how can I create a crossword puzzle or word search ?

[Guest]

My son needs to create a crossword puzzle or word search. I'm not sure how to
do it- we have windows, our computer is about 4 years old(gateway). We need
to be able to tell the program the words we would like to use and have a
program scramble them into a word search or allow us to set up those square
boxes with the number of spaces for the word to go in. Help Please. Not a
computer savy family. Thanks, Rita

 

[RBear3]

This is an Access newsgroup. Access is a database application that is part
of MS Office Professional. You could certainly create a database that
allows you to enter words, and then creates a word scramble or crossword
puzzle, but it would be a very complex operation.

There are many free or cheap out-of-the-box software applications to create
them. You can look in the software section of your local electronics store,
or search a site like Amazon. If you want to download a free or cheap
version, just do a search in GOOGLE. I just searched for "shareware word
scramble" and found several free or cheap applications.

There might also be online websites that let you enter words, then have a
scramble or crossword created that you could print.

In any case, this newsgroup is probably not going to help you much unless
you want to undertake the daunting task of creating a program to make them
in Access.

 

[Guest]

A crossword puzzle is a challenging task even for a computer expert and not
something you will want to undertake.
The 'word search' (whatever that means?) sounds fairly simple (though still
daunting for a non-savvy computer user) since all you have to do is scramble
letters.

 

[Steve]

Do a google search on "Crossword puzzle software Microsoft Access". Include
the quotes! You'll be surprised at what you get. Here's an example:

Create database downloads - dbQwikSite Personal Plus Edition ...
MS Access Extract Data & Text Software (Extract certain char. ... Create
custom
crossword puzzles fully automatically using your own databases or built in
....
http://www.vicman.net/lib/create-database.htm - 57k - similar pages


PC Datasheet
Providing Customers A Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word
Applications
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Amy Blankenship]

A crossword puzzle is a challenging task even for a computer expert and not
something you will want to undertake.
The 'word search' (whatever that means?) sounds fairly simple (though
still
daunting for a non-savvy computer user) since all you have to do is
scramble
letters.

Actually, a word search is even harder, as you have to find contiguous
places in the grid of letters that are vertical, horizontal, or diagonal
that are not already occupied with other words.

-Amy

 

[Guest]

http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/

You can make Criss-Cross (Crossword) and Word Search puzzles.

This was a great utility when I was teaching ESL in Asia.

Matt