Spell Checker for vBulletin

I was searching for a replacement spell checker for use on my forums since spellchecker.net charges $150 for 10,000 uses. I found something called XDE Spellcheck, it's a nifty little applet.


Installation is quite simple..

First, you will need to modify the directories of where the applet code is on your server (the bold section in the code). Then add the code below to your style footer:

<!-- spell checking -->
<applet codebase="/spellchecker"
        code="net.xde.SpellChecker.SpellCheck.class"
        archive="xdespellchecker.jar, usenglish.jar"
        height="1"
        name="spellcheck"
        width="1"
        alt="Applet Not Supported"
>

<param name="name" value="spellcheck">
<param name="scriptable" value="true">
<param name="mayscript" value="true">
</applet>

<script language="JavaScript" src="/spellchecker/spellcheckcode.js"></script>
<!-- /spell checking -->

Second, add the following input button wherever you want to spell check a textbox called "message" within the "vbforum"

Then add the following wherever you want to spell check a textbox called "message" within form "vbform".

<input type="button" class="bginput" name="spell" value="Spell Check" accesskey="c" tabindex="5" onClick="SpellCheckFieldsLocal();">

In order for the spell checker to work you will need to download the vbSpell.zip and install it into a directory called spellchecker in your forum home.

[Parker Clack]

Exodus:

I loaded everything in the .zip file in a directory within my main forum directory. /htforum/spellchecker and I get a javascript error.
The browser quickly states that it cannot find the .class file.

I also uploaded the .zip file itself to the same directory with no luck.

Parker

[Psychdrone]

why don't you guys use spellchecker.net?
that works perfectly for me.....

[Howard O.]

Well, after over 2 years of service, my spellchecker.net stopped working, displaying a banner that the free service ended Dec. 15. It now costs $150 for 10,000 uses. $150? Forget about it!

[exodus]

Originally posted by Parker Clack
Exodus:

I loaded everything in the .zip file in a directory within my main forum directory. /htforum/spellchecker and I get a javascript error.
The browser quickly states that it cannot find the .class file.

I also uploaded the .zip file itself to the same directory with no luck.

Parker

What is the URL to your forums? If it is not right at the root of your URL like http://forums.demented.org then you will have to define where it is in the applet information. Like, say your forums URL is http://www.demented.org/forums/ you would have to use the following applet information:

<!-- spell checking -->
<applet codebase="/forums/spellchecker"
        code="net.xde.SpellChecker.SpellCheck.class"
        archive="xdespellchecker.jar, usenglish.jar"
        height="1"
        name="spellcheck"
        width="1"
        alt="Applet Not Supported"
>

<param name="name" value="spellcheck">
<param name="scriptable" value="true">
<param name="mayscript" value="true">
</applet>

<script language="JavaScript" src="/forums/spellchecker/spellcheckcode.js"></script>
<!-- /spell checking -->

Do you understand what I am saying? I should have posted this in my original post (just did!).

If you would like me to install this hack on your board for you just send me a PM and I'd be happy to help you out.

[JJR512]

Exodus, you're missing the point: Spellchecker.net no longer provides the free service.

Now some people, it seems, mysteriously still have access to it...maybe you are one of these people. But Spellchecker.net has announced that their free service was being terminated, and indeed, the vast majority of us that used it have seen it stop working. Note that this is after it worked fine for a long time, with no other changes to the software or the domain, etc. It's because SpellChecker.net has cancelled the service.

[Howard O.]

JJR512,

I think you might be missing the point. Read his very first post in this thread carefully. He is not working with Spellchecker.net, he's working with something called XDE Spellcheck.

It is he that is trying to work out an alternative......he's well aware of the demise of the free spellchecker.net facility!

[JJR512]

Sorry; I saw "spellchecker" and thought he was talking about Spellchecker.net.

[Glitch]

I am one of the mysterious people that still has an account working for spellchecker.net...

... BUT...

I've been in contact with the author of JSpell... http://www.jspell.com and he has spoken with Chris... Schreiber? on the subject and...

I spoke with Chris over at vBulletin concerning a deal..

Our software is licensed on a per server basis and you know the cost is normally $395.00. We gave a ridiculously low offer price for vBulletin hosts to add our spell checker? so we?ll see what he says. The offer price was nowhere near our normal price so it would be hard to see them refuse that? of course, it may not work out to our benefit if there aren?t that many vBulletin hosts out there? and hopefully I didn?t misunderstand their business model when making the quote :-)



Cliff.

chelsel@wallstreetwise.com

... is what he has written back to me... Look into it, it is a very cool solution...

Glitch

[exodus]

What does this mean about a deal with vBulletin? Are the licensed users of vBulletin going to get spellchecking for free or something? That would rock! Even if there were banners, it would still rock.

I mean the hack that I wrote is pretty cool and all, but I'd rather have something where the dictonary is on the server and does not have to be sent to the user before they can check the spelling of a post.

Please keep us updated!

[Glitch]

To be realistic, there are several ways that they can work out a deal... A couple easy ways would be:

First of all, I do not belive that JSpell is prepared for a tidalwave of vB's customer base looking for support on how to install the product, so that would require a few of us becoming resident experts on this product and spending some hours helping each other...

... or this could be easily done with templates designed by the vB team and a bugfix/feature improvement release sort of like the prior releases of vB with the spellchecker.net support commented out... And for an additional cost (I don't belive that vB will pick this cost up but I could be wrong) existing members could purchase this module and easily add it to their forum with very limited support required...

Either way I'll be happy knowing that we do not have to hang by spellchecker.net's thread anymore... I really didn't like the banners myself, and their paid solution was not even deserving of a good laugh, being able to host the dictionary on my own server would simply be fantastic... no other overloaded servers to depend on... I'm glad I kept an eye on that company, I believe both of these companies can work together... That's why I made the intro...

Glitch