How do I set up TextCraft with Ollama on Windows?

Install Ollama, pull a language model (e.g., qwen2.5:1.5b) and an embedding model (e.g., all-minilm), download the correct TextCraft ZIP for your system, extract it, run setup.exe for dependencies, then install via OfficeAddInSetup.msi. Open Word to verify the add-in appears.

TextCraft or Microsoft Copilot: which is better for privacy?

TextCraft is better for privacy as it uses local models via Ollama, keeping data offline, while Copilot relies on cloud processing. However, Copilot offers more seamless integration with Microsoft 365 cloud features and easier setup.

Can I use TextCraft with cloud AI APIs like OpenAI?

Yes, set the TEXTCRAFT_OPENAI_ENDPOINT environment variable to a cloud endpoint (e.g., https://api.openai.com/v1) and provide an API key. This allows flexibility but sacrifices the offline privacy focus.

How to change the AI prompts for proofreading in TextCraft?

Modify the TEXTCRAFT_PROOFREAD_PROMPT environment variable with a custom system prompt (e.g., 'You are a proofreading assistant...') to tailor the AI's feedback style for your specific writing needs.

Is TextCraft compatible with Office on Mac?

No, TextCraft only supports Windows 10 or later and Microsoft Office for Windows; it won't work on Mac or other platforms due to its reliance on Windows-specific dependencies and VSTO.

What happens if Ollama isn't running when I use TextCraft?

TextCraft will fail to generate responses or perform AI tasks, as it defaults to the Ollama endpoint. Ensure Ollama is active or reconfigure the endpoint to a cloud service for fallback functionality.

Open-Awesome

TextCraft

MITC#v1.0.8

An AI-powered Microsoft Word add-in for offline text generation, proofreading, and rewriting using local or OpenAI-compatible models.

GitHub

159 stars10 forks0 contributors

What is TextCraft?

TextCraft is an AI-powered add-in for Microsoft Word that integrates text generation, proofreading, and rewriting tools directly into the Word workspace. It solves the need for privacy-focused, offline AI assistance by supporting local models via Ollama or other OpenAI-compatible endpoints, eliminating reliance on cloud services.

Target Audience

Microsoft Word users who need AI-powered writing assistance but require offline functionality, data privacy, or prefer using local AI models instead of cloud-based solutions.

Value Proposition

Developers choose TextCraft for its offline capabilities, privacy focus, and seamless integration with Microsoft Word, offering a customizable, self-hosted alternative to Microsoft Copilot with support for local AI models.

Overview

Integrates AI tools into Microsoft Word

Use Cases

Best For

Adding AI writing assistance to Microsoft Word without internet access
Privacy-focused text generation and editing in Word documents
Using local AI models like Ollama within Microsoft Office
Proofreading and rewriting documents with customizable AI prompts
Integrating RAG context from PDFs into Word-based AI tools
Self-hosting an AI alternative to Microsoft Copilot for Word

Not Ideal For

Users who need cloud-based AI with simple, one-click setup and no local configuration
Mac or Linux users, as it requires Windows and Microsoft Office exclusively
Teams requiring real-time AI collaboration integrated with cloud services like Microsoft 365
Non-technical users unwilling to manage local AI models and install multiple dependencies

Pros & Cons

Pros

Offline Privacy Assurance

Leverages locally hosted models via Ollama or compatible endpoints, ensuring data never leaves the user's machine, which is critical for sensitive documents.

Highly Customizable Prompts

Environment variables like TEXTCRAFT_GENERATE_PROMPT allow fine-tuning system prompts for generation, review, and proofreading, enabling tailored AI behavior.

RAG Context Enhancement

Supports adding PDF documents as context to improve AI responses in generation, review, and comments, boosting accuracy for specialized content.

Native Word Integration

Integrates seamlessly into Microsoft Word with features like inline AI comments using @mentions, making it feel like a built-in tool rather than an external add-on.

Cons

Cumbersome Installation Process

Requires multiple steps: installing Ollama, pulling models, setting up dependencies like .NET Framework 4.8.1, and running separate installers, which can be error-prone for non-technical users.

Platform and Software Lock-in

Only works on Windows 10+ with Microsoft Office 2010+, excluding other operating systems and office suites, severely limiting its user base.

Local Model Resource Demands

Users must manually manage and run local AI models, which can consume significant system resources and require technical know-how to optimize for performance and stability.

Open Source Alternative To

TextCraft is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 applications that helps users with tasks like writing, summarizing, and analyzing data.

Frequently Asked Questions

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