Setting dictionaries for default language processi (Office XP)

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As a New Zealander I perpetually struggle with Office’s default for dictionaries.
I can set the dictionary as New Zealand in some products such as Word via the ‘keyboard language’ – but the overall Office language settings often default to those contained in “Microsoft XP Office Language settings” from the start bar. This area only offers me UK, US or Australian so I am forced to take UK which is nearest to NZ spelling.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the easy way may be to simply substitute dictionaries by switching the US dictionary to another name and replacing it with a New Zealand one.

Is this possible? If it is, does anyone know specifically how?

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Well, this is a guess, but… If the only obvious difference is that the US dictionary is in the English US language ID folder:

C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedProof1033

and so forth, then you might just drop it in there and see what happens…

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Andrew, first, do you have a NZ spelling dictionary that is in the required MSSP*.LEX format? I haven’t been able to locate a guide to the *.LEX files, but in my US install they seem to be:

MSGR2EN.LEX … Grammar checker 3.9 Kb
MSSP3EN.LEX … Common spelling for dictionary for all English langs? 0.32 Kb
MSSP3ENA.LEX … US spelling extension? 0.52 Kb
MSTH3AM.LEX … US Thesaurus? 1.32 Kb
MSTH3UK.LEX … UK Thesaurus? 1.32 Kb
MSWDS_EN.LEX … no idea 0.43 kb
MSHY2_EN.LEX .. Hyphenation dictionary? 0.16 Kb

What you may be able to do (tediously) is play around with deleting the MSSP*.LEX files and switching between NZ and US MSSP*.LEX files and then figure out (somehow) which are the US and rename the extensions then make copies of the NZ file(s) named the same as the equivalent US *.LEX file(s). Keep the install files handy in case this leaves things in disarray!

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John
Yes I have a NZ dictionary that ‘mostly’ works.
Sadly I don’t have access to the LEX file naming conventions either and cannot spot it by any obvious name with a ‘NZ’ in it
My challenge appears to be primarily that – finding what it is called – the rest should be easier.

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