New Xtension Finally Brings AutoCorrect & Dynamic Spellcheck to QuarkXPress 8

2009

Jun

Microsoft Word-like automatic underlining of misspelled words and automatic replacement of typos and user-defined terms finally comes to QuarkXPress with new low-priced xtension.

BY Pariah S. Burke

Today XChange UK and ThePowerXChange.com released an xtension that fills a long standing need in QuarkXPress-dynamic spellchecking and autocorrect. AutoCorrectXT 2.0 is one of those products whose function is so simple yet so universal that it makes you wonder why it took this long to get it. And, at £34.00 / US $50.00, it’s affordable enough to fill that need for every QuarkXPress user.

AutoCorrectXT 2.0 includes two key features for QuarkXPress 8 documents: AutoCorrect and AutoSpell. Users who frequently have to use their spell checker to know where and what they’ve misspelled as well as users who regularly enter complex, difficult to type special terms will find AutoCorrectXT indispensable.

AutoCorrection

The AutoCorrect options dialog showing replace this with that pairings.

AutoCorrect allows you to enter frequently used terms like people’s names, locations, government offices, titles, etc. into the AutoCorrect database with a user-defined easy to remember shortcut. Then, as you write within the document, every time you type the shortcut, AutoCorrect will automatically replace it with the full name, location, government office, title, or whatnot on the fly, as you type. I’ve long touted the benefit of AutoCorrect features in Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign to those who frequently type in long product names, phrases, or government or military agency, team, and process terms.

AutoCorrect can also be used to automatically fix your own regular typing mistakes by entering common transpositions and misspellings into the AutoCorrect database. For example, when I’m writing copy directly in a text box within XPress, my fingers can misfire and I often type “QuarkxPress” or “QuarkXPres.” I often do that when I’m writing about QuarkXPress within Microsoft Word as well (I can’t count the number of times I mistyped “QuarkXPress” while writing my chapters in Real World QuarkXPress 7), but in Word I’ve configured the AutoCorrect function to replace those personal common typos with the correct “QuarkXPress.” With AutoCorrectXT those mistakes can finally be automatically fixed in QuarkXPress as well!

Dynamic Spellchecking

AutoSpell identifying a misspelled word and offering suggestions.

If on-the-fly typo and term replacement were all AutoCorrectXT did it would be worth the price, but it also includes Word-like dynamic spellchecking-in 9 languages.

Instead of having to wait to spellcheck your text box until you’re done writing, the AutoSpell module of AutoCorrectXT will underline misspelled with red squiggly lines live, as you type. When a word is marked as misspelled, just hover the cursor over the underlined word to popup a context menu with suggested corrections. Choose a word from the list of suggestions, and it will instantly replace the misspelling. If AutoSpell errs, flagging a word as misspelled when it isn’t, which is common with proper nouns such as people’s surnames or product or company brand names, you can tell AutoSpell to ignore it and all subsequent instances of the word. Thereafter, AutoSpell will recognize the word as spelled correctly and won’t underline it.

The AutoSpell module includes dictionaries for, and dynamic spellchecking, in 9 common languages: English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Norwegian.

Availability

AutoCorrectXT is available now through XChange UK or ThePowerXChange.com via electronic delivery worldwide. To order, or for more information, European users can visit XChangeUK. U.S. customers please visit The Power XChange.