This utility program helps teachers quickly and easily generate word search tests where the student is asked to find a group of words hidden in a letter matrix. The program provides an input screen to facilitate data entry and printed output to be used to generate multiple copies.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Rapid entry of words on the screen entry form
• Provision for up to 50 words on each test.
• Words may be imported from a favorite word processor
• Completed tests may be saved for future use
• Ability to search the data base for a specific word
• Entered words may be changed/deleted
• Words may be reversed to offer greater student challenge
• Solution printouts to facilitate rapid grading
• Many unique tests may be generated from the same word data base. These may used to distribute to alternate rows of a classroom or for use in different class periods.
Don’t like to read directions?
An easy way to determine how Word Search can be of use to you is to launch the program (double click on its icon) and click on the splash (title) screen. When the Word Search Entry Screen appears pull down the File Menu and select the Import menu item. Then choose one of the test files and print it out. Then select the New item in the File Menu and import the second file and print it out. Then print the Solution key. Try entering a few words on your own. Simple enough? Good. If you run into trouble, print this out and refer to it from time to time.
DISPLAY FIELD AND BUTTONS
Entry Field - The basic program display contains only one entry field. This is used to enter the words used to create the Word Search tests. It is also used to display, modify and delete previously entered words. The Entry Field will expand to provide input of a title for each quiz. It will be used to notify the user when duplicate words are entered or the total number of words exceeds the program limit (50).
Quit Button - At any time you may elect to quit the program. This button and the Quit item in the File menu will return you to the desktop.
Title Button - You may provide a title for the quiz you generate which will appear at the top of the printed page. Simply select this button, type your title in the Entry Field and again press the Title button. The program will accept the title and clear this field. You may change the title at any time by again pressing the Title button and changing the previous entry.
Enter Button - Use this button to tell the program that the text entered in the Entry Field is to be added to those words already entered. (If you are rapidly entering new data a simple carriage return will work as well).
Delete Button - It is possible at any time to modify any previous entry. If you wish to completely eliminate any word, however, simply locate (see below) the word and press the Delete button. The word will disappear.
Locate Button - Press this button and then enter up to 5 characters in the Entry Field that are contained in a previously entered word. When the Locate button is again pressed the program will search all words to locate one containing the characters specified. If a match is made, the word is displayed in the Entry Field. Note: The program will locate ALL words which contain the search characters. If the first word found is not the one you’re looking for continue pressing the Locate button until your word is found or all words have been examined
(at this point the Entry Field will clear and the program will sound a beep).
Direction Buttons - Two direction buttons are located in the lower right corner of the program display screen. The button with the arrow pointing to the left will initiate displays of words in a direction toward the beginning of the list. The button with the arrow pointing to the right will initiate displays of words in a direction toward the end of the list. You will hear a beep when the beginning of the list is reached. A blank screen will indicate you have reached the end of the list (begin at this point to add additional words to your list).
The Option key may be used in conjunction with the direction buttons. When the option key is pressed with the arrow pointing to the left the first word in the list will be displayed. When the option key is pressed with the arrow pointing to the right the last word will be displayed.
MENU ACTIONS
New Menu Item - The New item in the File menu will clear all previously entered words. The program returns to the condition in which it is first entered. This is a good action to take when creating a new test.
Save As Menu Item- It is possible to save the tests you generate in the Word Search program by selecting the Save As item in the File menu. A window will open asking in what folder you would like to save the file. You will also be asked to provide an appropriate file name for future reference.
Import Menu Item - The program also provides for importing files of words from a favorite word processor. The process is very simple. A new file (a new page) is created in the word processor. Several lines (each representing a specific word) are then typed to the screen. Each line will contain a word followed by a carriage return. The output from the word processor must be in a “TEXT” format (most word processors provide for this format).
You will use the Import item in the File menu to identify your TEXT file to the Word Search program. The words will be read into the program’s environment and immediately made available for printout. Of course it is possible to add additional words to this data base and supply an appropriate title for the quiz.
Please note that the total number of words which may be entered into the program’s database is 50. If the import text file contains more than this limit the excess will be ignored. Also, the Word Search program will ignore all duplicate words and those containing non-alphabetic characters.
Print Quiz Menu Item - When all words are entered, selecting this menu item will initiate printout of the quiz. The program very quickly attempts to hide all the words in the smallest possible letter square. If several words are still unplaced the program will increase the size of the letter square until all words have been placed in the square. Random letters are then chosen to fill the remaining cells in the square and the result is then printed.
Nota bene: It is easily possible to generate many unique printouts using the same set of words. Every time you select the Print Quiz Menu item a new puzzle will be created and printed. A different quiz can then be distributed to alternate rows of a classroom or to different classes in the school day.
Print Solution Menu Item - This menu item offers the teacher a solution key for the quiz which has just been printed. Note: This printout must immediately follow the printout of the original quiz, otherwise the definitions will be scrambled in a new random fashion. This is especially important if you are creating multiple tests as suggested immediately above. Print the quiz, then print the solution. Print the next quiz, then print it’s solution. The words will be the same. They will just be hidden in different ways in the puzzles.
Quit Menu Item - At any time you may elect to quit the program. This menu item and the Quit Button will return you to the desktop.
Display First Word Menu Item - This provides a quick method to jump to the first word in your group of entered words. The first word is immediately displayed on the screen.
Display Last Word Menu Item - This provides a quick method to jump to the last word in your group of entered words. The last word is immediately displayed on the screen.
Expand Display Menu Item - You have the option of increasing the size of the initial Word Search Test Generation Display if your screen can accommodate a larger size. The program increases the display size by 20 percent each time this menu item is selected until a maximum screen display is reached.
Reduce Display Menu Item - You have the option of decreasing the size of the initial Word Search Test Generation Display if your screen can accommodate a smaller size. The program decreases the display size by 20 percent each time this menu item is selected until a minimum screen display is reached.
No Reverse Words Menu Item - The puzzles generated by the Word Search program hide words in the puzzle grid horizontally, vertically or diagonally right and left. In each case the words appear spelled left to right horizontally, from top to bottom vertically, and also from top to bottom diagonally. To make the puzzle more difficult you have the option of asking the Word Search program to randomly reverse a word before placing it in the puzzle.
Help Menu Item - When you’ve lost your way you’ll find this item under the Instructions menu. You may query this material at any time.
RAPID MANUAL DATA ENTRY
While data entry of words may be accomplished using a favorite word processor the Word Search Program offers an easy method to accomplish the same objective.
The user simply types in a word in the Entry Field in the display. When the word is complete a tab or carriage return will instruct the program to accept the word into the data base. It will then clear the field and increment the total number of words entered..
SHAREWARE NOTICE
The Word Search Quiz Generation program is shareware. The demonstration version provides a good indication of the program’s capabilities but the printout has been modified to obscure the center of each printed puzzle. To obtain the release version send $10 to:
Dale Blackwell
12621 Neon Way
Granada Hills, California 91344
We’ll return your release version by e-mail if you prefer - or by snail mail if your Internet connection does not provide for file transfer.
We welcome your questions comments about our program. You may send them to the above address or to:
