Older Downloads
The following downloads are for prior versions of Hoot . See Downloads for the latest version 3 of Hoot. In order to save space older installers and updates are removed as new versions are made available and monitored. When sharing Hoot with others, please share the actual installation files or the page address http://www.tylerhosting.com/hoot/downloads.html, not the individual download location since older versions will be deleted.
Version 2 Installers*
See change log for full list of changes (About > Change Log)
Note: Version 2 (1.9x and 2.x) installs into Programs as Hoot Gold instead of Hoot, and does not affect any version prior to 1.9.0. All versions use the same User folder MyDocuments/Hoot. A version 2 updater will install the newer Hoot (Hoot Gold) but will use the 1.8.2 or prior database selected.
Hoot 2.0.9 (16.5MB)
Hoot 2.0.9 Update (4.7MB)
Recompiled using Visual Studio 2015 with minor improvements.
Hoot 2.0.8 (16.5MB)
Hoot 2.0.8 Update (
4.7MB)
Added ability to add new words to an existing Lexicon.
Hoot 2.0.7 (16.4MB)
Hoot 2.0.7 Update (4.6MB)
Hoot 2.0.0 (16.4MB)
Hoot 2.0.0 Update (4.6MB)
Omitted unnecessary error messages on database update. The only addition is Semordnilaps (words spelled backward to form another valid word) in Predefined.
Empty Database
Includes the one-word Lava lexicon which can be deleted after adding your own lexicons.
accdb format (May require Access or run-time installation)
mdb format (Older Access format. Doesn't require Access or run-time installed)
Version 1 series
Hoot 1.8.2 (23.4MB)
Hoot 1.8.2 Update (4.1MB)
The latest version 1 program.
Hoot 1.8.3 (16MB)
Hoot 1.8.3 Update (4.2MB)
Same multiple window interface, but using the Hoot Gold search engine.
Empty Database
Lighter and cleaner than the previous blank database. Only has Ogden 2000 word lexicon.
accdb format (May require Access or run-time installation)
mdb format (Doesn't require Access or run-time installed) Supported by Hoot 1.7.9 and later only.
* If you want to customize the lexicons in Hoot before starting to use Hoot, you can install the (smaller) update instead of the normal installer and then download an empty database. You can then copy the database to the C:\Program Files\HootGold\ folder before starting Hoot (recommended) or wait for Hoot to prompt for the location of the database. Then download and add the lexicon(s) you want to use.
Note: If you have previously installed Hoot (even if uninstalled), it will point to the previously selected database. You can change this in Settings. Select the newly distributed database by selecting the database in
C:\Program Files\HootGold\ and it will be copied to your Hoot user folder.
To delete previously installed user settings you can delete the folders in C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Local\Dana_Bell before installing again.
Lexicons (word lists)
The following lexicons (word lists) can be imported into Hoot. Most are less than 1MB. These are indexed to allow the program to operate more efficiently. Version 1 word lists include Words and are indexed for front and back hooks. Version 2 word list include Words and are indexed for hooks, inner hooks, probability, and optimum playability ratings where applicable. Either version will work in either version of the program, but only version 2 of the program (1.95 and later) will use the extra fields.
Version 2 word lists
indexed with hooks, inner hooks, probability, and optimum playability (except ODS5)
WJ2-2016 (WGPO lexicon with 2016 update) - using OSPD4 playability.
OWL31 - Official Tournament and Club Word List (2016)
NAWL18 - North American Word List (2018)
CSW15 - Collins Scrabble Words (2015)
Words With Friends™ (unofficial) - using CSW playability.
Words With Friends 2™ a - includes some added words.
SOWPODS (older version of CSW)
YAWL (WordSmith™)
ODS5 (French Scrabble™)
Common Words - Common2of12 dictionary
NoteS: Version 2 word lists can be used in version 1 of the program but only hooks will be imported. In version 1, import lexicons from Settings > List Tools > Lexicon Creator.
Version 1 word lists can be used in version 2 of the program but are not indexed for inner hooks, probability, and optimum playability. It's time-consuming but you can do that within the program.
Version 1 word lists
indexed with hooks
Word Judge 2 (WGPO lexicon)
Words With Friends™ (unofficial)
SOWPODS (older version)
YAWL (WordSmith™)
ODS5 (French Scrabble™)
Other Lexicons
Some of the Lexicons not available as downloads from Hoot are the Official Tournament and Club Word List (2016 edition) (aka OWL 3.1) and the Collins Scrabble Words 2015 (CSW15). However...
The OTCWL2016 is available as a download for NASPA members. It is a text file that can be used to create a lexicon in Hoot.
http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/doc.pl?did=23
The Collins Scrabble™ Words word list can be generated from their own version of Zyzzyva and other sources. If you read the conditions you will see that it should only be used for private, non-commercial purposes. See https://www.reddit.com/r/scrabble/comments/47qvax/are_the_ospd5_and_csw15_word_lists_available_as_a/.
The School Scrabble™ word list is also available as a download to NASPA members. The SSWL is an excerpt of OWL31. In fact, according to my analysis, it is only missing the expurgated words, and even a few of those are acceptable in School Scrabble.
http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/doc.pl?did=25
Lexicons created from text files will need additional processing to enable certain features or improve performance. See the Lexicons help page.
Definitions
Definitions (from Mike Wolfberg's WHAT site) included in distributions beginning with version 1.6.6.
Definitions for new words in NAWL. Shortcut format requires Hoot 2.0.6 or later.
Optimum Playability Ratings
OSPD4 and related lexicons
CSW and related lexicons
Help
Included with installer and updates
Hoot Help (1.5 MB)
If you are running Windows 7 and the help file does not display, open the file properties and unblock.
see this link on Stack Overflow. If unable to view the help file, view the on-line help from About > Web Site.
Support Files
If you do not have the Access runtime or the .NET Framework installed on your machine, you can get them from Microsoft.
Access database engine
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13255
Note:
Currently Hoot Gold only works with the 32-bit version (Not required for Hoot Lite)
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 (Hoot Gold)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6 (Hoot Lite)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48137
NETChecker
Shows the latest version on .NET installed on your computer
Fonts
NuTiles, Hoot Tiles, and primary Ubuntu fonts are included with installer and updates.
Scramble
Scrabble tile font (requires license)
NuTiles 1.1
Tile font available for Hoot slide shows. Revised. Space generates a space. The question mark generates a blank tile.
Hoot Tiles
Tile font available for Hoot slide shows
Ubuntu font family (2MB)
Font used for most text in Hoot. To best align hook displays use a monospaced font like Ubuntu Mono.