I'm sure it can be done, but I can't tell how.
It doesn't make sense to have 270 Mb of data on your hard disk, and not to have a few Mb program to read it, does it? And the documentation says there are add-ons to access this source directly from Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
I found this:
"If you're going to install Microsoft Office 97, don't forget to include one of the best sources of reference material, the Microsoft Bookshelf Basics. Bookshelf Basics is an optional Office add-on that you can select during installation and it includes a dictionary, thesaurus, and book of quotations. These references can be run as a standalone application or they can be accessed directly from within Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint."
And (in the MSKB article telling how to keep Bookshelf Basics when going to Office 2000):
"Integrating Bookshelf Basics with Excel 2000
Regardless of the method you use above, there will not be any Bookshelf Basics integration with Excel 2000. To get this integration, do the following:
Start Excel 2000.
On the Tools menu, click Add-Ins.
In the Add-Ins dialog box, click Browse.
Locate and select Bshxl.xla, and then click OK.
NOTE: This file is installed by Office 97 in the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Library folder.
Click OK in the Add-Ins dialog box. The Look Up Reference menu item now appears on the Tools menu.
"
I assume that doing the same procedure in Excel 97 makes is directly accessible there.
Better study the help-files on the Office 97 CD, or do a partial re-install from the CD.
Hope this helps.
Kees
I have an old copy of Ms Office 97 and the dictionary in Bookshelf Basics on the disk is very convenient, however finding the disk, taking it out and putting it in the cd to run the program is not. Is there any way I can copy the program onto my hard drive since I have plenty of room for it and run it from there?

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