Making a Puzzle

Crossword Forge makes it simple to create your own crossword or word search puzzle. Just type your questions into the Clue field and your answers in the Answer field. You can also Import your clues and answers from a text file (see Importing a Puzzle). Your puzzle preview will appear on the left, updating each time you press the Make Puzzle button.

• Type a question in the Clue edit field of the Clues tab. (You can omit the questions, but not the answers).
• Type the answer in the Answer edit field. (Here answers are more important than questions)!
• Click the Next button.
• Type in another clue and answer. (If you need to delete a clue/answer pair click the Trash Can button).
• Press the Make Puzzle button.

Other Features:

• List View/Record View - You can also view and enter the clues/answers in the list view.
Click here to switch between List View and Record View.
Here you can see many clues/answers at the same time. The right-hand column labeled "Pos" tells you what position the answer has in the crossword puzzle (e.g means 2 Across)


• Bonus Clues - Select a bonus clue by pressing the Star button and choosing "Bonus clue and answer."
  • Crossword puzzle solvers can solve this clue by finding all the circled letters in the grid, and placing them in the spots provided.
    
  • Word search puzzle solvers can solve this clue by finding any unused letters and placing them in the spots provided. Unused letters are taken left to right and top to bottom (unless Hebrew, Arabic or another right to left lanuage is used).


• Word Bank - You can add words that will only appear in a word bank, not the puzzle itself. This can add an extra challenge to puzzles with a word bank. To make a word a word-bank-only clue, press the Star button and select "Only include in word bank."


• Mask - The puzzle Mask editor is a very powerful feature that allows users to specify portions of the puzzle where the puzzle answers should not be placed, areas that will be empty, and to lock any given character into any given position. It also allows users to create almost any geometric shape or outline and generally to help in building denser and more creative puzzles. (See Using the Puzzle Mask Editor)


• Word Ideas - This feature is extremely helpful in finding appropriate words that can be added to a given puzzle to increase density or interest. Word Ideas has its own hints for use, located and the bottom left of the Word Ideas panel. Used in conjunction with the Mask, Word Ideas can be very helpful in building denser more challenging puzzles. (See Word Ideas)


• Word Searches - Words in the word search should be entered in the Answer field. Here again answers are more important than questions, in fact you don't need the questions, i.e. for traditional word searches, you can skip the Clue field entirely. As a shortcut, try importing a list of words (see Importing a Puzzle). Once you are done entering your answers, don't forget to change the puzzle type (see Choosing a Puzzle Type) and press Make Puzzle.


• Foreign Languages - If you are making a puzzle in a foreign language, check out our Language Settings page.