Copyright: Copyright © 1993 by ...


Title
F   i   ‘e m     n        d	v0.11ß for Windows Freeware		Peter   Eric  Williams

The Find-A-Word Puzzle Maker

© 1998-2005 by Peter Williams Computing

On-Line User Manual

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Contents
Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Writing a Word List File

Choosing a Word List Filename

Customizing Weights

Specifying Puzzle Size

Specifying If The First Line is the Theme

What is the "Hidden Word Percentage"?

Generating A Puzzle

Placing A Solution String Into A Puzzle

What Next ?

Appendix A – Error Messages


Introduction

Find-A-Word puzzles are great fun, for kids of all ages, and Find ‘em lets you create your own puzzles, using an easy-to-use Microsoft Windows ™  program by Peter Williams Computing.

Find ‘em will automate the process of generating find-a-word type puzzles. The process consists of firstly generating a list of words (using a text editor of your choice), then specify several parameter and generating the puzzle, you can then place a solution string into the unused cells in the puzzle and generate a final puzzle. The last step is to open the final puzzle (which is a .TXT file) using your favourite word processor, and formatting and printing it.

The technique that Find ‘em uses to create the puzzle can be summarized in four (4) steps:

•	Write (or locate) a Word List file (in plain text)

•	Generate A Puzzle

•	Place A Solution String Into A Puzzle

•	Open the Final Puzzle using your Favourite Wordprocessor

Here is a sample Find-A-Word puzzle, which was created by Find ‘em:

S T R E E T S C	Words to find in the puzzle:

E O D A O R U U	alley	lane

R U C L E L A R	avenue	parkway

S D N L D N R I	crescent	road

V F R E E W A Y	cul-de-sac	streets

E T S Y V H E L	freeway

P A R K W A Y M

C R E S C E N T

There is also a hidden message which is spelt out by the unused letters.


Writing A Word List
Writing a Word List File

Writing a Word List File is simplicity itself. All you need do is use any text editor (such as Microsoft Notepad ™) or Wordprocessor (such as Microsoft Word ™), place each word or phase on a line by itself, and save it in plain ASCII text format.


Choosing A Word List
Choosing a Word List Filename

The Word List Filename is required, and can be either typed in or chosen by clicking on the "Choose Filename" button then clicking on the filename in the window. Note that by default a filename extension of ".TXT" is expected, however this can easily be changed if necessary.


Customizing Weights

The "Customize Weights" button, when clicked, allows you to choose a "weight" of between zero and five (0 to 5) for each of the eight (8) possible word placement directions.

Note that there is a requirement that at least one of the eight possible directions must have a weight greater than zero.


Specifying Puzzle Size

Find ‘em allows you to create puzzle varying in size from 3 x 3 up to 45 x 45 characters (not counting spaces).


What Is The Hidden Word Percentage?
What is the "Hidden Word Percentage"?

The "Hidden Word Percentage" box is provided so that you can specify the maximum percentage of a word which can be hidden in the puzzle. The default value is 70%, and values may range from 0% to 99%. For example, a hidden word percentage tell the program that up to 7 tenths (7/10) of the word can be placed in a existing part of the puzzle, but no more.


Specifying If The First Line Is The Theme

Inside the box labelled "Is the First Line of the Puzzle the Theme ?", you can select either a "yes" or a "no" radio button. If the first word (or phase) in the Word List File (e.g. the first line) is the Theme of the puzzle then you should select "yes" and the word will be placed in the top left corner of the puzzle (row one, column one) going along the top of the puzzle (e.g. going right, along the top line).

If the Theme is too long for the width of the puzzle then a message "<word> (Theme) unable to be placed" will be generated. This message can be safely ignored.


Generating A Puzzle

Puzzles are generated by clicking on the "Generate Puzzle" button. It is at this point that the various parameters are checked and errors may be generated if the parameters are wrong.

When words from the Word List File are placed into the puzzle, only alphabetical characters are used. All other characters are ignored. All alphabetical characters in the words will be placed into the puzzle as UPPERCASE letters (not lower case).

If a Word is too long for the puzzle then a message "<word> unable to be placed" will be generated. These messages can be safely ignored.


Placing A Solution String Into A Puzzle

When you click on the "Place Solution" button, you will be given the opportunity to specify the Puzzle Filename by using the "Choose Puzzle Filename" button.

Secondly, you should specify the "Solution String" which either be typed directly in, or loaded in from a file specified with the "Choose Solution String Filename" button (which works identically to the "Choose Filename" button).

Finally, click on the "Generate Final Puzzle" button, and the results will be sent to a file with a filename of the format "FINAL??.TXT" (where ?? is a two digit number, e.g. "FINAL01.TXT").


What Next ?

By now, if you have followed the steps outlined above, you should have a final puzzle with a filename in the format of "FINAL??.TXT" (e.g. FINAL01.TXT), which is plain ASCII text. You are now on your own – but I suggest that you open the final puzzle with your favourite word processor.

Don’t forget to use a non-proportional font, such as "Courier New", or "courier", for the actual puzzle portion of the final file, otherwise the puzzle will look terrible (this is because of the font, and NOT anything to do with Find ‘em). By far the simplest way of getting the columns and rows in the puzzle to line-up, is to use a non-proportional font to display the puzzle.

Another good idea is to arrange the puzzle words into columns, as this saves space when printing it.


Appendix A - Error Messages
Appendix A – Error Messages

Error 100: You must supply a Word List Filename.

The Word List Filename has not been supplied. To correct this either type in the filename or click on the "Choose Filename" button, click on the filename, then click on the "OK" button.

Error 101: Width is not an acceptable number.

You have not entered an integer number for Width. Use only numerals 0 to 9 inclusive.

Error 102: Width is not an acceptable - must be between 3 and 45.

The number you have entered for Width is outside the range of 3 to 45.

Error 104: Height is not an acceptable number.

You have not entered an integer number for Height. Use only numerals 0 to 9 inclusive.

Error 105: Height is not an acceptable - must be between 3 and 45.

The number you have entered for Height is outside the range of 3 to 45.

Error 106: Height is not an acceptable - must be between 3 and 7 for Demo version.

The number you have entered for Height is outside the range of 3 to 7. Note that when you purchase Find ‘em, the maximum limit for Height will be 45 not 7.

Error 107: Hidden Word Percentage is not an acceptable number.

You have not entered an integer number for Hidden Word Percentage. Use only numerals 0 to 9 inclusive.

Error 108: Hidden Word Percentage is not an acceptable - must be between 0 and 99 %

You have entered a Hidden Word Percentage outside the range of 0 to 99. Note that only integers are accepted.

Error 200: That is not a valid number.

You have not entered an integer number for one of the Direction Weights. Use only numerals 0 to 9 inclusive.

Error 201 to 208: <Direction> Weight must be between 0 and 5 (inclusive).

You have entered a value for a Direction Weight outside the range of 0 to 5. Note that only integers are accepted.

Error 209: At least one direction must have a non-zero weight.

You entered all zero values for all eight of the Direction Weights. Change at least one of these values to an integer greater than zero, but not exceeding five.

Error 300: Error opening <Input File Name>

The input file (Word List File) could not be opened. This could be caused by such things as: the filename not being correct, the file being missing or deleted, or hard disk or floppy disk (whichever you are using) failure, or an error in the file. Check that the filename is correct, or run Microsoft Scandisk ™.

Error 301: File <Word List Filename> not found.

An attempt was made to read the word list file, and it could not be located. Check that the filename is correct.

Error 400: Error - placing word <word>

The "word" could not be placed in the puzzle. If this error occurs please notify Peter Williams Computing. (email: pwill@orac.net.au)

Error 500: Solution string exceeds 255 characters.

The maximum length of the solution string is 255 characters, and you have entered a solution string which exceeds this.

Error 501: Could not find Puzzle File.

The puzzle file which you specified could not be located.

Error 502: Puzzle file: <Puzzle Filename> not found.

The puzzle file named <puzzle filename> could not be located.

Error 503: Solution string and number of vacant cells don't match.

The number of vacant cells in the puzzle file you specified and the length of the solution string are not the same.

Error 600: Unable to Save Puzzle: <Puzzle Filename>

An error occured when the program attempted to write the Puzzle File (<Puzzle Filename>).

Error 601: Unable to Save Final Puzzle: <Final Filename>

An error occured when the program attempted to write the Final Puzzle File (<Final Filename>).