Copyright: 1994 by Jim Buccigrossi, All Rights Reserved


Table of Contents
        Help Table Of Contents

Introduction	Menu Commands
Getting Started	Tool Bar Buttons
How to Register	Advanced Topics
Common Questions	What's New in Version 2.0?
Tips and Tricks	Further Reading


WORDWIZ Introduction
INTRODUCTION

WordWiz ™ is a word puzzle design and construction tool.  With WordWiz you can design, construct, and print your own word puzzles to enjoy with your friends, students, or customers.

Use the puzzles for party activities, educational projects, company newsletters, bulletins, advertising flyers, or your own enjoyment.  Make personalized puzzles to use as greeting cards.  You will find that creating your own word puzzles is actually more fun, more educational, and more profitable than simply solving them.

WordWiz includes a built in collection of over 30,000 words that are used to 'fit' into the puzzle patterns that YOU design.  Have fun building your vocabulary as you research and write your own clues for the words that WordWiz automatically selects for your puzzles.

Advanced design features allow you to lock individual letters or words into your design and build your own custom word lists.  With these features you can design a puzzle that includes your full name (or any other specific words), you can also create puzzles that contain only words related to specific topics such as sports, music, The Bible, famous people, etc.

Click here for important LICENSING INFORMATION.

Click here for important WARRANTY INFORMATION.


Warranty Information

"This software is provided as-is.  There are no warranties, expressed or implied."

James A. Buccigrossi disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including but not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and all such warranties are expressly and specifically disclaimed.  Neither James A. Buccigrossi, nor anyone else who has been involved in the creation, production, or delivery of this software shall be liable for any direct, consequential, or incidental damages arising out of the use or inability to use such software even if James A. Buccigrossi has been advised of the possibility of such damages or claims.  In no event shall James A. Buccigrossi's liability for any damages ever exceed the price paid for the license to use the software, regardless of the form of the claim.  The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.

Some states do not allow the exclusion of the limit of liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you.

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of Pennsylvania and shall inure to the benefit of James A. Buccigrossi, and any successors, administrators, heirs, and assigns.  Any action or proceeding brought by either party against the other arising out of or related to this agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent jurisdiction located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  The parties hereby consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.


License Information

This software and the distribution media on which it is contained is licensed to you, for your own use.  This is copyrighted software.  You are not obtaining title to the software or any copyright rights.  You may not sub license, rent, lease, convey, modify, translate, convert to another programming language, adapt to other computing platforms, decompile, or disassemble the software for any purpose.

You may make as many copies of this software as you need for back-up purposes.  You may use this software on more than one computer, provided there is no chance it will be used simultaneously on more than one computer.  If you need to use this software on more than one computer simultaneously, please contact me for information about site licenses.  Special reduced rate licenses are available for educational institutions.

The author grants permission for this software to be copied and distributed, if no fee greater than $5.00 is charged and all of the original unmodified files are included.  Otherwise, you must get written permission from the author to distribute copies of this software.  See VENDOR.WRI for additional information about distributing this software.  All mass distributors of this software (including CD ROM publishers) should send a mailing address to the author in order to receive notification of version updates as they become available.

If you use this software for more than 90 days, you are required to purchase a registered copy.


Getting Started

To design a new CrossWord puzzle:

First, use the OPTIONS menu to select the style and size of the puzzle. Then you design the puzzle layout by simply clicking on the puzzle grid.  Each time you click, the cell will 'toggle' between open and blocked states.  Open cells will hold a letter that forms part of a word.  The blocked cells are used to separate the words in the puzzle.  Part of your puzzle layout may also include "locked cells".  These are special open cells that will contain only the letter that you specify.

Next, you provide or choose a list of possible words for WordWiz to use to fill in the open cells.

Then, you click the CONSTRUCT button and watch WordWiz  go to work as it selects words from your list and fits them into your design.

When the construction process is complete, you write your own clues for each word in the puzzle.  The clues that you write are automatically saved for future use in other puzzles.  (Clue writing is required for crossword style puzzles only)

You then save and print your completed puzzle.

Lastly, you share the puzzle with your friends, and tell them all about this great program.


How to register
How to become a registered customer.

This program is distributed under the shareware concept.  You have an opportunity to try the program before you buy it.  Any amount you may have paid to obtain this program went towards distribution and duplication costs.  When you register, you help to support the author, and provide an incentive for me to continue improving this fine product.

This software must be registered if you wish to use it beyond 90 days.  See License Information for additional information.  Contact the author at the above address for information on site licenses and discounts for educational institutions.

This shareware copy of WordWiz is a full-featured Introductory version.  The registered version will not contain the "order form", "how to register", and "register" buttons.  The registered version will not request that you enter the access code once a valid code is entered.

When you register, you will receive a personalized registration card along with the latest version of the WordWiz software. You will also receive a free shipment of the NEXT version of WordWiz if a new version becomes available within the 1st year of registration.  You will also receive notification of all future versions as they become available, and may order them for a nominal handling fee.

You will also receive several bonus word pool files (including music terms, world cities and countries, peoples names, Bible words, and more!!! ).  A printable version (requires MS WRITE) of the on-line help manual is also included.

Four different WordWiz registration levels are available.  The only difference between the levels is the maximum puzzle size that can be created, and the registration fee.

Registration Level	Maximum puzzle size	Registration Fee
Introductory	9 x 9	$19.00
Junior	13 x 13	$27.00
Classic	17 x 17	$49.00
Pro**	23 x 23	$79.00
All fees include shipping, handling, and applicable state and local taxes.

** Pro customers will also receive a telephone support number.

When you decide on the registration level that suits your needs, fill out and then print the order form (use the menu button provided or print ORDERFRM.WRI using MS WRITE.EXE) and send it along with a check or money order payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank.  Make the check payable to:

Jim Buccigrossi

112 Woodward Drive

West Mifflin, PA 15122-1065

Be sure to include your real full name and mailing address. WordWiz usage Licenses cannot be granted without this information.  Orders from outside the U.S. are welcome.  Do not send credit card orders to the above address.  Note: 3.5 inch HD (or DD) disks will be shipped unless otherwise noted on the order form.

Credit Card Orders:

You can use your Master Card, VISA, American Express, or Discover Card by:

*	Calling the Public (software) Library at 800-242-4775 (800-2424-PsL) or 713-524-6394.  PsL operators are available from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST on  most weekends.
*	FAX to PsL at 713-524-6398  (Print ORDERFRM.WRI, fill it out, and FAX it to PsL)
*	CIS Email to PsL at 71355,470
*	U.S. Mail to PsL at P.O. Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705    (Print ORDERFRM.WRI)
THESE NUMBERS ARE FOR ORDERING ONLY.  PRODUCT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS CANNOT BE ANSWERED.  THE AUTHOR CANNOT BE REACHED AT THESE NUMBERS.  Be sure to specify which WordWiz level you wish to order; Intro, Junior, Classic, or Pro, and provide your name, address, card number and expiration date.  Also mention the WordWiz item number which is 11301.

Upgrading to a higher registration level

If you have already registered, and then decide to upgrade to a higher level, you can send the difference in price directly to the author.  Include your name and mailing address, also include the customer ID and current version numbers from the ABOUT box.  I will send you a new registration card, (and a disk containing the current version if a newer one is available).  Upgrade orders are not available through PsL.  (Yes, this means cash only).

Problem reports, questions and comments will be accepted from all users.  Problems, questions and suggestions may be submitted on the registration form, via U.S. mail, or to CompuServe Email to Jim Buccigrossi, 74013,2740.  AOL Email to JimB15122 is also welcome.

When you receive your registered copy of WordWiz, you will only need to re-install it if the label indicates it is a newer version than the one you already have (use the ABOUT button to check the version number).  If the versions are the same, then you will only need to enter the info from the registration card into the registration screen (use the register now button.)

Keep the disk and registration card in a safe place.  You may need to use it to re-install WordWiz at some future date. You may need to re-install WordWiz in the event of a hard disk failure, or if you upgrade to a future version of Windows.  Contact the author (not PSL) if you misplace your original disk or registration card.

What to do if WordWiz reverts to unregistered status.

Certain rare events (such as re-installing Windows, or deleting the WORDWIZ.INI file from the main windows directory) could cause a registered version to revert back to it's former un-registered self.  If this happens, re-enter the registration information from the registration card.  Or better yet, restore the WORDWIZ.INI file from any backup copy that was made AFTER you entered the registration info. (You do make backups, don't you???).


Puzzle Styles
With WordWiz, you can create four different kinds of puzzles.

Classic Crossword

Word Fill-in

Word Search

Number Fill-in

Use the PUZZLE STYLE menu item in the OPTIONS main menu to select the desired style.


Puzzle Sizes

WordWiz allows you to create kid sized puzzles as small as 5 cells by 5 cells, or with the Pro version, gigantic 23 x 23 cell puzzles for your 'Sunday Bests'.  Please note that the maximum grid size that can be used for constructing puzzles is determined by your registration level.

Even odd shaped puzzles can be created by using "transparent blocks" (shift+click) to cut the grid into any desired shape.

Use the PUZZLE SIZE menu item in the OPTIONS main menu to select the desired puzzle size.  Rectangular sizes may be selected by selecting the number of rows and columns separately.


Crossword Puzzles
Classic Crossword Puzzles

Puzzle words are placed on an interlocking grid in both horizontal and vertical directions.  Darkened grid cells ("outs") separate each word.  The first cell of each word is assigned a clue number and given a written clue.  The person solving the puzzle uses the clues to determine the original words.


Number Fill-in Puzzles

Numbers are placed on an interlocking grid in both horizontal and vertical directions.  Darkened grid cells separate each number.  A list of all the numbers on the puzzle is provided.  The person solving the puzzle must find the proper location of each number on the grid.  This one really exercises deductive reasoning skills.


Word Fill-in Puzzles

Words are placed on an interlocking grid in both horizontal and vertical directions.  Darkened grid cells separate each word.  A list of the words used in the puzzle is provided (no clues are required.)  The person solving the puzzle must fit the words back into the empty grid.


Word Search Puzzles
Word Search Puzzles.

Words are placed on an empty rectangle in across, down, and diagonal directions.  Words may also be reversed in any direction.  Unused areas are filled with random letters.  A list of the words hidden in the puzzle is provided.  The person solving the puzzle tries to find all of the words in the list.

The words that are used in the puzzle must be typed into the word box before starting the construction process.  The word pool is NOT USED for this type of puzzle.


Word Pool
Word Pool.

The Word Pool is the list of all possible words that are currently eligible to be selected for use in the construction of CROSSWORD and WORD-FILL-IN puzzles.  The larger the word pool, the easier it becomes for WordWiz to find a set of words that fit into your puzzle pattern.  If the word pool contains only a few words, construction will not be possible.

The term "word pool" refers only to the collection of words that are currently loaded into memory.  When a word pool is saved on disk, it is referred to as a "word pool library".  Word pool libraries use a disk file name extension of .WPL.

The Word Pool is not used for the WORDSEARCH and NUMBER-FILL-IN puzzle styles.  The WORDSEARCH style words of a small list of specific words you provide.  The NUMBER FILL-IN style clearly does not use any words at all!!

WordWiz allows you to create and save your own word pools.  By using different word pools for different puzzles, you can create puzzles that use only words related to a certain subject.


The Clue Library
The Clue Library.

When you create a CrossWord style puzzle, a clue must be written for each word in the puzzle.  WordWiz will automatically save each clue you write as you save a completed CrossWord puzzle.  If the same word appears in a future puzzle, WordWiz  will automatically use the last clue you wrote for the word.

This means that you only need to write a clue the first time a word appears in one of your puzzles,  When a word is reused in a future puzzle, you can change it's clue, and the change will be saved for the next use of the word.


Grayed out menu items
Grayed out menu items and tool buttons

When a menu item appears gray (or any color other than the color of the normal menu text), the menu item is unavailable at the present time.  WordWiz  uses this technique to guide you through menu choices, and to prevent you from selecting items that are not applicable to the current situation.

If you find yourself wanting to select an inactive menu item, think about why the item may not be currently applicable, and change other menu items or tool buttons until the situation changes.  For example, during puzzle construction, many menu items become unavailable.  Also, most Word Pool related items are not available while the WORD SEARCH or NUMBER FILL-IN styles are in use.

When a tool-bar button is inactivated, it is covered with a [image] symbol.  The construct tool button will become inactive if there are not enough words of the lengths required by the current puzzle design in the current word pool.


Menu Commands
WordWiz Menu Commands

The main menu bar contains the following items:

File	Use to load, save, export, and print puzzle files.

Edit	Use to access the Windows clipboard.

Options	Use to select the attributes of the current puzzle.

Words	Use to load, save, expand, and clean-up the word pool.

Settings	Use to change options that affect the overall operation of WordWiz.


The FILE menu
The FILE menu.

This main menu item contains commands for loading and saving puzzle files, exporting pictures of the puzzle grid to other programs, and for printing puzzles on your printer.  It also contains the all important EXIT command.

The FILE sub-menu commands are:

New	This option clears out the grid pattern, and the word box, so that a new design can be started.  The current grid size and puzzle style remain in effect.

Open	Use this option to access a puzzle file that was previously saved.  After the file is opened, you can change the design, re-construct, and/or print the puzzle.

Close	This command is used if you want to protect a puzzle file that was just loaded from being accidentally re-saved with changes.  The file name is cleared out so that you will be asked for a new file name if you save the puzzle again.

Save	Use this option to save your in-progress or completed designs .  The current file name is automatically used.  If there is no current file name (NO NAME), then you will be asked for a name.  Use the SAVE AS option if you want to save a copy under a new file name.  Puzzle files use a file name extension of .WIZ.

Save as	Use this option to save a new puzzle, or to save a modified puzzle with a new file name.  You will be asked to specify a file name.

Export	This option is used to send a graphic image of the puzzle or solution grids to other programs.  You can save the images as standard Windows picture files (.BMP or .WMF), or you can simply copy the grid image to the Windows clipboard for subsequent pasting into another program.

The export command also lets you export the puzzle title and clue text, or the list of words used in the puzzle.  If you export the word list to the clipboard, you can then use the WORDS/REMOVE ... menu item to delete the words in the clipboard from the current word pool.  This provides an easy way to build a series of puzzles that never contain the same words.

Note: The clipboard can only hold 1 object at a time.  Only the last item exported will be in the clipboard.

Print preview	This option will show how the current puzzle or solution would look if you printed it.  Use this feature to check your printer settings before actually printing.  If you change the print settings (see File\Print Setup), the print preview screen will also reflect these changes. (e.g. landscape vs. portrait, and paper size)  You can preview either the puzzle, or the solution to the puzzle.  The PREVIEW button on the main menu can be used as a short cut for selecting FILE/PRINT PREVIEW/PUZZLE.

Print/Puzzle	This option will print the puzzle itself.  You should only use this option if you have a fully constructed puzzle.  If you are using the CROSSWORDpuzzle style, you should edit the words in the word box into clues, before printing the puzzle.  A safer method is to select the PREVIEW button, and then select the PRINT button from the PREVIEW BUTTON BAR.  This allows you make last minute adjustments to the layout before printing.

Print/Solution	This option will print the puzzle solution.  You should only use this option if you have a fully constructed puzzle.

Print setup	Use this option to change your printer settings.  If your printer supports landscape and portrait page orientations, or different paper sizes, then try experimenting with different settings.  These settings will significantly affect the puzzle layout.  Use File\Print Preview to view the result before you commit your creation to paper.  The SETUP button on the PREVIEW BUTTON BAR performs the same function.

Exit	This option will make WordWiz go away until another day.


The EDIT menu
The EDIT menu.

This menu item contains sub-menu commands for cutting and pasting selected text to and from the word box.

The EDIT sub-menu commands are:

Copy	Copies the currently selected (highlighted) text in the word box to the Windows clipboard.  This allows the clipboard to act as a temporary holding area for whatever is in the word box. The word box is the large text box with the scroll bar.  Once in the clipboard, the data can be pasted into almost any Windows application, including back into WordWiz.  Use this feature to save "extra text" that you may have entered before re-constructing.  The extra text can then be pasted back into the word box after the puzzle is reconstructed.

You can also use this feature to place one or more words in the clipboard from the word box, and then use the WORDS menu items to add or remove the words from the current word pool.

Cut 	Deletes the currently selected text from the word box.  The deleted text is placed in the clipboard.

Delete 	Deletes the currently selected text from the word box.  The contents of the clipboard is not changed.

Paste 	Copies the entire contents of the Windows clipboard into the word box. at the current insertion point. If any text was selected in the word box, it is replaced.  Use this option to grab words that were copied into the clipboard from another application.  Note that this only copies the clipboard into the word box (as if you typed the words in)  If you want to add the words to the current word pool, then use WORDS/ADD WORDS TO WORD POOL FROM WORD BOX.

Select All	Selects all of the text that is currently in the word box..


The OPTIONS menu
The OPTIONS menu.

This menu item contains commands for changing the puzzle grid size, and the puzzle style.  You can also change other puzzle attributes from here.  These options are automatically saved and reloaded with each individual puzzle.

The OPTIONS sub-menu commands are:

Puzzle Style	Use this option to choose the type of puzzle (style) you want to make.

Grid Size	Use this option to select the overall puzzle grid size.  You should do this BEFORE you start to design the grid layout, because changing the size later, while possible, will probably mess up your design.  Avoid using the larger grid sizes for WORD-FILLIN and CROSSWORD puzzle styles, until you get the feel for designing solvable layouts.

Puzzle Font	Use this item to select a True-Type font for displaying and printing your puzzle.  The font name is automatically saved with each puzzle you create.  When you load a puzzle from disk, the font will automatically switch the one that was in effect when the puzzle was saved. Do not worry about selecting a font size.  The best size is automatically computed.

Change Title	This option will highlight the current puzzle title text. Any text that is typed will replace the highlighted text.  The puzzle title is the text that is printed above the puzzle grid.

Change Colors	When you select this item, a randomized set of colors is selected for the blocked grid cells and the window background.  Keep selecting this item until you get a pleasing combination.  The colors will be saved and used until you change them again.  When you save a puzzle, the current color combination is saved with it.  When you load a puzzle, the colors that were in effect when it was saved are re-activated.  This option does NOT affect the way a puzzle looks when printed.

Circle Locked Cells	This option allows you to draw circles around locked cells.  This can be used to draw attention to special words that were placed in the puzzle.  This item can be used in combination with the next to also show the letter in the circled cell.

Show Locked Cells as Hints	This option will cause the letter in each locked cell to be printed on the puzzle grid.  If this item is selected, the locked letters are shown on the design grid in a darker color.  If neither this item, or the one above is selected, locked cells will simply appear empty on the puzzle grid.

Transparent Blocks	When this option is checked, new blocked cells (outs) will automatically be drawn as transparent cells.  Transparent cells are used to design odd shaped grid patterns, or for "step ladder" style patterns.   Normally, transparent cells are only drawn if the SHIFT key is held while clicking on the cell to block.  Selecting (or de-selecting) this option also causes all current outs to be re-drawn in the new mode.   While this option is checked, using the SHIFT key will cause the out to be drawn normally instead of as transparent.


The WORDS menu
The WORDS menu.

This menu item contains commands for customizing or selecting the "Word Pool".  The Word Pool is not used for WORD SEARCH and NUMBER FILL-IN puzzle styles; therefore, while using these non word pool styles, most WORDS menu items will be "grayed out".

The number of words in the word pool has a significant effect on the speed and success of the construction process.  The larger the word pool, the more likely it becomes that construction will be possible.  If you are using a small word pool (under 10,000 words), you will have to keep your grid patterns simple as sparse.  Dense full blown puzzles can only be created with large word pools.

The WORDS sub-menu commands are:

Word Pool statistics	Use this command to display a summary of the number of words in the current word pool.  The number of words required by the current puzzle design are also displayed.  Individual counts are displayed for each different word length.

Load Word Pool	This command will clear the current word pool, and then add new words to the empty pool.  The new words can come from one of 4 different sources:

A) a Windows or DOS text file. (*.anything)  The file may also contain other control codes (in addition to the ASCII text).  The file will not be modified in any way.

B) a Word Pool Library that was already saved (*.WPL).

C) The WordWiz word box control

D) The Windows clipboard.

If the source words contain any letters that are marked or accented, be sure to select the proper SETTINGS option so that the marks are properly removed.

Add Words to Pool	This command is the same as the above LOAD command, except the current word pool is NOT emptied first.  The new words are merged into the current word pool, and duplicate words are eliminated. The same 4 word sources are supported.   Note: you must use the "Save Word Pool as" menu item to permanently save the expanded word pool on disk as a new .WPL file.

Remove Words from Pool	This command will remove only the specified matching words from the current word pool.  The source of the words used for matching is the same as the Load and Add commands.

Clear the Word Pool	This option will remove all words in the current word pool.  This option operates only on the current (memory) word pool;  all disk word pool libraries (.WPL 's) are not affected.  If you start construction using a puzzle style that requires the word pool, while the word pool is empty, then the BASE.WPL library will be automatically loaded into memory.

Save the current Word Pool as	When you select this item, the current (memory) word pool is saved as a disk file.  You may name a new file, or overwrite an existing file.  The .WPL extension will automatically be assigned if no extension is specified.  You should use caution before overwriting any WPL files that were distributed with this program.

Edit Add-in list	This item will pop you into the Windows NOTEPAD application so you can add or remove words from the automatic word-pool add-in list.  Use this feature to add words to BASE.WPL that may not be in there (like family names).  Make your changes and save the file before closing NOTEPAD.  The words in the add-in list are automatically added to the current word pool each time the BASE.WPL file is loaded.  This means that your changes won't become effective until you clear the word-pool and reload BASE.WPL.  The net effect is as if the words in the add-in file are in BASE.WPL.  If the add-in list contains a word that is already in BASE.WPL, then it is not added!!!!.  Caution: Do not try to edit BASE.WPL.  Use this feature instead.  This feature (and the next) only affect the BASE.WPL word pool.  Other word pools should simply be edited if you want to add or remove words.

Edit Omission list	This item will pop you into the Windows NOTEPAD application so you can add or remove words from the automatic word-pool omission list.  Use this feature to remove words from BASE.WPL that you find offensive.  Make your changes and save the file before closing NOTEPAD.  The words in the omission list are automatically removed from the current word pool each time the BASE.WPL file is loaded.  This means that your changes won't become effective until you clear the current word-pool and reload BASE.WPL.  The net effect is as if the words in the add-in file are NOT in BASE.WPL.  If the omission list contains a word that is not in BASE.WPL, then it is not removed!!!!.    Caution: Do not try to edit BASE.WPL.  Use this feature instead.


The SETTINGS menu
The SETTINGS menu.

This menu item contains items for selecting options that affect the overall operation of WordWiz.

Choose Automatic Word Pool	This option allows you to select the name of a WPL file that will be automatically loaded when you try to construct a crossword or word fill-in style puzzle with an empty word pool.  If you do not select an automatic WPL file, then BASE.WPL will be used.  If you use this option to select an alternative WPL file, you can switch back to BASE.WPL by selecting it.  Note: this option does not affect the use of the automatic add-in and omission lists.  These lists always apply only to BASE.WPL.

Avoid using Letters	Use this item to select letters that should not be used in the puzzle.  This item affects Crossword and Word Search styles only.  Interesting results can be obtained by excluding all vowels but one, or uncommon letters such as JQX or Z.  For large word pools, avoiding a few letters usually speeds up the construction process.  If you avoid too many letters, construction may become impossible.  Also, be careful not to use a letter that is selected for avoidance in a locked cell.  Letters that are selected STAY IN EFFECT until you change them, even if you stop and restart the program.  When one or more letters are selected, you will be automatically reminded each time you start the constructor.

Use Full Screen	If this item is selected, WordWiz will automatically startup in full screen mode.

Hide Solution	This option allows you to create a puzzle that you can print and play yourself.  (Don't use the CROSSWORD puzzle style, because you can't write word clues without seeing the words!!!.)  For all puzzle styles except WORD-SEARCH, this option causes the grid to be filled with question marks, instead of the actual letters or numbers.  For the word search style, the letters are displayed, but they are all the same color.

Symmetry Mode	This option pops out a sub menu that allows you to select an automatic grid symmetry mode.  The symmetry mode is used only while you are designing the grid layout.  Use asymmetric if you want exact control of each grid cell.  The other symmetry modes will automatically change other grid cells to keep the grid pattern symmetric.  The default mode is diagonal symmetry.  The Symmetry tool bar button displays the current setting, and provides a quick way to switch the current mode.

Remove Character Markings	WordWiz uses this option to determine if any accented or marked characters are present in files that you want to convert to a word pool, and will convert the accented character into the nearest simple equivalent (e.g. ü becomes u.)  Use this option to specify the character set that was used for files that are being added into a word pool.  For example, if you create a file with a DOS based editor or word processor, then you should select the DOS character set before you load these files into a word pool.  Use the WINDOWS character set for processing files that were created by WINDOWS based software.  If you are not sure, use notepad to view the file.  If you see funny characters where accented or marked characters should be, then the DOS character set was used to record the file.  If the file does not contain any marked characters, then this setting does not matter.  You should review this option and set it before loading words from your own files into word pools.

Export to File Picture Format	Use this option to select the file format when exporting the grid image as a file for use by other Windows programs.  You should use the WMF metafile format if it is supported by your other software.  Metafiles are much smaller than bitmaps and can be smoothly scaled (no jaggies).  Use the BMP format only if WMF is not supported by your other software.

Export to Clipboard Picture Format	Use this option to select the picture format when exporting the grid image to the Windows clipboard (for subsequent pasting into another program).  You should use the WMF metafile format if it is supported by your other software.  Metafiles are much smaller than bitmaps and can be smoothly scaled (no jaggies).  Two different bitmap formats are also supported.  Use whatever format works with the software that will be pasting the image.


Tool bar buttons
The Tool Bar

The tool bar contains buttons that are used to control the operation of the program.

Puzzle Title Box

SYMMETRY

DESIGN

LOCK CELLS

CONSTRUCT

The "extra" buttons


The Puzzle Title Box
The Puzzle Title Box.

This box contains the title of your puzzle.  To change or enter the title, click on the box and start typing.  To replace text in the box, click and drag over the text to be replaced, and key in the new text, or press the delete key to delete the text.

The maximum length of the puzzle title is 40 characters.


The SYMMETRY button
The [image] SYMMETRY button.

This button serves two purposes:

a) The currently selected symmetry mode is illustrated.

b) Clicking the button will allow you to quickly change to a new mode.

See the SETTINGS/SYMMETRY MODE menu item for more information on the symmetry modes.


The DESIGN button
The [image] DESIGN button.

Click this button to enter DESIGN mode.  While in design mode, you can change the layout of the puzzle by clicking on grid cells to make darkened cells (called "outs" in word puzzle parlance).  You can also change the grid size, and puzzle style (from the option menu).

If puzzle construction was in progress, it is interrupted when this button is clicked.  DESIGN mode is the standard mode that is automatically selected when the program is started.

If you click on an "open" cell, it will become "blocked".

If you click on a "blocked" cell, it will become "open".

If you SHIFT CLICK on an "open" cell, it will become "transparently blocked".  Use transparent blocks to create puzzles with oddly shaped borders, or puzzles with "holes" in the middle.

To leave DESIGN mode, click either the LOCK CELLS, or CONSTRUCT buttons.


The LOCK CELLS button
The [image] LOCK CELLS button.

Click this button to enter "LOCK CELLS" mode.  While in this mode, you can enter specific letters into cells.  The letters that you enter will be left in place by the construction process.  If you click LOCK CELLS while a puzzle is constructing, the construction will be interrupted.  Note that this feature is only applicable to CrossWord and word fill-in puzzle styles.

To lock a letter into an empty cell:

1. click on the desired cell.

2. type the letter you wish to place in the cell.

To unlock a cell, click on the desired cell.

You may lock a cell that already contains a letter by clicking on it.

To lock a letter in an already locked cell; click on the cell and type the new letter.

You may lock as many letters as you want; but if too many letters are locked, then construction may fail, unless there are words that can actually fit the lock pattern.  For example, if you lock a "Z" into the 3rd position of a 10 letter word, and there is no such word available in the current word pool, then construction will be fruitless.

Also, if you lock an entire word (such as your last name) into a series of cells, then WordWiz will verify that the word is actually in the current word pool.  If it is not, you will be asked if you want to automatically add it.  If you elect not to add it, then construction will not be possible.

Note: Use the WORDS/EDIT ADDIN LIST menu item to enter words (such as your last name) that you want WordWiz to always add to the word pool whenever it loads the BASE word pool.

To leave LOCK CELLS mode, click either the DESIGN, or CONSTRUCT buttons.


The CONSTRUCT button
The [image] CONSTRUCT button.

Click this button to start the automatic construction process.

If puzzle construction was already in progress, it is restarted from scratch when this button is clicked.  When construction is restarted, the word sequences in the word pool are shuffled, this re-shuffling will cause a different solution to be found the next time (if many solutions were possible).  This allows you to make many puzzles with the exact same layout.

To stop the construction process, click either the DESIGN, CONSTRUCT or LOCK CELLS buttons.

You can minimize the WordWiz window, and use other applications while the construction process is running.  You may notice that other programs may slow down a bit; that's because WordWiz is using every spare nook and cranny of your system.  The minimized WordWiz icon will contain the [image] symbol to indicate that the constructor is working.  When the composer is finished, the icon will return to either the [image] or the [image] depending on which mode you were in when you started the construction.  In either case, a beep also sounds to draw your attention to the changed icon.


The Word Box
The Word Box.

The word box is the edit pad located to the left of the puzzle grid area.

The Word Box has several uses:

1.	Words typed into the word box can be added or removed from the current word pool.

2.	Text can be copied to and from the Windows clipboard and the word box.

3.	Crossword puzzle clues are written and edited in the word box.

4.	The words that are to be used for a word search style puzzle are entered in the word box.

5.	Any text that is to be printed along with the puzzle can be entered in the word box.

When you want to use the word box, first click on it, then move the cursor where you want the text to go, and start typing.  You can highlight text by dragging the cursor over it.  Any text that is highlighted, will be deleted and replaced with the next keystroke character.

The word box cannot be used while a puzzle is being constructed.  When construction is finished, the word box will be automatically filled with the words that were selected.


The 'extra' buttons
The "extra" buttons.

The buttons located above the Title Box change function based on the currently selected control button.

While in DESIGN mode the buttons become: (except for word search)

Un-Block all cells	Removes all "outs" from the current grid pattern.  Use to start a new design of a densely intersected puzzle.  Avoid dense puzzles if you are using a small Word Pool.

Block all cells	Fills the entire grid pattern with "outs" (the dark empty cells.)  This is very handy when starting a design that will contain only a few loosely packed words.  Once all the cells are blocked, you only need to click where you want the words to go.  This method is highly recommended for beginning WIZ'ers.

Secret Tip - If you hold down the SHIFT key while clicking this button, the entire grid will be filled with "transparent blocks".  This is a great way to start designing a puzzle that will have an odd shape.

While in DESIGN mode the buttons become: (word search only)

New	Clears the word box and tile boxes.  (The other extra button is not used).

Sort Word List	Puts the words in alphabetical order, and reconstructs the puzzle.

While in LOCK CELLS mode the buttons become:

Lock all letters	Takes all of the letters currently on the grid, and converts them to cell locks.  Use this to protect yourself from accidentally reconstructing a puzzle that has a solution you like.  You can also use this to quickly re-construct a puzzle after switching between the WORD-FILLIN and CROSSWORDpuzzle styles.  When all cells are locked, the constructor will quickly re-find the same solution, and re-fill the word box accordingly.

Remove all cell locks	Unlocks all of the cells in the grid.  Cell Locks are used to restrict a cell to the specified single letter during construction.

While in CONSTRUCT mode the buttons become:

Pause/Continue	Suspends construction until the button is pressed again.  Construction will resume at the point where it was suspended.

Restart	Causes the constructor to re-randomize the word pool, and start construction again using the current pattern.  Use if constructor appears to be 'stuck'.

PREVIEW SCREEN BUTTONS

There are many buttons at the top of the preview screen.  These buttons allow you to adjust the layout of the puzzle before you print it.  The layout settings are saved with the puzzle.  The best way to find out what the buttons do is to click them, and watch what happens to the puzzle on the preview screen.  When the puzzle looks nice, stop clicking.


Common Questions

Why is it taking so long?

Why is construction not always possible?

What are the system requirements?

What is an "out ratio"?

Why is the printing really screwed up?

Why does the preview screen not always exactly match what prints?


Why is it taking so long?

This is entirely normal.  Computers do things one tiny step at a time.  This program has been optimized to the fullest extent possible, but there are truly billions upon billions upon billions of permutations to try.  A fast CPU certainly helps, but it will be several decades before a desktop processor will be built that can keep the WordWiz happy!!!  Sit back and relax,  or minimize the window, and do something else for a while.  Some solutions can take several weeks (or longer).

When the composer appears "stuck", it really isn't.  It is always progressing towards a either a solution or the absolute determination that no solution is possible given the current word pool, grid pattern, lock pattern, and avoidance letters.  The progress is not simply linear however, that's why it can sometimes jump ahead quickly after struggling for a while.

If the composer seems to be stuck in the same spot for a long period, just try clicking CONSTRUCT to cause the composer to re-start.  This often helps because the composer randomizes the word order and starting point each time it starts.  The new "point of view" may help it find a solution quicker if one exists.

Changing the puzzle grid design often helps.  Study the construction progress for a while.  You may see a bottleneck that can be alleviated by adding a blocked cell.


Why is construction not always possible?

This simply means that ALL possible combinations of word placement were tested, and NONE of the combinations resulted in a valid puzzle.  This is caused by using a small word list in combination with a complex grid pattern.  Either add more words to the word list, or simplify the grid pattern (by using less word intersections).

The above discussion only pertains to CrossWord and word fill-in puzzle styles.  Number fill-in and word search puzzle styles always compose quickly.


System Requirements

The recommended minimum system configuration is:

Microsoft® Windows™ 3.1

386/25 or higher CPU

4 MB memory,

2 MB of free disk space.

A mouse is suggested but not required.

A printer is optional, but very useful.

If you notice any disk activity during the puzzle construction phase (except when loading the word pool, and just as the construction completes), this is an indication that more system memory is needed.  Normally, no disk I/O is performed during construction, except for Windows memory swapping.  Try closing un-needed applications to free up memory if disk activity is occurring.  This statement assumes that no other application is active and performing disk I/O.

Note: Due to a design limit in Microsoft® Windows™ 3.1, the number of windows that can be open concurrently is sometimes not enough, no matter how much memory is installed on your system.  If you notice that parts of the puzzle grid are missing, or similar missing controls in other applications, this is a sign that this limit is being hit.  This problem is most common when using the larger grid sizes.  If this happens, close any other applications that you don't need, and the problem should clear up.


What is an "out ratio"?

This is the ratio of open cells to blocked cells.  For example, a 10 x 10 puzzle contains 100 cells.  If  17 cells are blocked, the "out ratio" is about 6 to 1.  Professional puzzle designers consider a 6 to 1 ratio ideal.  This ratio is not important for puzzles designed to be used by children, or puzzles that use many "transparent blocks" to form an odd shape.


Printing problems
Why is the printing really screwed up?

Setting the default printer and Port Settings

WordWiz always uses the current default printer when printing.  Use the Windows™ CONTROL PANEL application to verify and set your current default printer.  To do this, double click on the PRINTERS icon, then double click on one of the listed 'installed printers' to set it as the default, then click CLOSE to save your choice.

Also, verify the port settings for the selected default printer (again using CONTROL PANEL).

Activating TrueType® Fonts

WordWiz REQUIRES the TrueType font capabilities provided by Windows 3.1.  Windows 3.0 does not support TrueType, and therefore cannot be used with WordWiz.  In Windows 3.1, it is possible to deactivate the TrueType font feature; in which case, WordWiz will not print, or render the screen correctly.  To activate the TrueType font feature, open the CONTROL PANEL and double click on FONTS.  Now click the TRUETYPE... button and make sure the USE TRUE TYPE box is checked.  Also check to make sure that at least the three standard fonts "Arial", "Times New Roman", and "Courier New" are installed.

Printer Driver Options

A printer driver is a small piece of software that is designed and written by the manufacturer of your printer.  Think of the printer driver as the "glue" that binds the application trying to print something (WordWiz) to your specific brand and model of printer.  It is the printer driver that actually determines what options are available on the print setup screen (not WordWiz). The capabilities provided by the driver are dependent on the actual capabilities of your printer.  Therefore, I cannot discuss specific settings, because I do not know what settings are available.  However, if you are having trouble printing, try changing any driver settings related to activating graphics output.  All WordWiz printing is done in graphics mode, but some drivers default to Text mode.  Also, if you see an option similar to "Print TrueType as Graphics", make sure it is selected.


Preview rounding
Why does the preview screen not always exactly match what prints?

This happens because most video screens operate at a much lower resolution than even the most basic dot matrix printer.  Rounding errors are introduced as adjustments are made to lower the resolution for the preview display.

Think of the preview display as an approximation of what will print.  Use scrap paper to print trial copies and then make final adjustments, ignoring what you see on the preview screen.


Advanced Topics

Give away hints.

The LOCK CELLS feature has an important secondary use.  When you print a puzzle for someone to solve, normally all grid cells should be empty.  You can cause some of the cells to be filled in with hint letters or numbers by using the LOCK CELLS feature.  First, make sure the OPTIONS/SHOW LOCKED CELLS AS HINTS menu item is checked.  Then click LOCK CELLS, and then click UNLOCK ALL LETTERS.  This will remove all locks.  Now click on only the cells that you want to 'give away' to lock them.  The letters in the locked cells will be printed when you print the puzzle.  This feature is supported for the number fill-in, crosswords and word fill-in puzzle styles.

Designing topical CrossWord or word fill-in puzzles.

There are three basic methods that can be used to design topical puzzles.

Method 1 - Custom word pools.  To use this method, you must brainstorm and come up with at least 500 words that are somehow related to your topic.  Short words are actually much more important than larger words, so you may want to use some abbreviations.

Type the words into the Word Box, then LOAD the Word Pool from the Word Box, now save the word pool as a new WPL file.

Next, you then must design a SPARSE puzzle grid.  The following puzzle was built from a word pool of about 1500 musical terms.  It is an example of a sparse (not dense) grid design.  The 'transparent block' feature was used to stop the darkened cells from printing.

The advantage of this method is that all of the words in the puzzle will be related to the topic.  The disadvantage is that a custom word pool is required, and only sparse (but pretty) patterns can be used.

Method 2 - Cell locks.   Another way to build a topical puzzle is to use the LOCK CELLS feature to lock in a few words related to a topic.  You then use a standard (large) word pool to fill out the rest of the puzzle.  This method may take some practice, but nice puzzles can be designed.  Here is one I built using the BASE.WPL word pool.  The cells that were locked with the words I wanted (my family members) are circled.

 Note that the locked words should be positioned as far apart from each other as possible in order to increase the chances of success.

Method 3 - Manual Construction.   When you have a very short list of words, and you want a puzzle that contains only words from the short list, you can use WordWiz as a "puzzle editor" and just design a simple 'step ladder' style puzzle.  You will want to select the ASYMMETRIC editing mode, because it probably will not be possible to create a symmetrically balanced puzzle with such a small word list.  You should also select the transparent blocks setting, and then use the block all button to fill the entire grid with transparent blocks.

Next, you should type or paste the short list of words into the WordBox, and then LOAD the words into the Word Pool.  You will also want to have a printed copy of the words handy for the next step.

Now, using the printed list as a guide, punch out a series of cells, near the center of the grid, that matches the length of one of the longer words.  Using brain power, scan the list and click in one or two more words that properly intersect the first.

After you click in the pattern for the first few words, click CONSTRUCT so that WordWiz fills in the words you were thinking of.  If other words could fit the same starting pattern, WordWiz will randomly choose a valid combination, so just click again (if you want).

Keep extending the pattern in a step ladder fashion, and use CONSTRUCT to automatically fill in the words as you go.  The following puzzle was built in this fashion from a list of only 40 words related to Studebaker automobiles (not all 40 words were used).  The circled locks were placed after the puzzle was finished to spell the secret phrase "BULLET NOSE".

Saving a partially constructed puzzle.

Stop the construction process by clicking DESIGN.  Then save the puzzle.  See the next item for how to resume construction at a later time.

Restarting construction of a partially constructed puzzle.

A  CrossWord or word fill-in puzzle that was partially constructed can be re-started by using the following steps:

1. Click LOCK CELLS to enter cell lock mode.

2. Click LOCK ALL LETTERS.  This will lock all words that have been placed so far.

3. Click on the fringe cells to unlock them.  This step is very important.  The idea is to unlock enough cells so that construction will proceed without immediately failing.  Cells in totally completed areas of the puzzle can remain locked.  Find cells in the boundary areas between the filled and unfilled parts of the puzzle and unlock them.  Also unlock parts of long words the reach into uncompleted areas.  Trail and error may be needed.  If construction fails soon after re-starting, just unlock more cells in the fringe areas, and try again.

Re-constructing just a portion of a fully constructed puzzle.

A completed CrossWord or word fill-in puzzle may have a word or two in it that you might prefer not to use.  The area of the puzzle around the word can be re-constructed without re-constructing the entire puzzle.  Use the following steps:

1. Click LOCK CELLS to enter cell lock mode.

2. Click LOCK ALL LETTERS.  This will lock the entire puzzle.

3. Click on each letter in the word you wish to replace to unlock them.  You may also have to click on surrounding cells to unlock them also.

4. Click CONSTRUCT to start construction.  If the same word is re-selected, just click construct several more times to see if an alternative solution can be found.  If the same undesired solution continues to re-appear after several re-constructions, then unlock more surrounding cells and repeat until you get a different solution.

Converting a CrossWord puzzle to a word fill-in, and vis a versa.

Use the following steps to change the style of an already constructed puzzle:

1. Click LOCK CELLS to enter cell lock mode.

2. Click LOCK ALL LETTERS.  This will lock the entire current solution.

3. Select OPTIONS\PUZZLE STYLE to switch to the desired puzzle style.

4. Click CONSTRUCT.  Because all cells are locked, the puzzle will be quickly re-constructed in the new style.  If the currently loaded word pool is missing some of the words, you will be need to click YES when asked if you want to add the missing words to the current word pool.

5.	Click LOCK CELLS, and then select unlock all letters.  Now you have a constructed puzzle in the new style.

Setting up multiple clue libraries.

WordWiz uses a common clue library for all clues.  The location of the library is always a sub directory of the directory that contains WordWiz.EXE called \CLUES.  If you are creating puzzles in different topic areas, you may want to use separate clue libraries so that clues written for the same word can be different.  This can be done by installing WordWiz again in a different directory.  Use different start-up icons to access the proper clue library.  You can also use different BASE.WPL files by placing them in the proper respective directories.

Note: You can install WordWiz as many times as you want to ON THE SAME SYSTEM.  You cannot use it on multiple systems at the same time unless you register the additional copies.  See license information for additional information

Creating your own word pool (.WPL) files.

If you create your own word pool files, you should use the .WPL extension ONLY if all duplicate words have been removed.  WordWiz disables it's automatic word duplication checks (for performance reasons) when it loads a .WPL file into an EMPTY word pool.  Duplication checks are performed under all other situations.  If you allow duplicate words to creep into a WPL file, then the same word could appear twice in the same puzzle.

Here is the best way to build a new WPL file from several text files (that do not have a WPL extension):

1)	Clear the current word pool using WORDS/CLEAR THE WORD POOL.

2)	Load each text file using WORDS/ADD WORDS FROM FILE

3)	Save the new WPL file using WORDS/SAVE WORD POOL AS

The new WPL file will not contain any duplicates.

Technical note:  If you have access to the Microsoft Compress.EXE utility you may use it to compress your custom WPL files.

Forcing construction to start in a specific area.

The way to do this is to lock a '.' (period) in a cell in the area of the puzzle where you want the composer to start.  To lock a '.' in a cell, click on LOCK CELLS, then click on the cell you want to lock, and then key in the '.'.  The cell you click on must not be 'blocked'.  More than one cell can be locked this way, but it's not a good idea to spread them out over to wide an area, otherwise it defeats the purpose.  It can also cause the composer to get angry and slow down. The composer doesn't like to have to spread its attention too thin, it prefers to focus on a single area of the puzzle at a time.

Maximum word pool size.

There is no limit to the size of a WPL disk file.  However, when the word pool is loaded into memory, only a limited number of words can be stored.  An independent memory area is used for each different word length.  The maximum size of each area is about 65,000 characters.  The Word Pool Statistics option will display "full" next to each word length that has reached it's limit.

The maximum number of words of each different length follows:

Length	Max Number of words
2	(only 676 combinations possible - e.g. no limit)
3	(only 17,576 combinations possible - e.g. no limit)
4	16,382
5	13,106
6	10,921
7	9,361
8	8,190
9	7,280
10	6,552
11	5,956
12	5,460
13	5,040
14	4,680
15	4,368
16	4,095
17	3,854
18	3,639
19	3,448
20	3,275
21	3,119
22	2,977
23	2,848
Total	142,803 - Ultimate maximum Word Pool words


Tips and Tricks

Printing the User Guide

The registered copies of the WordWiz distribution disk contain a printable version of this help file.  To print your own copy of this help file:

1) Use FILE MANAGER to open the \MANUAL directory on the WordWiz distribution disk.

2) Double click on the PRINTME.WRI file.  This will start MS WRITE and automatically open the PRINTME file.

3) Select FILE/PRINT from the main menu.  The manual is about 25 pages long.

4) Close MS WRITE and FILE MANAGER.

Individual pages of this help file may also be printed using the FILE/PRINT TOPIC menu item.

How to Use the Bonus Word Pools

The registered copies of the WordWiz distribution disk contain several bonus word pool files (*.WPL).  These files are not automatically copied to your hard disk during installation. To use these files, use FILE MANAGER to open the \BONUSWPL directory on the WordWiz distribution disk, and drag the files to the WordWiz directory on your hard disk.

Detailed instructions:

1) Double click on your hard disk drive letter. (If it does not already have an open window).

2) Double click on your floppy disk drive letter.  (If it does not already have an open window).

3) Select WINDOW/TILE - this will tile the 2 open windows. If you have more than 2 open windows, close the unneeded windows and select WINDOW/TILE again.

4) Open the WordWiz directory (usually C:\WINDOWS\WORDWIZ) and the A:\BONUSWPL directories in each respective window.

5) Drag the WPL files from the floppy window to the open hard disk directory.

The Tip Puzzle Files

The tip puzzled files (named TIP??.WIZ) are provided to illustrate some of the more unique aspects of this program.  Each file covers one specific tip or trick.  Use the FILE/OPEN menu to check these out.

Editing/Writing Clues

When a crossword puzzle is constructed, WordWiz will automatically look up clues for the words that were selected and place the clues it finds in the Word Box.  Words that do not yet have clues as simply copied to the Word Box and are numbered.  To write a clue for a new word, simply double click on the WORD and then start typing the clue.  This will replace the original word with the new clue text.  You can change the clue text for any word, including words that already had clues.  You do this by simply editing the clue in the Word Box.

When you save the puzzle, the new and changed clues are automatically saved in the clue database.

Speeding up Construction

If you are going to let a large or complex design 'cook' for a while (e.g. overnight), you should minimize the WordWiz window before wandering off.  When the window is minimized, WordWiz can work at about a 20% faster pace, because the screen updates are not performed.

The Keyboard Interface

WordWiz has been designed so that a mouse, while nice, is not required. Every menu item and important button contains a single underlined character.  Use the ALT button, followed by the character that is underlined to access the item directly from the keyboard.  The ALT button can be released before pressing the character.  If a menu item is nested, you can simply continue typing the underlined character for the items you want.  For example typing ALT F E C will export the current puzzle grid image to the clipboard.

Compressing your WPL files

If you create and save you own word pool files (*.WPL), you can optionally compress the files with the Microsoft COMPRESS.EXE utility.  (Contact Microsoft if you don't have the utility).  WordWiz will automatically detect that the file was processed with this utility, and decompress the file as it is read.  Note: BASE.WPL is compressed in this manner.  That's why you can't view or edit it directly.

Note: Under low memory conditions, WordWiz may not be able to decompress 'on the fly'.  If you get an error when loading the BASE.WPL file, or any file you compressed yourself, the use the Microsoft EXPAND.EXE utility (comes with DOS and should be in your DOS directory) to decompress the file as follows:

1) rename BASE.WPL to BASE.OLD

2) at a DOS prompt type:

EXPAND BASE.OLD BASE.WPL

3) You can delete BASE.OLD after verifying that the new BASE.WPL loads correctly.

Designing Grids

If you need help designing grid patterns, simply pick up a puzzle book and use any of the patterns you wish.  Grid patterns generally cannot be copyrighted, so you are free to use the pattern (as long as you fill it with different words).


Whats New
What's New

Problems fixed in version 2.0:

1.	The Pause/Resume button caused CrossWord and word fill-in puzzles to restart construction from the beginning rather than resuming at the point where construction was paused.

2.	Improved error handling and messages when loading a compressed WPL file under low memory conditions.  The symptom of this problem was garbled words after loading BASE.WPL.

3.	Copy count was ignored when printing puzzles.

New Features in Version 2.0:

1.	Export puzzles to any Windows program that accept BITMAP or metafile pictures.  Export to the clipboard or save the grid image as a BMP or WMF file.

2.	Remove words from the current word pool based on matching words from either the clipboard, the clue edit box, or a file.

3.	Load or Merge words into the word pool from any file, or from existing WPL files.

4.	Locked cells are now displayed on the design screen with a "keyhole" symbol.  The symbol is not printed, it just makes it easier to see which cells are locked.

5.	When printing, locked cells may be circled to highlight special words in the puzzle.

6.	When printing, locked cells may be left empty or the letter may displayed as a "give away hint". Letters that will be printed as hints are displayed in black. All normal letters are displayed in gray.

7.	Accents and other character markings are automatically removed from letters when adding words from DOS or Windows text files into a word pool.

8.	New SETTINGS menu item to control 'global settings'.  Global settings are program options that are not specific to a particular puzzle, and are not changed when a new puzzle is loaded.  The OPTIONS menu contains only options that affect (and are saved with) the current puzzle.

9.	New 'solution' button added to allow easy preview of solution grids.

10.	Improved puzzle grid shadow.  Odd shaped puzzles are now given shadows also.

11.	Page orientation and paper size are now saved with each puzzle.

12.	A printable copy of this help file is now included on registered distribution disks.

13.	New option to choose the WPL file name that should be automatically loaded when the word pool is empty.

Problems fixed in Version 2.0 (revision a):

1. Changing grid size while in WORDSEARCH style, no longer clears the word list.

2. All Word Pool menu items may now be accessed while in WORDSEARCH style.  This allows a word list from a wordsearch puzzle to be loaded into the word pool easily, so the same words can be used in a different style puzzle later.

New Features in Version 2.0 (revision a):

1.  Transparent Blocks menu item was added.


Further Reading
Bibliography

The following books contain great tips for designing high quality puzzles.  They assume you are using a pencil and paper to design your puzzles (that used to be the only way!!!), but the information they contain is still very pertinent.

How to Make and Sell Original Crosswords and Other Puzzles

William J. Sunners

Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.  New York  1981

The Experts Book of CROSSWORD Puzzle Making

Vera Daniels

Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York  1976

Also, software dictionary products are becoming available that work well with WordWiz.  When selecting a product, look for the following features:

Ability to create a list of words related to a specific topic.

Ability to place the list of related words in the windows clipboard, or save them to a file.

Ability to look up a word in the clipboard, and replace it with a definition or synonym list.

If you would like further information on currently available products, contact the author.

Lastly, I highly recommend the following book if you are considering embarking on a shareware project of your own.

Writing and Marketing Shareware (2nd Edition)

Steven Hudgik

Windcrest / McGraw-Hill

What's next?

WordWiz will continue to be updated and improved.  Most ideas come from customers, so let me know your suggestions.

The End