simple spell checker

emastery

Hi all,

I'm interested in writing a simplified spell checker application in PHP. The basic function is that a text is parsed for certain words or strings, which are highlighted and alternatives for this word or string are suggested. The catch, it should be dynamically expandable with more words to be added and more suggestions made available in the future. I am still a beginner, so if anyone has a suggestion on how to go about this project, or know of a PHP spell checker tutorial somewhere I appreciated any help. Thanks,
emastery

tomwerner

I'm sure some diehard php coders will say that this is the wrong way(s), but you could have a look at the following features( they are quite advanced so you may have to spend a while on google), so here they are:

Use an SQL based database, using a table full of words as suggestions and compare it to inputted words using the LIKE statement, I should think this would have to run as a loop, comparing each word aginast the database, one at a time. This is easily expandable by just using INSERT to add new words.
PC Plus had a Windows Scripting Host thingy that could spellcheck a field (PC Plus is a UK magazine id you don't know it), sorry don't know the issue
PHP has the ability to talk to windows applications installed on the client using something called COM. You could perhaps somehow use the spellcheck that comes with MS Word
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I personally would have a go at the database theory, I should think it is doable. Have a look at the manual at www.php.net for string functions that split up words (I think the function exists).

p.s Download the CHM format manual, 3 MB is a bit of a haul on Dial-Up but it's worth it!