CROSSLAB ============== - TABLE OF CONTENTS - ********************* 1. Introduction ------------------- 1.1 Welcome to CROSSLAB. 1.2 Installation 2. General problems ------------------ 2.1 Lights and breaks 2.2 Entering text 2.3 Opening a puzzle 2.4 Saving a puzzle 2.5 Opening dictionary 3. Building a puzzle ------------------- 3.1 Starting a new puzzle 3.2 Changing structure of puzzle 3.3 Entering solutions 1. Introduction ================== 1.1 Welcome to CROSSLAB ------------------------- Welcome to CROSSLAB where you can find a way to create new interesting crossword puzzles. CROSSLAB alows the user to make changes (when working a puzzle) at any moment by jumping arround the puzzle with the use of a mouse. CROSSLAB use several feature. First is the possibility to enter a new dictionary file when the current doesn't find solutions. Second is the chance to change the structure of the grid puzzle at any time, removing or adding new squares. There are also options of colours , definitions , dimension. 1.2 Installation -------------------- To install CROSSLAB you have just to copy all the files in your working directory. CROSSLAB contains files with extension .CRS ( that means saved crossword puzzles) with extension .DIC ( text files as dictionaries) .DEF files (definitions files). Dictionary files contains words needed in solving of puzzles. CROSSLAB instalation provides the file WORD.DIC containing words for the samples. You may built your own dictionary file using a text editor. You can introduce a lot of words in the dictionary but no more than 15000 (a single word per line, no upcase). You may add words to WORD.DIC , or you may create a new file. 2. Solving problems ===================== 2.1 LIGHTS and BREAKS --------------------- A crossword puzzle may contain a lot of square cells. Most of them are free cells (may contain a letter). Some of them are used to delimit words. I called them LIGHTS. The colour of a LIGHT is different from a normal square, and you may choose it from 'OPTIONS' button (choosing 'COLOUR' button). When you have a squared puzzle you may want to create a new structure by removing some squares.I call this removed square a 'BREAK'. You can add a BREAK (remove a square) by clicking the button 'EDIT' from main menu (choosing 'BREAKS' button), A removed square cannot contain a letter. You can make active a BREAK by clicking again the coresponding area (twice). 2.2 Entering text ------------------ If you want to enter text in a grid you have to choose 'EDIT' button from main menu and from the 'EDIT' menu you must choose button 'TEXT'. In this moment a flashing window will appear down the screen, with the meaning that you have to select a square to enter text. After clicking a square the menu 'DIRECTION' will appear and you can choose 'HORIZONTAL' or 'VERTICAL' button to show the direction of text. A text box will be visible and you may enter any letter you want ( no upcase). If you are using characters '.' or ',' you may obtain in that position a LIGHT ('.') or a BREAK (','). 2.3 Opening a puzzle --------------------- To recall a previously saved puzzle select the button 'FILE' from main menu. Now , from menu you will select the button 'CROSSWORD', and from the next menu select the button 'OPEN'. A file box will appear and you may select the file name. Once CROSSLAB has verified that the selection was correct the new puzzle will appear. You must enter the filename + extension (.CRS). 2.4 Saving a puzzle -------------------- To save a puzzle select the button 'FILE' from main menu. From the menu you must select the button 'CROSSWORD', and from the next menu select the button 'SAVE'. A file box will appear and you may enter the file name(inclu- ding extension). If the name was correct the puzzle will be saved. 2.5 Opening a dictionary -------------------------- You make the same operations described at 2.3 but you choose 'DICTIONARY' button. 3. Building a puzzle ========================= 3.1 Starting a new puzzle ---------------------------- To start a new puzzle just choose button 'OPTIONS' from main menu. From the menu you must select 'DIMENSION' button. A text box will appear and you may enter the dimension of puzzle ,max. 15 cells. In CROSSLAB a puzzle has only one dimension, because you may change at any moment the structure of puzzle by removing cells. 3.2 Changing structure ------------------------ To make a new structure you must select the button 'EDIT' from main menu. From the next menu you will choose button 'BREAKS' to remove cells or 'LIGHTS' to make an end of word. From this moment you move arround the puzzle by clicking the mouse to make the new structure. To exit from operation you must click the right button of mouse. 3.3 Marking words ------------------- If you don't like some words to be in the puzzle you may mark them. You must choose the button 'OPTIONS' from main menu, and from menu you select 'MARK' button. A text box will appear and you may enter the word . To release a word you must choose button 'UNMARKED' and fallow the same operations. 3.4 Entering solutions ------------------------- If you want to find solutions to a puzzle you must select the button 'GO' from main menu . Now you may select a square to begin from. From menu you can select the direction of work. When filling stops you may begin all operation again. If you see a free cell in a grid you must begin with this one. Sometimes there are not solutions to a puzzle (specialy for symmetrical grid). Now you must improve your dictionary to contains more words or to open any ather dictionary. To make an experience ,you may enter all words from a solved puzzle in a dictionary , make the structure of the puzzle , and try to solve it . The file SLEEP.CRS contain a free crossword puzzle and C.CRS is the solution. The file CAREU5.CRS contain afree crossword puzzle and TOTC5.CRS is the solution. Finnaly I hope you'll enjoy CROSSLAB for good moments and sometimes register it. Good luck !!! I'll enjoy to send you a new version soon !