| Section |
Details
|
| Grid |
 |
Select
multiple squares on the grid and change their properties
simultaneously. |
|
AutoFill: Refine algorithm,
add new algorithm to do a recursive and perhaps exhaustive search of all possibilities,
rather than using the random method currently employed. Perhaps allow for an amalgam of
both methodologies. |
|
Patterns - can give outs
different patterns - e.g. cross-hatching etc. |
|
Allow user to enter clue
information directly into the properties box for a grid. |
|
Extra Facilities for
word-search creation:
|
Find space for a word |
|
Can define a background colour
for words linked to a list |
|
|
Numbering direction can be
from Top-Left (default), Bottom-Right (e.g. for far-east), Top-Right, or Bottom-Left. |
|
Auto-selection criteria in Properties (e.g Direction). Can select in different directions - e.g. even in [ shape - by using selection and making into a single clue |
|
| Crossword
/ Clues |
|
Option to anchor a clue to a
particular square on the grid. Can have global option to do this as default. This would
make refreshes pick up any new words that have been created and automatically anchor them. |
|
Timestamp facility to say when
a crossword was created and when it was last changed. |
|
Statistics Page (2): Add total
number of categories. Also table of word lengths showing number of clues with each word
length. Move length-related statistics to same page. |
|
Option to revert to previously
saved version |
|
Add History facility, to list
when the crossword has been used etc. |
|
Diagonal clues, to allow
construction of word-searches |
|
Direction buttons now extended
to include diagonals |
|
Allow for irregularly-shaped
clues (i.e. that form a pattern other than a straight line) |
|
Extra 'history' field, which
lists all crosswords that a clue has gone into. This field is automatically updated both
in pool file and crossword copies of the clue when the clue is copied from pool to
crossword or vice versa. |
|
When try to fit currently
selected pending list word into current or dragged-into space on grid, if only first word
fits (when multi-word clue), gives option to fit first word, and place the remainder of
the words into a separate, but linked, clue. |
|
| Word
List |
|
New
selection criteria for all searches: Length of word to be
returned - e.g. words with between 3 and 7 letters only. |
|
Faster
find when 'select all'. |
|
Timestamp facility to say when
word list was created and when it was last changed. |
|
Properties to show how many
words in the word list, how many nodes, and current size of file. |
|
Option to revert to previously
saved version |
|
When try to fit currently
selected word into current or dragged-into space, if only first word fits (when hyphenated
or multi-word), gives option to fit first word, and place the remainder of the words into
a separate, but linked, clue. |
|
Search results can optionally
highlight words that are available within the clue pool. |
|
Words can now optionally have
definition text attached to them. This will drastically increase the size of
dictionary files. |
|
Definition and Categories
automatically copied when word copied to grid - either manually, or through the
intelligent fill facility. |
|
| Word
Pool |
|
Timestamp facility to say when
word pool was created and when it was last changed. |
|
Properties to show how many
clues are in the clues pool, how many categories, and current size of file. |
|
Option to revert to previously
saved version |
|
Facility to scan through words
on grid, and see if any of these words are in the pool. If they are, then they are
automatically copied to the appropriate clue in the crossword. If multiple options for one
clue, one is taken at random.
Also, user can restrict the categories to fill by if required (e.g. only fill from the
'Cryptic clues' category). |
|
When try to fit currently
selected word into current or dragged-into space on grid, if only first word fits (when
multi-word clue), gives option to fit first word, and place the remainder of the words
into a separate, but linked, clue. |
|
| Printing |
|
Optional Hanging indent so
text wraps around to sit underneath start of text, not start of clue number. |
|
Turn on or off printing of
individual square colours. |
|
Variable columns (currently
fixed at 2) |
|
Set space between columns |
|
Set left/right/top/bottom
margin sizes |
|
Line spacing for clues can be
single, 1.5 or double-spaced, as some editors require this. |
|
Codes for Headers and Footers
to enable inclusion of Pool and Word List information |
|
Print Preview Facility |
|
Button to reset values to
those set in crossword's Properties section - e.g. colours, fonts, sizes etc. |
|
Print whole Portfolio with
consecutive page numbers, and optional contents page |
|
Option for Answers list to
print clue numbers together (e.g. all of 1 across for every puzzle first, then all of 2
across etc.) so that it is harder for the puzzler to accidentally see the solution to
another clue on the grid. |
|
For word-search mode, can
print the word search with a list of clues, and an answer grid, with words highlighted |
|
| Categories |
|
Categories can be assigned to
classify crosswords |
|
Search option to search hard
disk for specific directory for crosswords of a given classification |
|
Category synchronization. When
open a crossword and/or pool file, program will check to see if any categories are in pool
file that are not in crossword and vice versa.
|
Flag in Pool file to say
whether to synchronize from any loaded crosswords. |
|
Flag in Crossword file to say
whether to synchronize from any loaded clue pools. |
|
|
Category synchronization. When
open a crossword and/or word list file, program will check to see if any categories are in
word list file that are not in crossword and vice versa.
|
Flag in Word List file to say
whether to synchronize from any loaded crosswords. |
|
Flag in Crossword file to say
whether to synchronize from any loaded word lists. |
|
|
| Imports
/ Exports |
|
Extend
HTML and JavaScript scripts to include extra functionality and
improved performance, including extra customization, Contents page, Include keywords to
include one script file inside another. |
|
New Java program to read an
export file from WordPuzzle Pro, so that interactive crosswords can be put onto
any Web Site and be used by any Java-enabled browser. Will only allow for straightforward
crosswords with outs and/or bars at this time. |
|
Extend Java program to include
timer facility, and also option to print out, and possibly save/load working copies of the
puzzle. Also to include
word searches, clue-fit puzzles, and code-words. |
|
XML version of HTML exports |
|
Import from XML version |
|
Import From / Export to a
skeleton text file to represent a crossword. Gives ability to work on a crossword without
having access to the program, by using any standard text editor (e.g. notepad).
Format will be: 1st line=Title, 2nd line=Author, 3rd line until blank line=Notes, then
series of lines to represent grid (series of letters on each line) followed by a blank
line. Then series of lines for across, a blank line, and series of lines for down.
Each line has a format of word[::nextword]=Clue[::AltClue[::Hint[::Explanation]]]
where nextword is the next word in a multi-part clue. Numbering will be
unnecessary, as this will be performed automatically on importing back into the program.
Words will be case-insensitive and converted to capitals on import. |
|
Can Load and Save Puzzle, Word
List, and Clue Pool as XML as a preference, although this would mean previous versions
would not be able to load these files. |
|
| Portfolio |
|
New section to link together
crosswords |
|
Option to create portfolio by
searching for specific files (e.g. by category) and adding them to the portfolio |
|
Portfolio manager - can add,
delete, amend, print, or export from the portfolio manager. |
|
Can edit multiple crosswords
simultaneously within a portfolio |
|
Share images within portfolio
to save space and improve reusability, using new Image Pool facility |
|
| Miscellaneous |
|
Spell
check facility - across grid, clues, pool. Optionally use separate
word list to check? |
|
Open
multiple word puzzle / word lists / clue pools simultaneously
(although not view multiple simultaneously just yet |
|
Extended Error handler, in
case of application error - options to print details of error, or to log to disk file.
Also give options to continue, close or Terminate the application. |
|
Additional option to print a
crossword or any other related filetype from within Windows Explorer. |
|
Additional data: Extra clues
in clue pool, extra sample crosswords, extra words in word list. Further categorization of
words. |
|
Additional data: Extra clues
in clue pool, extra sample crosswords, extra words in word list. Further categorization of
words. |
|
Can define a word or phrase
for spot-colour. Shows number of squares that are spot-coloured, and the remaining letters
to be found before the phrase is complete. |
|
ActiveX / OLE
functionality
|
The application will become an
ActiveX server, so that most applications (for example, most Word Processors, Desktop
Publishers, Presentation Managers, Spreadsheets, Web Editors etc.) will be able to insert
a crossword directly into the document as if it were part of that application. |
|
Display the crossword grid
with or without clues, display clues list (normal or alternative), answers list, hints
list, explanation list etc. with various print formatting options normally available. |
|
Additional functionality
allows you to either save all data within the document or to link to an external crossword
or crossword portfolio. The latter option reduces the space that the document will take
up, and also gives the option for different parts of the crossword to be displayed in
different parts of document without having to duplicate the crossword. Technical
feasibility of this needs to be investigated. |
|
|
Additional data: Extra clues
in clue pool, extra sample crosswords, extra words in word list. |
|
Undo facility, to enable undo
to last changes to grid, clues, and properties. Also undo on word list and pool file. |
|
Option for undo to be since
last save or since last file opened. Separate set of options on properties for Crossword,
Word List, and Clue Pool. |
|
This will open up potential
for the inclusion of some form of macro language. |
|
Template Wizard - List of names in templates directory, show details in another pane (e.g filename, author etc.), show Preview in another pane. Preview can be of other xword files too, and by category. Can incl. search path, and search types (eg. Templates, Puzzles etc.) |
|
Small
applications for Psions and Palms for crossword completion. Also
facility to download from PC to palmtop. |
|
| Data |
|
Additional data: Extra clues
in clue pool, extra sample crosswords, extra words in word list. Further categorization of
words. |
|