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Dictionary instalment

  • 7 replies
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  • Last reply by sfhowes

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Hi: I had the newest Update of Thunderbird Ver 52.7.0 installed in my PC running Windows 7 - Home Premium and was shocked that during this Update installation my foreign language Dictionary (Czech) installed in Thunderbird before this automatic-updating has disappeared. This is a very serious Software flaw because I was using this Dictionary for many years, and during several years I've added many unique foreign language words & terms and it is therefore very important for my correspondence with people abroad. My critical questions are:

1) does Thunderbird keeps a back up-copy of such an important part of this Software somewhere in the Thunderbird installation Directory so that I could recover/re-install it? 2) What are the specific step-by-step guidelines to install any additional Dictionary into Thunderbird? I've spent MANY HOURS trying to install a new copy of the Czech Language Add-On following the suggested procedure but it does NOT work - have anyone from the Programmers checked if this installation procedure actually works? An earlier advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi: I had the newest Update of Thunderbird Ver 52.7.0 installed in my PC running Windows 7 - Home Premium and was shocked that during this Update installation my foreign language Dictionary (Czech) installed in Thunderbird before this automatic-updating has disappeared. This is a very serious Software flaw because I was using this Dictionary for many years, and during several years I've added many unique foreign language words & terms and it is therefore very important for my correspondence with people abroad. My critical questions are: 1) does Thunderbird keeps a back up-copy of such an important part of this Software somewhere in the Thunderbird installation Directory so that I could recover/re-install it? 2) What are the specific step-by-step guidelines to install any additional Dictionary into Thunderbird? I've spent MANY HOURS trying to install a new copy of the Czech Language Add-On following the suggested procedure but it does NOT work - have anyone from the Programmers checked if this installation procedure actually works? An earlier advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Chosen solution

If you can't install by drag and drop, right-click the Download Now button, Save Link As..., and download the xpi file. In Tools/Add-ons/Dictionaries in TB, click the gear icon next to the Search box, Install Add-on from File..., select the xpi file. See the attached picture.

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There are two Czech dictionaries listed here. I installed the most popular one in TB 60.5 by dragging the Download Now button and dropping it onto Tools/Add-ons/Dictionaries in TB. If you can't install it in TB 52 or 60, first open Tools/Options/Advanced/General/Config. editor and double-click the preference extensions.strictCompatibility to false, OK to close Options.

Your custom additions are stored in the persdict.dat file in the profile folder, and should be recognized once you install a dictionary.

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This did NOT resolve the problem because of the following:

- could NOT drag the green icon 'download now' to Options/Add-On selection button - followed the Editor.config option in Thunderbird but the extensions.strictCompatibility was already set at 'false' option, but I finished the step by pressing OK-key to close the Tools section. RESULT: the selected Czech Directory was NOT installed...! So - please mark this as UNRESOLVED issue and what should I do now...?!?

Modified by thorsak

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Chosen Solution

If you can't install by drag and drop, right-click the Download Now button, Save Link As..., and download the xpi file. In Tools/Add-ons/Dictionaries in TB, click the gear icon next to the Search box, Install Add-on from File..., select the xpi file. See the attached picture.

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sfhowes:

EXCELLENT - you are the winner...many thanks! Your last advice was the correct one - finally it works...!

 Could you also confirm to me if my original Dictionary-file which has disappeared after last Thunderbird Software update installation has been automatically restored?  And can you clarify to me why it disappeared after the Update installment, please - I'd like to avoid such an unexpected problem in the future...

Many thanks.

Modified by thorsak

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In a new message window, Options/Check Spelling (Ctrl+Shift+P), Personal Dictionary. If you click Edit... and see your added words, the persdict.dat file has been recognized. Backup this file, or the entire profile folder.

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One more question regarding the persdict.dat file:

- as you've suggested it should be in PROFILE Directory BUT - could you specify the EXACT FOLDER where I can find the MOST UPDATED version of the persdict.dat file, please? I've spent a long time trying to find it to make a copy of it but I could NOT find its EXACT LOCATION... ! Thanks.

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Select Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Open Folder to open the profile folder in Explorer. The persdict.dat file in the profile folder is the one used by TB. If you find other versions on your computer or backups, check the date to see if they're newer.