Copyright: "Copyright (C) 1996 Skimrest Ltd."


Contents
CrossWord Maker For Windows

Contents

Overview

The XWORD Toolbox

The File menu

The Grid Menu

Symmetry

The Clue Editor

The Window Menu

Options

The ToolBar

Printing

Exporting crosswords

Installation/Deinstallation

Registration


Overview
CrossWord Maker For Windows

Overview

CrossWord Maker for Windows enables the simple production of crosswords.

Grid production is simplified, by automatic application of varying symmetry options, and numbering is provided.

The final crossword can be printed, or can be copied to the clipboard for pasting into any word processor or DTP program or to files which can be imported.


The XWORD Toollbox
CrossWord Maker For Windows

The Toolbox

The toolbox has three tools for filling in your crossword.:

When the block tool is selected, a click on any square with the right mouse button will turn it to a filled square.  If a symmetry option has been selected, then corresponding symmetrical squares will also become filled. To clear a filled square use the right mouse button.

Squares can also be filled bu entering a '#' character and cleared with the space bar.

The block tool is not available once the grid has been fixed.

Selecting the right fill arrow,allows you to continuously type in the across words.

Selecting the down fill arrow, allows you to continuously type in the down words.


Symmetry
CrossWord Maker For Windows

Symmetry

The crossword grid can be created with various levels of symmetry:

No symmetry:

Only the selected square will be set to a black square.

Two-fold symmetry:

 The selected square and the diagonally opposite square will be set to black.

Four-fold symmetry:

 Four squares will be set black, so that crossword will be symmetrical about horizontal and vertical axes.

Eight-fold symmetry:

 Eight squares will be set black, so that crossword will also be symmetrical about diagonals.

The symmetry required can be specified in the new crossword dialog box, or can be set after the crossword has been opened (but not if the grid is fixed) from the Symmetry menu.


Clue Editor
CrossWord Maker For Windows

The Clue Editor

Selecting Number from the Grid Menu or [image] from the toolbar automatically numbers the crossword.   In addition it loads the Clue Editor:

To edit a clue the required clue number is highlighted in the list of clues.  The text for the clue can then be entered or updated in the adjacent text box.  Normal edit controls, cut, copy and paste can be used.

Loose Clues

Once numbered the grid is fixed.  The grid fixed option can be cleared from the grid menu using Free Grid.  However if the grid is changed and the crossword renumbered,  any clues that have been written will be detached and stored in a list, displayed in the clued editor labelled Loose Clues.  This list will not be saved with the crossword!  If you wish to retain any of the clue text you must copy/paste it to the required clues, before exiting from Crossword Maker or closing the crossword.

Clicking on a loose clue selects the whole clue - it can then be copied to the clipboard and pasted into a required clue, but no other edit operations can be performed on loose clues


The Grid Menu
CrossWord Maker For Windows

The Grid Menu

Block

Across Fill

Down Fill

These three options correspond to the block, right arrow and down arrow  respectively in the toolbox

Fix Grid/Free Grid

If the fixed grid option is selected, then no further changes to the grid are allowed.  This option is automatically set when the crossword is numbered.

The free grid option, available if the grid has been previously fixed should be used with care.  If  the grid is changed after the crossword has been numbered then it will have to be renumbered, and this causes clues to be detached, see loose clues.

Number

This option numbers the crossword and opens the clue editor window.   It fixes the grid, so no more changes can be made to the filled squares.


The Window Menu
CrossWord Maker For Windows

The Window Menu

The Window Menu has standard options for tiling , cascading windows etc. together with the list of open windows.  In addition it has the following options:

View Full

The full crossword is displayed.

View Grid

The grid only is displayed, hiding any solution.

Clue Edit Window

Only available if the clue edit window has been closed, this reloads the clue edit window for the current crossword.


The File Menu
CrossWord Maker For Windows

The File Menu

The file menu has options that allow you to

New

Create a new crossword.  A dialog will be presented to select the grid size and initial symmetry settings

Open

 Open an existing crossword.

Save

Saveas

Save an updated copy of your crossword or use Save as to give it a new filename

Close

 Close the active crossword.

Print

You have the option to print either the grid, with or without the clues, or the final solution, (again with or without the clues), or you can just print the clues.

Export

Exports the crossword to the either the clipboard or a file.  Either the completed crossword or simply the grid (with numbers if numbered), can be copied.  From the clipboard, you can paste the crossword into a word processor.  But note that the crossword is pasted as a bitmap, so you cannot alter the pasted version.

The clues can also be copied and pasted - these are pasted as straight  text, so can be modified if required

Exit

Exit from CrossWord Maker.


Display Options
CrossWord Maker For Windows

Options

Display Options are available to change the colours and fonts used for the crossword.  Display options are changed by the Display Options Dialog -use Options from the menu or [image] from the toolbar.

Set Colour

Colours for  numbers, crossword letters, and clues can be changed individually, and the potential effect seen in the adjacent display box.  Default Colours returns all four settings to the Crossword Maker default settings.

Set Fonts

The font for the numbers, crossword letters and clues can be set individually , and the potential effect seen in the adjacent display box.  Default Fonts returns both settings to the Crossword Maker default settings.

Both the selected colours and fonts chosen in this dialog will be used in any coloured printed output; additional options on whether to print in colour or black and white and the style of the filled square are offered when  printing is requested.


The Toolbar
CrossWord Maker For Windows

Toolbar

Creates a new crossword.

Opens an existing crossword.

Saves the crossword.

Undo changes to the clue being edited.

Cuts hightlighted text and copies to the clipboard - only available in the clue editor.

Copies hightlighted text and copies to the clipboard - only available in the clue editor.  This can be used to copy loose clues  to a clue being edited

Pastes clipboard contents to the clue being edited - only available in the clue editor.

Brings up the options dialog.  Prints the crossword.  Brings up an option dialog allowing selection of items to print eg. just grid, solved crossword, clues and their positioning.

Exports the crossword,.  This is not available in the unregistered version.

Opens this help text.


Printing
CrossWord Maker For Windows

Printing

A printout of the crossword can be produced by selecting File/Print from the menus, or by using the print button on the toolbar.

The following  dialog will be shown:

For dot matrix printers it is recommended that you select a hatched style for the filled squares.

Selecting the beside options prints the clues beside the crossword, if there is adequate room.  If there is insufficient room then clues will be printed beneath the crossword regardless of the selected option.

The crossword will be printed in fonts matching those in the display, unless it is too large to fit the paper, when it will be automatically scaled to fit.

If a coloured print is requested, then the colours selected for the display will be used.


Export
Crossword Maker For Windows

Export

The export option allows the copying of the crossword grid to the clipboard or to a standard bitmap (BMP) file, and the clues either to the clipboard or to an Ascii text file. In either case they can then be imported into any DTP or Word Processing program.

This option is not available in the unregistered version.


Installing/Uninstalling
Crossword Maker For Windows

Installation/Deinstallation

Installing

This version of CrossWord Maker  For Windows does not come with an install program.  All files should be copied to a directory of your choice. A Program Manager icon can be created for XWORDMAK.EXE either by using File/New within Program Manager or by dragging from Fle Manager.

The following files should be present:

	XWORDMAK.EXE	The Crossword Maker for Wndows executable
	XWORDMAK.HLP	This Help file
	REGISTER.TXT	Registration form - will be printed by Crossword Maker on request.
	LICENSE.TXT	License details - not required for execution
	FILEID_DIZ	Summary description -  not required for execution
	README.TXT	Installation and other notes  -  not required for execution

Crossword Maker for Windows also requires the following, widely available files to be present in your  WINDOWS\SYSTEM file:

	COMMDLG.DLL
	CTL3DV2.DLL
Files marked not required for execution must be included if the program is distributed, even when passing on to friends, but may be deleted from your system after they have been read and terms accepted.

Uninstalling

To uninstall Crossword MakerFor Windows delete the directory to which you installed the program and any Program manager icons.

In addition a file XWORDMAK.INI will normally have been created in your Windows directory.  This may also be deleted.  In fact, this file may be deleted at any time: Crossword Maker will revert to all system defaults, and will create a new version.


Registration
Crossword Maker For Windows

Registration

Crossword Maker for Windows is SHAREWARE.  You may freely distribute the unregistered version, providing all registration and Readme files are included.  Please do not distribute the registered version without permission of the copyright owners.

Why Register?

Honesty!  Shareware is a marketing strategy, which prevents you from buying software which does not suit your needs, however you are still expected to buy the software which you  do use.

There are also benefits to you in registering:  only registered users can export crosswords and of course registering gets rid of the initial delay screen.

What about upgrades, or bug fixes?

Registered users receive control software plus a registration code, which will work with future upgrades.  Updated versions of Crossword Maker for Windows can be downloaded from a standard Shareware source, and you will still be recognised as a registered user.

How to Register:

The Help Menu includes a Register option.  If you have the unregistered version of the program this displays a registration form which can be printed and which includes details of registration fees.  The same form can also be displayed from the About box.

Alternatively CompuServe members can register via CompuServe.   Use the command GO SWREG and follow the menus.

Crossword Maker for Windows registration id is 11801 .

For further information please contact:

SKIMREST LTD.
15, Upton Avenue,
Heaton Mersey,
Stockport,
SK4 3PL

United Kingdom

0161-432-6226

or Email  100775.2007@Compuserve.com

Copyright ©Skimrest Ltd. 1996