling as opposed to the abomination that is used in American English However if the title is by an American author I will grudgingly allow American English spelling.

To facilitate this I found a site which allowed me to combine am English spelling dictionary with an American English spelling dictionary.

As long as the new Sigil multi dictionary feature allows me to use an English Dictionary and an American English dictionary in tandem I will be happy.

[KevinH]

It will.

[HaPeSchu]

Originally Posted by KevinH

1. How many UserDictionaries do you use for each book? More than one?

Often 2, sometimes 3.

Originally Posted by KevinH

2. Are they book specific or do you use them across multiple books?

Usage across multiple books

Originally Posted by KevinH

3. Are they typically words from the same language?

No

Originally Posted by KevinH

4. Do you want to use these word lists with other programs spellchecking like Chrome based browsers?

No.

[User_Z]

Given the limitations of the editor in this matter, you have to add dictionaries yourself.

1. I always switch the editor to user dictionaries ru_RU, ru_RU_yo, uk_UA. I do this immediately after installing or reinstalling the program.
2. I use these dictionaries for all books.
3. I switch the choice of the dictionary depending on the language.
4. No, I don’t want to.