Bug 139375 - Writer Spell checker not working at all or set wrong language when two documents side-by-side
Summary: Writer Spell checker not working at all or set wrong language when two docume...
Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Writer (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
7.0.3.1 release
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64) Windows (All)
: medium normal
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: Spell-Checking-Dialog
  Show dependency treegraph
 
Reported: 2021-01-02 21:42 UTC by Alfie
Modified: 2023-04-04 10:14 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

See Also:
Crash report or crash signature:


Attachments
Not keeping even the same page sizes - you can see that they are both set the same. This is after 4x Page down each. (220.85 KB, image/png)
2021-02-04 20:12 UTC, Alfie
Details

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Description Alfie 2021-01-02 21:42:37 UTC
Description:
All language Defaults are set to English (USA). for unknown reason all words  started to be underlined by red wriggly lines.
The spell checker was changed to to German on 1st instance, and now the second instance it was changed to Czech (displayed by pressing the F7)
No idea what changed the spell checker here on either occasion.
This is a permanent internal change - the defaults were not changed.
Nothing I could do to change the spellchecker back to normal function.
Both times the only fix was to purge the libreOffice from my os and reinstall it afresh.
This happend in both libreOffice for Linux and for Microsoft Windows 10.
There are no fixes that apply to this BUG even on the forum

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Pressing F7 to check the document shows wrong language.
2.Changed the language in the spell checker window without  success.
3. I have not caused it so I would not have any idea how to reproduce it.

Actual Results:

I have no idea how this happened - It happened 2x and that is 2x too many.
It was NOT done by me, and it should under no circumstances happen at all.
All language Default are still set as they should be -English(USA)

Expected Results:
I do expected this bug will be found, and fixed. Could be linked to the F7 check If F7 does detect other language as it should, it should revert back to Default every time when it is done. Should be prevented from resetting ITSELF to any other language permanently. If stuck, or screwed in any other way there should be a Spellchecker reset a mouse click away, without the need to scrap the whole LibreOffice set.
The fix for this specific problem should be only a click away and not by any forum articles that require hours of research with no fix to be found.


Reproducible: Sometimes


User Profile Reset: Yes


OpenGL enabled: Yes

Additional Info:
I only use F7 option - The Actual problem is in the Spell checker working window. Any attempt to change it back to Default here is immediately reverted back to the wrong language.
The language selector switches ITSELF to a language different than the Default.
Default language is NOT changed so it can not be re-corrected.
The change is permanent (there is no fix I can find), and prevents the spell checker from working. If there is a fix, then make it easily accesible from the Spell Checker options.
All document text is underlined as if spelled wrong.
The Spellchecker text windows remain clear and spellchecker is instantly reporting that nothing is to be corrected.
Simply the LibreOffice Writer is impossible to use. 
This problem happened in Windows 10, and also in my Linux Mint 19.3 OS, so it is a crossplatform problem = internal.

The open GL should be Enabled by the installation of LibreOffice, not by user.
I have no clue what it is and where it is.
I do not see my profile being changed while I am working on my document, all by itself. I only have me so I assume I do have only one user profile.

I checked both just to get this report to you, and I ghope that you will look at it seriously and not just blow me away with BS -  as is the usual Tech support  response.

My best regards, stay safe
Alfie
Comment 1 Dieter 2021-01-17 06:55:24 UTC
Alfie, thanks for reporting the bug. Could you please paste inforations from Help => About LibreOffice?
Is the language of the spell checker in line with the language of the status bar?

=> NEEDINFO
Comment 2 Alfie 2021-01-19 10:00:57 UTC
hi Dieter,

thank you for your reply.
Again here is what is happening. I am trying to write a manuscript.
I do have one instance in English and the other in Czech - side by side.
I have gone through all Language settings - default for all text is English(USA).
Also I have checked that Local settings for both pages is English, Default language for each document is set to its language. it is English only, or the Czech for that document only.
I also use Google Translate the whole sections of text - then of course I have to check spelling with F7.
Either from English to Czech or reverse, depending in which I write at the moment.
For a while If I switch to English after I have pasted the translation the F7 spell checker works fine in English.
Then for unknown reason the F7 switches to Czech speller on my English page, and all my English text is underlined wriggly red.
Going back to the language settings all is as originally set up.
Same thing when I paste the translation from English to my Czech page - F7 properly pops up Czech speller for few instances then switches to English.
I have found no way to just switch to correct language. Had to shut the Writer down  and restart it to continue work.
I have no idea what makes it switch, I only notice the switch after my text appear underlined with wriggly red lines. Then I popup F7 and see that the spellchecker language switched.
What am I missing?
If I could open two instances of the Writer, maybe I would be able to switch the default language for locale setting. do not know.

My best regards
Alfie

Yes The language in the status bar is English on English page and Czech on the Czech page.

 Libre Office Writer:
Version: 7.0.3.1 (x64)
Build ID: d7547858d014d4cf69878db179d326fc3483e082
CPU threads: 8; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19042; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
Calc: CL
Comment 3 QA Administrators 2021-01-20 04:18:39 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 4 Dieter 2021-01-21 07:24:44 UTC
Not sure, if I've understand the problem in detail, but what happens, if you do the following steps
1. Mark the Czech-Text (that is underlined as wrong spelling)
2. Open Spelling dialog (F7)
3. Choose Czech as text language
Comment 5 Alfie 2021-01-24 20:21:10 UTC
Not working.
I have now started a new document.
Fresh Czech dictionary is also installed.

My Tools/language setting - unable to check any
Go to the Tools/Options/Language settings/
User interface - English USA
Localle setting - Czech
Default setting - Czech
For current document only checked
ignore input language - yes or not - no difference
my keyboard and input language is Czech
Default page on task bar is Czech.

The bug is that no spell checker is again available, and was OK while back on this very page. Now I do not have the red wriggly lines, just do not have ANY spell checker.
Comes and goes as it pleases.
F7 and Spellchecker from Tools both display blank popup and say the spell checker is finished. No selection of language is possible.
No difference what OS I run - linux Mint or Windows 10.

I have now installed version 7.1 on Windows but no difference.


There is a couple more serious problems with the Writer taht I will address later.
Comment 6 Dieter 2021-01-25 07:34:29 UTC
I'm sorry, but I have no further ideas and I can't reproduce. I hope, someone else can help.
Comment 7 Alfie 2021-01-26 18:52:12 UTC
Thank you Dieter, 
not sure what you are doing or how you are trying to reproduce the problem, but it keeps happening to me. I am only on my page 24 and it has happened over dozen times. Libre Office is not able to  keep the original page setting.
This is not the only problem - but it is directly caused by copy/paste from the Google translate.
The text size also gets affected, For most parts the pasted text is same size and format as the page copied to, but nex past the text is either grossly enlarged or grossly shrimpy and stretched from side to side ignoring  the LO page settings. 
When I select the page settings, margins, text type and size, etc., I expect them to stick throughout the document, and all pages. Not happening. Bug.

Since it is the only word processor I have I must put up with rebooting from lM OS to Win10 OS or keep reinstalling the whole of the Libre office.

You will be able to reproduce it by loading translate.google.com, open one document in English, then open blank document in any other language, set the page specks same as the English document except setting the new language.
select each language for that page only. Now start translating. Copy/English text-paste it to translator.  Then copy the translation and past it into your new document.keep going back and forth and try to keep all your page settings as set 
originally.
These problems come and go as they please, so if you give up after a paragraph or two - your testing is pointless.

My best regards as always, stay safe
Alfie
Comment 8 Dieter 2021-01-26 20:24:29 UTC
Not sure, if this related to the problem, youve described before or not. Is it possible for you to add a screencast? That might be helpful to reproduce the bug.
Comment 9 Alfie 2021-01-28 00:17:04 UTC
hi Dieter, 

by screencast do you mean the screenshot? Of what exactly and how am I going to add it to my post?
I  do not want to send any of my page private contents, so any spell checker pop up I can trim/crop.
Alfie
Comment 10 Alfie 2021-01-28 10:25:30 UTC
Hi Dieter
LibreOffice is just full of bugs or short comings. All may be related.

I got 2 screenshots that would explain a lot to you, but no way to send it to you, unless you give me your email I can attach them to.

The only thing I can do is to paste my file location here, not the screen shot.
/home/alfie/Pictures/Screenshot from 2021-01-28 01-43-14.png
file:///home/alfie/Pictures/Screenshot%20from%202021-01-28%2001-45-45.png

On both you can see one English page next to Czech page. 
For all practical purposes the languages are not relevant, just  different.
It is important to have both pages on one screen to be able to cut and past one language to a online translator and paste the translation to the other page.
This one shows you that both page styles are set to page size 8" x 11.5"
with one difference. Margins on one side can not be set precisely as on the other
One page has always the last decimal number one point different.
After pressing a Page Down 4x on both pages, one id displayed 6" shorter then the other, and it ads up so line for line comparison is not possible.
Also you can see that on one page I had to set the Font size 1.5 points larger so they would appear same size on both (10.5 and 12)

LibreOffice already can not keep the page style set. 
The Tools/Language ca be set only on the blank page, and can not be set from here after there is any text on the page.
The second screenshot displays my language setting for both pages.
On the bottom document bar the Default language is set only on one page, not the other language.
The Spell checker then can be confused and just display blank popup on which no language can be set.

So if you want my screen shots I need you email. Promise no viruses or other BS will come from me.
Alfie

The next screenshot displays the Tools/Options/Language
Comment 11 Dieter 2021-02-04 16:54:27 UTC
(In reply to Alfie from comment #10)
> So if you want my screen shots I need you email. Promise no viruses or other
> BS will come from me.
> Alfie

You can simply sent an email, if you click on my name in the header of this comment.
Comment 12 Alfie 2021-02-04 20:12:12 UTC
Created attachment 169480 [details]
Not keeping even the same page sizes - you can see that they are both set the same. This is after 4x Page down each.

Already explained in my bug report. This is just one visual confirmation
I do have more, but I see that this is really pointless.
There are just too many bugs. I spent more time fixing style, paragraphs and font sizes then actually have any meaningful work done.
They will all go away if the default page size and other defaults are properly set, and not left floating as they please.
Also There must be a way to work with two documents side by side, each one defaults set for that document separately from the other.
I had the language checkedmarked for that page only - made no difference.
Comment 13 Dieter 2022-02-04 11:59:13 UTC
Hello Alfie, a new major release of LibreOffice is available since this bug was reported. Could you please try to reproduce it with the latest version of LibreOffice from https://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-fresh/ ?
I have set the bug's status to 'NEEDINFO'. Please change it back to 'UNCONFIRMED' if the bug is still present in the latest version.
Comment 14 Alfie 2022-02-05 01:44:55 UTC
Hello Dieter, 
I am just working in this New version of LibreOffice Writer 7.2.5.2
Windows or Linux Mint 19.3 - same problem with F7 spell checker.
Have two documents side by side - translating from Czech in one document to the second one in English, going back and forth between them reverse translation. 
The spell checker F7 is still not fixed. 
I have to constantly go to Tools Language, and set the Text for the whole page to whatever language it has to be.
The setting does not stick. Going to the Options and language setting, the appropriate language to be specifically set for that document also does not stick.
The spell checker F7 often does not switch to that page language setting, which is clearly on the status bar. Stays either on the other language, or just goes blank with Go tho the beginning of document? Blank.

The second item with uneven pages was fixed - solved.

Thank you for this update

My best regards
Alfie
Comment 15 Dieter 2022-02-05 05:54:36 UTC
(In reply to Alfie from comment #9)
> hi Dieter, 
> 
> by screencast do you mean the screenshot?

No, a screencast. Under windows you use the Xbox Game Bar to record your screen (Win+G). You can attach video here. (Choose "Add an attachment")
Comment 16 Alfie 2022-02-05 07:13:38 UTC
Hi Dieter,

sorry - I have no idea what are you talking about here.
I never had Xbox so have no idea what video you want.
It has been so long ago.

I do not see my latest feedback, I have just posted few hours ago.
Yes, I have reported all of those bugs, not much have changed.
I have read them to refresh my memory, and I still stand by my bug report.
There must be a "Save settings" button added for changing the Language setting, Language in Options. Manually corrected language in the popup F7 spell checker.
The fix for F7 spell checker is: when other language is selected, it should stay selected until manually changed.
If language is selected for the specific document only, it also should not change or revert to default.
Should be hardwired to that page or document permanently, regardless of input language.
Pass it along, please.
Best regards as always
Alfie
Comment 17 Alfie 2022-02-06 00:46:07 UTC
NEW POST - NEW LibreOffice version - OLD BUG
I consider it critical or at least a major problem, but can't change it to such.

In my previous version 7.2.0.2 The LibreOffice spell checker quit working completely. LibreOffice is running on my Windows 10 21H2.

I have uninstalled this 7.2 version, and downloaded and clean-installed v 7.3.0.3
Custom installed with English and Czech dictionaries.
Proceeded to work translating documents,
The default language is set to Standard English(USA)
On the English document, the spell checker initially stayed stuck on Czech, but then just popped up with EMPTY language field, and the question if check from the beginning.

This is the same crap that I reported before in v 7.1, and now is even worse.
No spell checker at all for the Default language.
Have checked the Tools-Language  the popup does not set the Checkmark, there is no permanent set for the choice, and no SAVE the settings.
There is no possibility to change the language in the Spell checker popup when wrong language is displayed, and there is no Refresh or restart the spell checker if the language is manually changed / entered there.

Next= Tools/Options/Language Settings/Languages/ ... all have correctly set the default-English (USA), Writing Aids all English custom dictionaries are checked, 
Hunspell spell checker module installed.
The default page is set to English and keyboard set to US Qwerty

===================

When I change to Czech document, the Language is set to Czech for this document only.
The Czech module is not on Writing aids Available Language modules list, or Customs Dictionaries list. F7 popup has Czech on it despite my keyboard is ENG. 
The option Add to dictionary is grayed out.

Closed the LibreOffice and rebooted the PC several times and restarted the LibreOffice, but the F7= spell checker is still broken.
Need this fixed already, can't work without spellchecker.
Comment 18 Dieter 2022-02-06 07:57:22 UTC
(In reply to Alfie from comment #16)
> Hi Dieter,
> 
> sorry - I have no idea what are you talking about here.
> I never had Xbox so have no idea what video you want.
> It has been so long ago.

Xbos game bar is part of regular Windows 10. Please press Windows key + G
Comment 19 Dieter 2023-02-05 15:28:45 UTC
(In reply to Dieter from comment #18)
> Please press Windows key + G

If bug is still present in actal version LO 7.5, please try to provide a screencast.
=> NEEDINFO
Comment 20 Alfie 2023-02-07 23:28:38 UTC
Hi Dieter, 
Just installed and tested LibreOffice 7.5.0.3.
The Spell checker did not work right in the old versions, But in this 'NEW' version is totally unusable.
 It is critical function failure - this is definition of bug.
So much so that I could not continue using the Writer without the spell checker working, and removed this version from my PC.
The Spell checker is completely wrecked in this version 7.5.

My documents are side by side one in English, the other in Czech.
You test it with English and German if you have doubts about my description of the problem.
Upon every new upgrade/update my personal dictionaries are deleted, even though I had indtalled new version over the old one. This time 7.5 was installed on new drive, so I had to update both dictionaries.
When I first run the F7 spell checker, I always have to add all oddball words all over again with option "Add to the dictionary".

Switching  keyboard layout in previous 2 version correctly selected the Spell checker language for each page. The Spell checker input fields worked: Ignore, Add to dictionary, or Replace, then the Spell checker continued to next item needing attention.
In version 7.5 at first the correct language was selected.
After trying to add the new word to the dictionary, the Spell checker quit working. This is in both languages. All input boxes except Replace stayed
Greyed out, suggested replacement was also greyed out so there was nothing to "replace", and The Spell checker was not functional anymore..
The spellchecker had to be closed, and restarted for the next word.
But then the language input box said "None". No language picked up from the Keyboard language selection. That also was the case for the other language.
No further testing was possible.
I will reinstall version 7.4 and wait for somebody to look at this.
Thank you for your again for making possible for me to explain further.
My OS are Windows 10 Pro updated today testing this LO 7.5.
Like the looks of the icons.
My best regards as always
Alfie
Comment 21 QA Administrators 2023-02-08 03:24:55 UTC Comment hidden (obsolete)
Comment 22 Stéphane Guillou (stragu) 2023-03-07 21:15:32 UTC
As pointed out in the Quality Assurance chat by SPinz, the root cause of Alfie's issue seems to be spellcheckers interfering with each other when two documents are being spellchecked at the same time.
This has been reported before in bug 36201, so I am marking this as a duplicate. Unfortunately, the issue remains in recent versions.

Regarding your comment 20, Alfie, there was (and maybe still is) a bug introduced in LibreOffice 7.5.0, you are right. Please see bug 152738 and test version 7.5.1 if you can.

Thank you!

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 36201 ***
Comment 23 Stéphane Guillou (stragu) 2023-04-03 12:32:32 UTC
I got some more information from Alfie via email, who clarified that two documents with two spellcheck dialogs is no the issue. So I'm reverting marking as a duplicate.

However, I also clarified some expected behaviour:

When copying from Google Translate, the paragraph language is also copied across. It means that the next paragraph, inserted when pressing Enter at the end of the pasted text, will _also_ have that language (as direct formatting), and that the spellcheck tool will use that language. This behaviour is expected, as HTML can contain a lot of information that is relevant in LibreOffice.

If you want to avoid that text language coming from Google Translate to your document, please paste as "Unformatted text" (can be done via Toolbar, or menu with Edit > Paste special, or corresponding shortcut).

With that in mind, Alfie will test some more in a master build to see if the spellcheck feature does work as expected. (Although regression in bug 154581 might muddy the water when testing.)
Comment 24 Stéphane Guillou (stragu) 2023-04-04 10:14:54 UTC
Alfie/Tony replied via email today that 7.5.2.2 works as expected.
Marking as "resolved - worksforme".

----

Some more info via email, for the record:

> - There are two documents side by side on one PC screen. Each is in different language that is also specified in language settings for each page.
> - There are NO two spell checkers running at the same time.
> First you have to write something in one language - then copy paste it into translator, then copy the translated text from translator and paste it into the second document.
> You do that Back and forth depending which language you decide to continue writing the next paragraph page.
> That is how the tests should be run.
> The behavior of translator.google.com is no issue at all, and has nothing to do with the Spell Checker problem.