                          


                            
                              CROSSLAB  vers. 1.2
                            =======================






                    -   TABLE  OF  CONTENTS  -
                       *********************



             1. Introduction
                -------------------
                1.1 Welcome  to CROSSLAB.
                1.2 Installation

             2. General problems
               ------------------
                 2.0 Making selection
                 2.1 Lights and breaks
                 2.2 Entering text
                 2.3 Opening a puzzle
                 2.4 Saving a puzzle
                 2.5 Opening dictionary
                 2.6 Current dimension of a crossword puzzle.     
                 2.7 Entering definitions  
           3. Building a puzzle
               -------------------
                 3.1 Starting a new puzzle
                 3.2 Changing structure of puzzle
                 3.3 Entering solutions
                 
                
             4. Library
            ------------------
                 4.1 What's a library of puzzles ?
                 4.2 Solving crossword puzzles from a library. 

             5. Saving images
            ------------------- 
                 5.1 How to obtain a .PCX file ?

           
                        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 features.
 
        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.
        
        Third is the possibility to use library of puzzles and automatically
        to fill every puzzle of this library.
        
        There are manny features in operation of filling ,in the creation of
         new crossword puzzles.   

        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.
        You need more than a 386 computer , 540 Kb of conventional memory ,
        1 Mb of  extended memory , a VGA video card or more ,a mouse.
         To run with MS - Windows 3.x you have to edit a .PIF file
         and to specify 1 Mb of extended memory needed.          
 
        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 installation provides the files CWORD.DIC ,ENGL1.DIC,
        ENGL2.DIC ,  FRENCH.DIC, DEUTSCH.DIC  ,
        containing words  for  english , french and germany languages.
        (CWORD,ENGL1,ENGL2,ENGL3 in english , FRENCH in french and
        DEUTSCH in german). 
         The dictionary CWORD.DIC contains words needed to solve
        CAREU2.CRS and CAREU5.CRS.
          

   


                           2. Solving  problems
                           =====================
            


        2.0 Making selection
       ----------------------
          You can make a selection by moving the mouse arround the grid and
         clicking the left  or the right button of mouse.  If the selection is 
          good you will see a  point  in the left corner of square.
          All this selected  squares (containing a point) may be used in
          operations as filling the crossword grid , entering text or
          entering (showing) a definition.
          If you clicked the right button ,the selection is vertical.
          if you clicked the left button, the selection is horizontal.   
     



         2.1 LIGHTS and BREAKS
         ---------------------

          A crossword puzzle may contain a lot of square cells. 
                   
          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). A square designed as 'light' cannot contain a letter,
          When you have a squared puzzle you may want to create a new
          structure by removing some cells.I call this removed cell
          a 'BREAK'. 
          
           You can add a BREAK (remove a cell) by clicking the button
          'EDIT' from main menu (choosing 'BREAKS' button),
            
           A removed cell cannot contain a letter. You can make active
           a BREAK by clicking again the coresponding area (twice).
           The colour of a 'break' cell is different from 'light' and
           normal cell.           
           To accept the changes made and to exit from  operation you
           must click the right button.
          
           The difference between a 'light' cell and a 'break' cell is
           only graphical.  




 
          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'.

         If there is a selection in grid , a text box will be visible

          and you may enter any letter you want to (only small letters).

          Spaces means that the corresponding cell in grid is free(no letter).

         If you are using characters '.' or ',' you may obtain in that

         position a 'LIGHT' ('.') or a 'BREAK' (','). 

         EXAMPLE : If you type   A  BC .F  A    you will obtain in grid :

         A##BC#*F##A - where character # means a free cell and * means a 'light'.          


     2.3 Opening a puzzle
    ---------------------
        
         To recall a previously saved puzzle select the button <FILE>
         
         from main menu. Now , from menu 'FILE' 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.
          
         The active dimension will be changed automatically to the
        
          dimension of the new crossword puzzles.                
 
         The extension of a crossword saved in a file is .CRS . 
             

    2.4 Saving a puzzle
    --------------------
         To save a puzzle select the button <FILE> from main menu.
       
         From the menu 'FILE' 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.
         
       
         If the name was correct the puzzle will be saved.
    
    2.5 Opening a dictionary
   --------------------------
        
       To open a new dictionary  select the button <FILE> from main

       menu. Now , from this menu select the button <DICTIONARY> ,

       and from the next menu select the button <OPEN>.

       A file box will appear and you may enter a file name.

       Once CROSSLAB has verified that the selection was correct

       , CROSSLAB will load the new dictionary. 
      
       Because dictionaries have a few word of 3 letters (and no word of
       
       two letters) your grid structure must avoid words of 3 letters (it
       is possible to be unsolved).             



     2.6 Current dimension of a crossword puzzle
     -------------------------------------------
    CROSSLAB starts with a default dimension of 10 (horiz. and vert.).
    
     This is the current dimension of active grid (visible on screen).
     
     There are  only two way to change the dimension of grid :
    
        a) Click button <OPTION> of main menu and from next menu click
          button <DIMENSION> . Now you are able to enter the new dimension
          in a  box.
    
        b) When opening a new puzzle the dimension will change automatically
           to new crossword puzzle.
          
    

     2.7   Entering definitions
    ----------------------------
      CROSSLAB allows the user to edit definitions for the selected
         position of grid.

      To edit a definition for the activ puzzle you have to choose
      button <DEFINITION> from  main menu.

      Next step you will click button <EDIT> and, if there is a
      selection , a text box will appear and you are able to enter
      the definition.

      If you choose button <SHOW> you will see the current definition
      for the selected position.

      If you save the puzzle , definitions will be saved also.
      When restoring this puzzle you'll get the saved definitions.
      



 





             
        
                  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 'OPTIONS' you must select <DIMENSION> button.
       
         A text box will appear and you may enter the dimension of puzzle
          (max. 18 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.

         When you click a cell  you will see the result on screen. 

         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 must
         mark them.
       
         You may choose the button <OPTIONS> from main menu, and from
         menu 'OPTIONS' you select <MARK> button.
        
         A text box will appear and you may enter the word .
         It is necessary to use small letters.
         
         If you will  begin to fill  the crossword puzzle ,the marked word
         will be  avoided.  
 
         To release a marked word ,you must choose button <UNMARK> and 
         fallow  the same operations. Now the word will be considered
         again in the filling operation.        
          
       


       3.4 Entering solutions
      -------------------------
       
         If you want to find solutions to a puzzle you must select the
         button <GO> from main menu .
          
         You may select now the button <GO NORM>  to begin filling.
         This mean that you take in consideration a complete  filling
         of grid (all the words that can be founded).

         If it was made a selection in grid the operation starts ,
         otherwise  a warnning message will appear.
         
         If your grid structure fits to the current dictionary you will
          get very soon a lot of words. You may stop the opperation by
          pressing a key at anny moment of filling.
         
          CROSSLAB avoid to fill words of two letters ( but you may include
          in your grid structure words of two letters).
          
         Sometimes the opperation will take much time , and it is possible
          that solutions cannot be founded.
         In this situation you must exit and make another selection in grid.
       
         If there are not manny words founded, you have the choice to change
          the structure of grid by adding (or removing) 'lights' or 'breaks',
          to mark some words (to be avoided) ,    to open a new dictionary ,
          or to use library of puzzles.
         If the filling takes more time ,you may stop the opperation by pressing
          a key. In this moment you are able to see the best selection of words
          made in the   grid,  selecting the button <BEST> from menu 'GO'.
         A warning message will appear and if the answer is 'YES' the best
          selection of words will be shown (the old selection will be destroied).          
         
         You must know that not all the crossword puzzles have complete so-
          lutions for the current dictionary. It is possible that the dic-
          tionary  may not contain words  of four letters and the grid to
          contain   such positions. 


 
         You have also the possibility to find only one word.
         To make this ,you must select the button <FIND WORD> from 'GO' menu.
        
         CROSSLAB has two degree of precision : LOW and HIGH.
         LOW precision means that the filling operation find the next
          correct  word without checking  other relations.
         HIGH precision checks all relations and insert the word only
          if those are correct.
     
         For this reason HIGH precision takes a lot of time and the
          selection of button <FIND WORD> may fail (can't find a correct word).
         It doesn't mean that LOW precision makes not correct solutions.
         You must use for this the button <GO NORM> , or <AUTOMATIC>.
      
         If you are using LOW precision and you are selecting <FIND WORD>
          , you will get the correct word ,without relating it to other
          words. This is usefull if you want to find all words that fit
          a selection in grid. 

          FOR EXAMPLE : You have the selection in grid for this position :
           AM_IGU___   where character  _  means a free cell.
          Select the button <PRECISION> from 'GO' menu.
          Choose the option <LOW>.
          Now you must select the button <FIND WORD> from menu 'GO'.
          You will get probably the word AMBIGUITY.
          If you want to see the next word that fit this position of grid
           you must select button <TEXT> from 'EDIT' menu and to
           enter text AM_IGU___  where  _  means key SPACE (a free cell). The
           text must fit to the dimension of selection (9 letters and spaces).
          Now you will select the button <MARK> from 'OPTION' menu , and
           enter the word found (AMBIGUITY with small letters) to avoid using
           it in filling operation.
          Next step, you may select again the button <FIND WORD> from menu 'GO' 
           and you will get probably the word AMBIGUOUS.
          You may repeat all operations until filling fails (no word founded).
          If you are using HIGH precision you will get probably a few words
           or none. 
            

         The file SLEEP.CRS  contain a free crossword puzzle and
          C.CRS is the solution.
         The file CAREU5.CRS contain a free crossword puzzle and
          TOTC5.CRS is the solution. 


     4. LIBRARY
    ==============
        4.1. What's a library  of puzzles ?
             
           One important feature of CROSSLAB is the creation of libraries.
           A library of puzzles is a file that contains a lot of 
           crossword puzzles. 
           All the crossword puzzles from a library must have the same
            dimension.
           The extension of a library file is .LIB .
           For example the library of dimension 10 may contain a number
            of crossword puzzles of dimension 10. The library file for this
            dimension is named 'c10.lib'. 
           If you want to add a crossword puzzles to library you must
            select the button <LIBRARY> from menu 'FILE'.
           From the next menu you will select button <ADD 8> and the active
            crossword puzzle will be added (and 7 new puzzles will be created 
            and  added to library ). 

           CROSSLAB have a powerfull tool for building  libraries :
                 - starting from the active crossword  puzzle (visible on 
                screen ) , when selecting button <ADD 8>, CROSSLAB will create
                 7 new puzzles (using mathemathic methods).               
               
           It means that your library contains now 8 new crosslab puzzles.
           If you add 10 crossword puzzles (by changing structure in grid)
            to your library (using <ADD 8> button) , finally the library 
            will contains 80 new crossword puzzles.

            But ,if your active crossword puzzles contains words (is solved)
            you must select the button <ADD ONE> to add only the active 
            crossword puzzle (if you choose button <ADD 8> your library
            will contain 8 new crossword puzzles with a strange combination
            off letters).
            If you want to create a library of solved crosswords puzzles ,
            you have to select only button <ADD ONE>. 
                        

           It is very easy to create a large library of puzzles.
              
           You have only to make a change in the active crossword grid
            and to add it to the library.
                 
           How to make active a crossword puzzle of library ?
               
           You must select button <LIBRARY> from menu 'FILE' ,and
            from next menu you must select button <LIST>.
           If, for the active dimension of grid, doesn't exist a library
            you will get a file error message (you must build the li-
             brary yourself).
           If exists such of library as result of selection you will see
            on screen the first crosslab puzzle of library.
           To see the next you have to press SPACE key.
           If you accept the puzzle and you don't like to continue, you
            may press ENTER key. Now the puzzle became active.
           When pressing SPACE key ( for browssing the library) you will
            see down the screen the text 'INDEX : ' and a number.
           This is the library index of the crossword puzzles visible on
            screen.
           If latter, you want to search for this crossword puzzle (visible 
           on  screen) you must remember this index library.
            To seek the crossword puzzle (for this index) you have to select
            button <LIBRARY> from 'FILE' menu and from next menu the button
            < SELECT>. Now you may enter the index in a box. If the index is
            correct , and if the library exists ,you will see the expected 
            crossword puzzle. You may press now ENTER to accept it or SPACE
            to see the next.
             How to handle library files ?
            If you have a library file for the dimension 12 ( c12.lib ) and you
             want to create a new library for this dimension you have only
             to rename this to, let's say, 'sc12.lib'. Now you are able to 
             create a new library for the dimension 12. If you want to use
             the library file 'sc12.lib', you must save the file 'c12.lib'
             somewhere (or to rename it), and to rename the file 'sc12.lib'
             to 'c12.lib'. 
 
            
         4.2  Solving crossword puzzles from a library
         ---------------------------------------------
           You have a powerfull instrument for solving automatically a
            library of crossword puzzles.
           You must  select the button <GO> and from the next menu, the button
           <AUTOMATIC>.    
           Now CROSSLAB will fill one by one, all the the crosslab puzzles
            from the library , for the active dimension ( if the active dimen -
            sion is 10, CROSSLAB will fill library 'c10.lib' and so on).
           If CROSSLAB succeed to feel 80% of a crossword puzzle, this will
            be named 'cr01.crs' and will be saved. If CROSSLAB succeed to feel
            80 % of the next crossword puzzle (of library) , this will be
            named 'cr02.crs' and will be saved (and so on).
           You have only to wait the end of operation.
            If you want to stop you have to press a key (twice).
            
  
       5. Saving images
       ==================

           5.1 How to obtain a .PCX file
           ------------------------------
            Sometimes you need to print the active crosslab puzzle.
            You need to select button <FILE> from main menu and from
             'FILE' menu you have to select button <SAVEPCX>.
            A file box will appear and you may enter a file name with
             extension .PCX .
           If the name is correct , all the screen will be saved in
            a .PCX file.
           Now you may use it to print your crossword puzzles image(by
           aid of MS-Windows 3.x or any other graphic program). 



            
          Why to register ?
 
               Registering CROSSLAB is a way to receive a new version
                  of CROSSLAB. 
               Sometimes you would like to have your own dictionary file
               , to add words to this or to remove words from this.
              After registering you will receive the instrument to build
                your dictionary. Also you will receive many libraries of
              crossword puzzles. 

 
         

             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 !

          PS : Let me know your wishes for next version.
               If you want to use larger dictionaries (or in other langu -
               ages)  let me know ,or send me the dictionary ( in alphabetical
               order , one word on line - see the file 'example.txt') 
                to make you the CROSSLAB format (we'll discuss the financial
                conditions).   




   


         


                


 

 
         
          





         








    

      









