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1993-07-03
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The
Crossword
Construction
Kit
Version 1.3
Shareware
Documentation
Copyright (C) 1993
Kijin Jung
All Rights Reserved
CCK 1.3 page 2 Version 1.3
The Crossword Construction Kit (CCK) and its accompanying
documentation is provided AS IS without any warranty of any
kind, expressed or implied, including but not limited to
warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose,
or functionality. In no event shall the author be liable for any
damages, including lost profits, lost savings or any other
incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or
the inability to use this program.
This program is copyrighted and may only be distributed with all
accompanying files, without any modifications, including this
DOC file.
Postscript and Adobe Illustrator are registered trademarks of
Adobe Systems Incroporated.
CorelDRAW! is a registered trademark of Corel Corporation.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
CCK 1.3 page 3 Version 1.3
Table of Contents
Introduction 4
What's New 5
Benefits of Registration 7
Installation 8
Convert 9
Template Menu 10
Game Menu 12
Printing to Files 14
Registration Form 16
Future Versions 17
CCK 1.3 page 4 Version 1.3
Introduction
Welcome to The Crossword Construction Kit, version 1.3! CCK
allows you to create square, diagonally symmetrical crossword
puzzles - the kind you see in your local newspaper. After
constructing and filling in the grid, CCK gives you the option
of saving the grid and the solutions as EPS files for a
professional appearance, or as ASCII representations for a fast,
convenient way to view your puzzles. Clues can be saved
separately as text files, which you may format as you desire.
Reasons
Well, two reasons. One, I like solving and creating crossword
puzzles. I couldn't find a program which would allow me to
easily create them. Two, I wanted to learn C. Yup, one day, I
was overcome with an overpowering, uncontrollable urge to learn
C, and I thought to myself, as I was in the process of writing
my master's thesis, at about six o' clock on a Thursday evening,
hmmm, I'll learn C! Then I made a ham sandwich for dinner. And
thus, CCK was begat...
List of Files
CCK13.ZIP:
Filename Description
=========================================================
CCK.DOC this file
CCK.EXE the executable file
CCK.ICO what the heck, everyone else is doing it
CCK.PIF ditto
README.1ST release notes
CCK1.* sample template and game
CCK2.* sample template and game
CONVERT.EXE updates previous CCK files to version 1.3
FILES.LST just this same list again
ORDER.FRM order form
WHATSNEW.TXT changes from version 1.2
CCK 1.3 page 5 Version 1.3
What's New
Changes in CCK 1.3 (July 4, 1993)
- Changed the format of and greatly reduced the size of CCK
game files.
- Changed clue entry field from 54 spaces to 74 spaces.
- Changed minimum grid size to 9 for the registered version,
as requested by some users.
- Changed spacing in clue text such that all clues are
indented equivalently. This makes it easier to align tabs
when importing into a text-formatting program.
- Removed Microsoft mouse support due to numerous bugs
specifically caused by the int86 function (for example, CCK
would crash miserably in a DOS box under Windows).
- Fixed the 'no-clue' bug. The template now requires enough
space for at least one clue in each direction.
- Fixed Caps Lock bug.
- Added CONVERT.EXE utility to update previously created CCK
files to version 1.3.
- Added ASCII Draft option under the printing menu to allow
for a fast, convenient way to view puzzles.
- Added 'memory' to filename entry, which now recalls the
last typed filename.
- Added creation of *.bak files for CCK game files.
- Added arrow marker to indicate whether the word is longer
than word window.
- Added "Press Any Key" clarifications to error messages.
- Added yes/no prompt when quitting.
- Added miscellaneous changes in appearance.
Changes in CCK 1.2 (June 20, 1993)
- Added Microsoft mouse support.
- Added prolog to EPS files to make them printable to
PostScript printers.
CCK 1.3 page 6 Version 1.3
What's New (continued)
Changes in CCK 1.1 (June 12, 1993)
- Removed the across and down numbers when printing the
grid solution to an EPS file.
- Added a context-sensitive color-coded help engine.
- Added a 15-space clue window when entering clues.
- Added arrow marker to indicate whether the clue is longer
than clue window.
- Changed the behavior of backspace while entering letters
on the grid (word entry). Backspace now erases letters.
- Fixed the behavior of backspace in the clue and filename
entry windows (backspace now erases the first letter).
- Fixed keyboard buffer when exiting.
Changes in CCK 1.0 (June 5, 1993)
- First public shareware release.
CCK 1.3 page 7 Version 1.3
Benefits of Registration
Registering CCK will give you the ability to create from a small
9x9 grid puzzle up to a whopping 23x23 grid crossword puzzle
(CCK shareware is limited to a 15x15 grid ONLY). Registering
also eliminates the three second delay at the introduction
screen. The two versions are otherwise identical.
If you have the irresistible urge to register this software,
send $15 to me at the address listed in the order form and on
the introduction screen. Purchasers will receive their
registered version of CCK by mail in your choice of 3.5" or
5.25" low density disks. SHIPPING IS INCLUDED if you live in the
U.S.A.
If you are already registered (from a previous version of CCK)
in the registered users database, you are entitled to free
updates (excluding $4.00 for shipping, handling, and packaging
costs). Send $4.00 for your choice of 3.5" or 5.25" low density
disks.
CCK 1.3 page 8 Version 1.3
Installation
If you're reading this, then you know how to unzip files.
Just place all the files in any subdirectory. Since CCK.EXE is
the only file that is absolutely required to run CCK, you may
delete the optional sample files CCK1.* and CCK2.* if you wish,
and make your own templates/games.
Then type CCK, hit the ENTER key, and the intro screen will
appear. After three seconds, type the ANY key. That's right, the
ANY key.
Press F1 at any time after the introduction screen (except when
loading and saving files) to invoke the context sensitive help
windows. Help screens are coded by color as well: white for menu
help, red for template help, blue for word help, and green for
clue help.
CCK 1.3 page 9 Version 1.3
Convert
The CONVERT utility is provided for updating older *.CCK files
(from versions 1.0 to 1.2). The format of the CCK game files has
changed drastically; CCK version 1.3 is unable to read older
*.CCK files, and vice versa. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CONVERT ANY
EXISTING *.CCK FILES YOU MAY HAVE CREATED WITH OLDER VERSIONS OF
CCK.
The syntax of convert is as follows:
convert file1 file2
which reads in file1 and creates file2.
For example, "convert oldcck.cck newcck.cck" will create the
version 1.3 file newcck.cck, leaving oldcck.cck intact; "convert
oldcck.cck oldcck.cck" will create the version 1.3 file
oldcck.cck, overwriting the older one.
The new file format is a compressed version of the old one, and
as such, there is a time penalty when saving files from within
the cck.exe program. However, the resulting files can have a
reduction in size of up to 500% compared to the older format.
CCK 1.3 page 10 Version 1.3
Template Menu
First, a definition of the term "template". The template is the
array of (white or black) boxes on which you will enter your
letters; think of it simply as an empty crossword grid -- except
that you get to fill in the black boxes. Files with the
extension "CCT" are template files.
The first screen to greet you after the introduction screen is
the template screen. An empty 15x15 grid will appear at left in
the workspace, while at the bottom right is the Template Menu.
The menu choices are:
Fill Squares
Load Template
Save Template
Game Menu
Quit
Fill Squares
This is where you construct your template. While the cursor is
on the grid, hit the ENTER key to make a white box black, or hit
ENTER again to make a black box white. The up, down, left and
right arrow keys move the cursor in the corresponding direction.
Notice that as you fill (or empty) a box, the box diagonally
symmetrical to the current one will also change. Hitting Escape
takes you back to the Template Menu.
Load Template
This option loads a template which you or anyone else has
previously created (such as the ones included in this package).
Hitting Enter will prompt you for an eight space filename to
which the extension CCT will be automagically appended. Note:
the shareware version does not load grids other than the 15x15
size, though it is still quite a respectable size.
CCK 1.3 page 11 Version 1.3
Template Menu (continued)
Save Template
Save Template will prompt you for an eight space filename with
the extension CCT. This option will save your new or altered
template file, which you may use and reuse for building future
crossword puzzles.
Game Menu
This option takes you to the game menu (explained in full detail
in the following section). If there are too many black squares
so as to prevent the creation of any ACROSS or DOWN words, an
error message will be displayed stating "Invalid Grid"; there
must be room for at least one ACROSS word and one DOWN word.
Remember, you cannot return to the template menu once you enter
the game menu, so make sure you save your template masterpiece
before you proceed (that is, if you want to reuse the template
for future use).
Quit
Prompts you to end the program. Hit 'y' to exit and 'n' or
Escape to continue.
CCK 1.3 page 12 Version 1.3
Game Menu
"Game" is somewhat of a misnomer, since you aren't playing a
game per se. The game screen is where you enter all the letters,
i.e. solutions, in the grid, as well as all the clues that
correspond to those letters. Files with the extension "CCK" are
game files, and include information concerning the template
(grid), the words (solution), and the clues.
The menu choices are:
Enter Words
Enter Clues
Load Game
Save Game
Print to File
Quit
Enter Words
Form words on the grid by entering your solutions, letter by
letter (as well as numbers). You can control the cursor with the
arrow keys once you are on the grid, and as you type the words,
the cursor will automatically move to the right or downwards.
Press the TAB key if you want to alternate between ACROSS cursor
movement and DOWN cursor movement. Spacebar erases a single
letter while the cursor does not move, backspace erases a letter
as the cursor moves, and ESC takes you back to the main Game
Menu.
Enter Clues
Enter the clues for each corresponding across or down word. Once
on the grid, the arrow keys will again move the cursor around on
the grid, except now the movement is limited to the first letter
of each ACROSS or DOWN word (you'll see what I mean). Again, hit
the TAB key to alternate between ACROSS clues and DOWN clues.
Then type ENTER to enter your clue (up to 74 spaces) in the pop-
up window. 74 spaces is certainly sufficient for normal clues
(such as those found in American crossword puzzles), but it
accomodates the lengthy, cryptic clues common in British
crossword puzzles as well. ESC takes you back to the main Game
Menu.
CCK 1.3 page 13 Version 1.3
Game Menu (continued)
Load Game
This option will prompt you for an eight space "game" filename
with the extension CCK. It loads a game which you or anyone else
has previously created, including the sample games included in
this package. Note: the shareware version does not load grids
other than the 15x15 size. MAKE SURE TO UPDATE PREVIOUSLY SAVED
CCK FILES (versions 1.0 to 1.2) WITH "CONVERT.EXE" BEFORE
LOADING CCK FILES WITH VERSION 1.3.
Save Game
Save Game will prompt you for an eight space filename with the
extension CCK. This will save your new or altered game file,
which you may then recall at a later time to finish constructing
the crossword puzzle, or send it electronically to your friends
and be the life of the party. Note that saving the game in this
version takes quite a bit longer than in previous versions, as
the file is internally compressed. This results in a
significantly smaller file size, with space savings of up to
500%.
Print to File
Takes you to the Print menu, explained in next section.
Quit
Prompts you to end the program. Hit 'y' to exit and 'n' or
Escape to continue.
CCK 1.3 page 14 Version 1.3
Printing to Files
Again, "print" is somewhat of a misnomer, since all you are
doing is printing to a file. I've found that drawing programs
such as CorelDRAW!(TM) (tested with versions 2.0 and 3.0) import
the resulting files very nicely and in fact, any program which
imports Adobe Illustrator(TM) type EPS files will work. It will
also print on PostScript(TM) printers and interpreters.
The menu choices are:
Print Grid
Print Solution
Print Clues
ASCII Draft
Return
Print Grid
Print Grid will prompt you for an eight space filename with the
extension EPS. This option prints the grid (template) to an
Encapsulated Postscript file, which, when printed to a laser
printer, looks professionally typeset.
Print Solution
This option will again prompt you for an eight space filename
with the extension EPS, except that it will print the solution
as well as the template. Think of this as the upside down
"Answer on page 27" solutions. This is also saved as
Encapsulated Postscript, so you may want to save it as a
different name from the Grid EPS file (such as cck1sol.eps).
CCK 1.3 page 15 Version 1.3
Printing to Files (continued)
Print Clues
The clues are saved as an ordinary text file, as opposed to the
previous two choices, which allows for easier text and format
manipulation. For example, you can import both the Template EPS
file and the Clues text file and format them as you wish in any
illustration or typesetting program.
ASCII Draft
ASCII Draft makes it possible to quickly inspect your crossword
puzzles, as it outputs to a text file (*.ASC). All three aspects
of your puzzle (the numbered grid, the clues, and the solution
grid) are output to this file.
Return
Takes you back to the Game Menu.
CCK 1.3 page 16 Version 1.3
Registration Form
Registration form for The Crossword Construction Kit 1.3.
Name: ________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________
City/State ____________________________________ Zip __________
_____ CCK 1.3 on 5.25" DD disk $15.00
_____ CCK 1.3 on 3.5" DD disk $15.00
If you have registered for a previous version of CCK, you are
entitled to free updates, excluding shipping, handling and
packaging charges ($4.00 for either 5.25" or 3.5" DD disks).
_____ Shipping and handling for CCK 1.3 $ 4.00
as update on 5.25" DD disk
_____ Shipping and handling for CCK 1.3 $ 4.00
as update on 3.5" DD disk
Please remit by check or money order (U.S bank or branch) to:
Kijin Jung
32633 Surrey Lane
Avon Lake, OH 44012
"Thank you for your support."
_______________________________________________________________
CCK 1.3 page 17 Version 1.3
Future Versions
Hopefully, if I get enough response, I will be able to release a
significant upgrade to CCK, master's thesis willing. There are
many features yet to be added, such as the Crossword _Player_
Kit (solve puzzles created by CCK on screen), asymmetrical
crossword puzzle support, a personal dictionary to which you can
save your favorite clues to words, a word search engine which
can find a word for you based on empty letter fields, _working_
mouse support, an actual DOS printer driver, and perhaps VGA
graphics mode (much) later on.
If you have any suggestions, bug reports, or comments, you can
write me at the address below, or if you're on the net, feel
free to e-mail me.
Kijin Jung
32633 Surrey Lane
Avon Lake, OH 44012
Internet: kxj6@po.cwru.edu