Crossword Compiler Forums

[ddmayer]

A client has asked me to produce a themed puzzle and (thankfully) is quite happy with an asymmetrical grid, so I can use the freeform feature and my own wordlist.

The client has said, though, that a particular answer (company name) MUST appear in the grid.

I can't find a way of selecting one word (or more) in my list and instructing the software to incorporate this in the fill. Can it be done?
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Anax in The Independent | Loroso in the FT | Some bloke in The Times

[Antony Lewis]

You can manually place the word in the grid where you like, then fill around it using the Vocabulary Puzzle feature.

[ddmayer]

Hi Anthony

That's OK if I create a grid first, but the problem arises when I use the freeform function so the software creates asymmetrical grids using ONLY words from my user list.

If I start with a grid of my own, CC would only (normally) be able to build a puzzle using only theme words if the list is very large. In this case there are maybe 200 words in my list, so a set grid of my own would probably end up with 10-15% of answers taken from the default list, whereas my client wants ONLY theme words.

It would be great if a user wordlist could allow me to "tick" particular answers so that when it creates a freeform vocabulary puzzle the ticked answers would always be used.
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Anax in The Independent | Loroso in the FT | Some bloke in The Times

[Antony Lewis]

You can use the vocabulary puzzle feature (Words menu) on a grid with some words already placed in it (but no grid pattern)- do you have some problem doing this?