I'm writing my Dutch thesis, and there are a couple of words (mostly names and some middle-Dutch words) that the Dutch dictionary extension doesn't recognize. For this reason, I'd like to add them to a custom dictionary so that it recognizes them (mainly because then it will also autocomplete them, although seeing a number of words underlined in red also annoys me, because then I have to see one-by-one if any underlined word is a name or indeed an incorrectly spelled word).
I've tried creating a custom dictionary called "scriptie" (Dutch word for thesis), but when I try to add some words in it, the "New" command remains greyed out.
I presume something (some folder) is set to be read-only that shouldn't be, but I don't know what. Any ideas? Or do you think it's caused by something (entirely) different?

Bumping this thread in hopes that someone who can help sees it...

Have you tried the new fork of OpenOffice, LibreOffice?

Maybe it is fixed.

You might try Libreoffice, it's based on the same source and shouldn't have any issues reading your current files. I do know that it has a built in dictionary for Dutch although I don't know enough about the language to vouch for it's correctness.

It's available as an option on the spell check page, not sure if OO.org has a similar option built in or not.

I don't currently have a copy of OO.org to look for a similar dictionary for it. I know that I was having a lot of trouble finding a German spell check for it when last time I looked.

EDIT, that's what I get for being thorough.

i just tried to add a new word to a custom dictionary in my version of Open Office, it went fine. I am using version 3.2.1 (Build 9502)

Here's the Steps I took.

1. Opened document
2. Open the spelling and Grammar chcker (F7 by default)
3. Pressed the option button
4. Pressed the 'New' Button to add a new dictionary
5. Selected Dutch (Netherlands) and named it scripte
6. Clicked on Scripte in the list of dictionaries
7. Clicked edit to get to the "edit custom dictionary" screen
8. Typed a new word in the "single line box" beaneath Word
9. Clicked on New to add the word to teh dictionary (button 'ungreyed' when word was typed in)

If those steps don't work then you've somehow selected your new custom dictionary file to be write-protected, do a search on your HD for the file scripte.dic (mine was in D:\Documents and Settings\Richard\Application Data\OpenOfice.org\3\user\workbook ), right click on the file and select properties and then uncheck the box marked Read-only.

That should get it working for you.

@Stelis, Hedwards
Thanks, I know about that software, but I'm not planning to change just because one annoyance.

@matchstickman
That's exactly how I created my dictionary. What's odd that it doesn't even seem to create the file for the dictionary; when I exit OOO and go in Spellings and Grammar, it's not there! Also, the file isn't where it should be (the folder doesn't even exist).
Maybe I should upgrade to 3.2.1.

Any news?

That's your decision to make, just realize that going forward the majority of the developers of OO.org jumped ship and it's hard to say how much actual development is going to be going on over at OO.org. Oracle seems to have killed the project. But at this point, it's really hard to say what's going to happen to it.

@Stelis
I've upgraded to the latest version and I still have this problem. Next I'll try reinstalling it somewhere else. (That's even necessary because there's only ~300MB of free space left on my Windows partition, and OOO alone takes up 600+ MBs.)
@hedward
I know of the rivalry between OOO and LibreOffice and the "exodus" of devs, and I get your point. However, I think "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"; I plan to write my Dutch thesis with OOO and then consider switching.

Thanks for your input, everyone.
Even after installing OOO in a different directory, on a different partition, and having it create a new personal folder, the problem persists. What's more, it even manifests itself on my brother's machine.
I'll give LibreOffice a shot some time in the rather close future, but for now, I'll just live with the inability to create custom dictionaries.
Even though the problem's not solved, I'd like to mark someone's post as answer because I feel it's a closed issue, and also, to reward someone's contribution. However, I have a hard time deciding between Stelis and Matchstickman; Stelis has the lowest rep among us AND was the first to answer, but Matchstickman took the time to create a custom dictionary to see if it works for him and write a detailed guide.
What do you think?