Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
If you come up OS X ’s built - in spell - chequer and thesaurus good enough , you have no motive for Spell Catcher X. But if you expend the legal age of your computer metre type words , Spell Catcher X is a great accession to your toolkit . Be forewarned , though : it will take some time to master its port . If you ’re uncoerced to put in the movement , Spell Catcher X has much to provide .
While Mac OS X ’s build - in dictionary / thesaurus is good , it has its limitations . It does n’t , for example , work in all applications ( Firefox and Chrome are a couple illustrious exceptions ) . If you expend a lot of your meter typing , and you desire a better tool , you should consider Spell Catcher X. Despite the name , Spell Checker X is much more than a spelling peter . The developer name the program as a writing assistant , and that ’s an minded summary .
installing is comparatively straightforward , with one exception : When you first execute the programme , you ’ll be asked whether you want to instal Spell Catcher X’sinput - method app , stimulus - method portion , or both . The app program works with 64 - scrap Mac programs and most 32 - bit program ; the component works with those 32 - mo apps that are n’t compatible with the app . While that might vocalise confusing , in world it ’s not : I installed both and had no hassle using Spell Catcher X with any of the programs I tested it with under OS X 10.6 .
DirectCorrect color-codes errors: blue for repeated words, red for incorrect spellings, and so on.
Once establish , Spell Catcher X enable and is accessible via OS X ’s Input Menu ( in the main menu stripe ) ; to set off Spell Catcher X , select the flag icon in the menu measure and then prefer Spell Catcher X from the drop-off - down fare . This action changes the fleur-de-lis image to a checkmark icon , indicating that the programme is active . Click the same menu again to display Spell Catcher X ’s own card ( which is an incredible 28 entry long ) .
Once Spell Catcher X is activated , it ’s dynamic in every program . In my examination , it worked in Firefox , Chrome , and every other app I throw at it ; I was even capable to see spelling errors in a written document I created in jEdit , a textual matter editor write in Java . With OS X ’s spell checker , you often inquire whether it will work in a gift app ; it ’s nice knowing that Spell Catcher X is always there .
you may use Spell Catcher X as you do the built - in spell checking , correcting words via a venire that appears when you trigger off tour check . Or you’re able to have a panel or window pop up automatically when Spell Catcher spots a misapprehension . There ’s also a third mode , DirectCorrect , that work only in certain applications . This mode provides real - time , colorful , out of the question - to - miss sheathing for words that necessitate correcting . The color represent unlike problem : blue for repeated intelligence , red for wrong spellings , browned for bad punctuation mark , and royal for faulty capitalisation .
Spell Catcher X’s autocorrect dictionary contains more than 3,500 common typographical errors.
DirectCorrect colouration - code errors : blue for repeated watchword , red for incorrect spellings , and so on .
you could customize the way Spell Catcher works in individual programs ; for object lesson , you could use the pop - up window in one programme and DirectCorrect in another . When you alternate apps , Spell Catcher X will interchange its setting consequently .
When the program does find an error , your Mac ’s voice will speak the wordcuriousto indicate that it has found a refutable Word of God . If you ’d rather not hear your computing machine speak every prison term you make a misprint ( and I know I do n’t ) , you could exchange the style of the alert , or even disable it entirely .
Spell Catcher X also ply more dictionaries than the spell checker build into OS X , include ace for aesculapian , geographic , legal , and biographic vocabulary . There are also editable learned - words dictionaries covering computer terms , hypertext markup language syntax , and abbreviations .
While all of these spelling features work well , they scantily scratch the Earth’s surface of what Spell Catcher X can do . For model , the program also include a robust auto - fudge factor prick , which you’re able to use to automatically fix errors such as bivalent capitals and dual distance , and to automatically format bright citation and fractions . There ’s also a lexicon of dustup to mechanically right , populated with more than 3,500 common typographical errors — for example , allreadyandpopualr . I found this feature to be incredibly useful , as it caught a large act of my typical mistakes . When a word is compensate by this dictionary , Spell Catcher let you know with a subtle beep . ( you may vary this sound , but I like get a line it , as it would catch my brain before my fingers essay to go back to fix the literal that I knew I had made . )
There ’s also a Shorthands dictionary , Spell Catcher ’s name for an abbreviation - expansion tool . By editing the Shorthands dictionary , you may produce abbreviation and their corresponding full text edition . For instance , you could define the shorthandsncas an abbreviation forSincerely yours . Expanded texts can let in exceptional characters ( Tab , arrow keys , Return , and so on ) . That said , Spell Catcher X is n’t about as full - featured as the consecrate text - elaboration instrument such as TypeIt4Me ( ) and TextExpander ( ) . You ca n’t , for instance , set the pointer placement , run AppleScripts , operate the trigger keys that activate your shorthand expansion , or insert the contents of the clipboard in a shorthand entering . Still , as a basic expander , Spell Catcher X works well .
Spell Catcher X ’s autocorrect dictionary contains more than 3,500 rough-cut typographical errors .
Spell Catcher X also offers a feature to quickly sneak in information from Address Book . For instance , when I typeappleand opt Completion from the Spell Catcher menu , I see a pop - up list of choices that let in the party ’s name , phone number , e - ring armour speech containingapple , and even reach information for an conversance at the caller .
Spell Catcher X ’s Ghost Writer feature is the ultimate protection against unexpected quits and crashes . With Ghost Writer enabled for a establish programme , Spell Catcher X will keep a record of every key stroke you typecast ( except for usernames , password , and anything else type in a secure textbook - entry box ) . For example , if you ’re type in TextEdit and your Mac crashes , once you ’re back up and be given you could open up the Ghost Writer files and transcript and glue your pre - crash text back into TextEdit . Note that because the characteristic capture everykeystroke , you wo n’t get an exact copy of your lose papers , but rather a record of everything you did while editing . Still , Ghost Writer may spell the difference between retyping just part of your lost magnum opus and and retyping the whole thing .
While Spell Catcher is undeniably powerful and useful , it ’s also one of the most complex programs I ’ve ever reviewed . Its bill of fare bar icon sport more than 25 separate entries , include four with hero - menus that contain 20 more debut . The preferences cover contains eight separate tabs ; two of those together contain eleven additional tab . If you find some aspect of Spell Catcher ’s appearing or functionality you ’d wish to pull off , the odds are good that you’re able to do so ; the challenge lie in figuring out how .
To make thing even more complicated , six of the eight preferences tab can be lay up on a per - diligence cornerstone ; there ’s a drawer on the side of the penchant window listing diligence with customized preferences . An total section of the predilection panel is devote just to customizing the shortcut keys for those 28 entries in the program ’s menu bar icon .
If this all sounds confusing , it is . To get the most out of Spell Catcher X , you really require to dive into its thorough in - app assistance , and drop some time with the PDF exploiter manual of arms . Even then , there ’s a unconscionable read curve to get through before you ’ll sense comfortable with the program . But if you ’re willing to put in the effort , Spell Catcher X has much to offer .
