Subject: Spell checker exceptions

From: Knute Snortum <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 20:31:47 -0800 (PST)

Is there a way to tell the spell checker in pine not to spell check 
things like my internet address or my name?

--- Knute Snortum			Internet: [email-masked]
    MAS Inc.				Compuserve: 72144,1646

---

From: Nancy McGough <[email-masked]>
Date: 21 Dec 1994 08:01:35 -0800

>things like my internet address or my name?

I'm glad you asked!  Here's a *REVISED* draft of a section of the Pine FAQ
that I just updated.  I'm not sure if it is correct so it would be
great if people could send me feedback on it.  Here are a couple
questions I have:

* Do all versions of ispell use ispell.words as the default
  personal dictionary?
* How can you tell if ispell and spell are already linked on
  your system?
* Is there an easier way to do Method 2?
* Any suggestions for improving this?

===
Subject: How do I use Ispell with Pine and Pico?

If you use ispell and have an ispell custom dictionary ($HOME/ispell.words,
which contains a list of words, one word to a line) then it is nice to also 
use ispell for spell checking your outgoing mail messages.  There are two 
methods for setting this up.  

METHOD 1
========
If you always use Pine's default composer, Pico, then you can use ispell
as your "alternate editor."  In your .pinerc set enable-alternate-editor
and set the editor variable like this:

   editor=/usr/local/bin/ispell

(See step 1 of Method 2 below for instruction for finding the full path
to ispell on your machine.)

Then, when you are composing a message you can type ^_ to run ispell on your 
message and display the output in Pine's viewer.  In the viewer you can use
ispell's usual commands. While in ispell you can type ? for help on  ipell's 
commands.  One useful command is ``I'' which inserts the current word in your 
custom dictionary.

METHOD 2
========
If you use an alternate editor, such as vi or emacs, then you need to fool 
Pine into thinking that ispell is spell.  Here's how to set this up:

1] Determine what directory ispell is by using either of these commands:

     which ispell
     whereis ispell

2] In your bin directory, e.g., $HOME/bin, link spell to ispell with:

     ln -s /usr/local/bin/ispell $HOME/bin/spell

   Replace ``/usr/local/bin'' with ispell's path (see #1).

3] If you use the csh or tcsh set the SPELL environment variable by
   putting a line like this in your .cshrc:

     setenv SPELL "$HOME/bin/spell"

   If you use the Bourne shell set the SPELL environment variable by
   putting a line like this in your .profile:

     SPELL="$HOME/bin/spell"
     export SPELL

4] In your home directory create a file called ispell.words that
   contains your private dictionary of words that should pass the
   spell check.  This will probably include your name, email address, etc.

5] Logout and log back in to make sure that your new settings are in
   place.

6] Test that this is set up correctly by using Pine to compose a message
   and include words, like your name,  that are in your custom dictionary.  
   Spellcheck the message with ^T.  If your name passes the spellcheck then
   it is set up correctly.

Note that with Method 2 you cannot use many of ispell's features, like
``I'' to add a word to your dictionary.

 -by Mike Ramey <[email-masked]> and Nancy McGough <[email-masked]>
-- 
 /\_/\    Nancy McGough
( o.o )   Infinite Ink
 > ~ <    http://www.jazzie.com/ii/  -OR-  http://www.best.com/~ii/

---

From: [email-masked] (Mike Ramey)
Date: 21 Dec 1994 19:25:20 GMT

>things like my internet address or my name?

If you are using the pine native-mode spell checker (^T), the answer is
'no' (to the best of my knowledge).  That's why the alternate program
'ispell' is so appealing.  If you use its full-capability mode (^_) then
you can insert (I) your name (and any other acceptable words) in your
private dictionary.  Edit the dictionary file if you want to check it and
remove spurious words.  -mr