Basic English Translation for OpenOffice.org Word Processor   Use OpenOffice.org

    Purpose:
        This uses the Thesaurus feature of OpenOffice.org to translate from standard English to Ogden's Basic English. The Basic English spell check will identify words that need translation to Basic. Use of the drop down thesaurus will offer a Basic wording for various senses of the word. OpenOffice.org (OOo) (word processor suite) is an open, free software clone of MS-Office suite.

    Files contained:   The ZIP file will automatically download, but you will need software to UNZIP it.
        If you don't want to use the ZIP form, click on any of the filenames below and SAVE AS to your disk.
      readthes.html          7KB - this note
      readthesmore.html         __KB - for techy types
      th_en_BE.dat18,000KB (18MB)
      th_en_BE.idx  3,000KB (3MB)
      dictionary.lst        1KB

    SETUP for Windows:
    A . The OOo dictionary root directory -- your working directory-- is probably named
        C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 2.0\share\dict\ooo
    It will contain dictionary files for several languages. Each language has files for spell checking that include : a dictionary (.dic), its affix file (.aff). For translation/thesaurus there are a data file (Th_xxx.dat) and an index file (.idx) There may be, a hyphenation file (Hyp_xxx.dic). We will select a country code known to OOo and pretend that Basic English is the dialect of that country name. We have used English (Belize) and tell it to use Basic English.
      Good computer practice is to make a backup of the enter file that came with OOo.
      1 . Make a backup copy of the original directory. Create a new sub-directory under /ooo and name it originals. Copy (not move) the complete /ooo directory into /ooo/originals   sub-directory.
      Note: Because you should have already setup for Spell Checking, we will use the same naming conventions that we described in Read Spell Check
      2 . Copy three unZipped files into the first directory :
          Program Files\OpenOffice.org 2.0\share\dict\ooo\
        th_en_BE.dat
        th_en_BE.idx
        dictionary.lst - you will replace the original file of this name.
      Note : That's all. Use just as you have been with en_BZ spell check.
        Exit OpenOffice.org
        Exit OOo QuickStart icon. 2

      Start OOo. (quick start icon will reappear.)
      Translation Thesaurus. The thesaurus is found on a drop-down from :
        toolbar : Tools | Language | Thesaurus.
        Hint : use Cntl F7 .
      You may test the thesaurus feature with the word "aardvark". Multiple choices should appear.
      3 . Commonwealth users (only) will want to use GB hyphenation.
      Open Program Files\OpenOffice.org 2.0\share\dict\ooo\ dictionary.lst with any text editor.
      Change this line in dictionary.lst from US to GB :
        HYPH en BZ hyph_en_US     to   HYPH en BZ hyph_en_GB
    B To Review :
      Start OpenOffice.org
            On the taskbar, select Tools
        then Options at very bottom of the list
          then Language Setting
            then Languages
              Under "Default languages for documents" | Western  
                select English (Belize)
                click "OK"
            Again, on the taskbar, select Tools
        then Options
          then Language Setting
          then Writing Aids
            Look at Options box on the bottom of that page and be sure that these are NOT marked.
               [ ] "Check in all languages"
               [ ] "Do not mark errors".
                click "OK"
      That is all that is needed
      Exit OpenOffice.org
      Exit OOo QuickStart icon. 2
      Restart OOo. Any new writing in OOo will be spell checked for Basic English. (unless or until you change Language to another, such as to your native language. You are able to change this for any or every document. Type a few words. See Tools | Spell check | Options and be sure   [x] [English (Belize)]   is checked.
      -------------
        1 . All capitalized words can be considered as legitimate Basic English.
        2 . OpenOffice must have a complete restart to see option changes. That means you have to close the QuickStart icon. Then open OpenOffice which may take 30 seconds. QuickStart will be activated for the rest of the day. If you make additional changes to options today, you will have to close QuickStart and open OOo again.

    To Undo Basic English:
    There are no registry changes. You can delete files you don't want.
    Change Tools | Options | Language Setting | Languages   to your native language.

    TWEAKS
    AutoCorrect is a useful feature. For example: the word "can" is not Basic. You can have this automatically changed to eith "may" or "be able to" by going to Taskbar, click : TOOLS | then AUTOCORRECT . . . Select the language English (Belize) and enter under Replace, "can", and under With, enter either "may" or "are able to". Or to be more general "(be) able to". Hint : look under English (US) to see some how AutoCorrect works, there are likely a few spelling corrections or features already there, such as to replace "(c)" with "©".
    Link to : More ReadOOo   More than you need to know. But computer oriented persons may want to make some personal enhancements.
    Back to : Downloads
    About this Page: readtran.html -- Readme file of OpenOffice.org thesaurus/translation feature.
    Last updated September 3, 2006 -- first draft
    The compilation of the Basic English translation dictionary for OpenOffice use as a thesaurus is
    graciously provided by Carl Ray, Ed.D.
    History : Translation version 0.5k of Aug 31, 2006.
    The 0.6 version was available in December 2006.
      URL:   http://www.basic-english.org/down/readtran.html