Crossword Compiler Forums

[Peter Bulthuis]

Hello,

What's the best way to make a professional crossword with theme words? It must use as much theme words as possible and fill it further in with words form the default database.
When I do it now with maximum use of theme words, it uses just a few theme words en fills it further in with words from the default database.

When I just use theme words, I'm getting a crossword with a lot of black.

Regards,

Peter

[Antony Lewis]

For American themed puzzles (which typcially only have a few theme words), it is usually best to insert the theme words by hand, then fill around them using the AutoFill feature. This way you can place them symmetrically how you like.

For other puzzles it is more difficult. Fill Grid (Words menu) has various theme fill options. The number of theme words used will depend on the type of grid. Typically with an American style grid it will only be able to fit in a few theme words. With a crptic/quick-style grid it should be able to fit in far more. If you want a symmetrical highly themed puzzle you should probably not try to make an American-style grid: choose one of the easier standard cryptic/quick grids instead.

For non-symmetrical puzzles you can use the create vocabulary puzzle feature which will insert black squares as necessary to use as many as possible of your theme words without using any words from another list.

[Peter Bulthuis]

The problem with non-symmetrical puzzles is, that it gives too much black squares. So the best way should then be: first using the themewords and fill it up with words from the default list.

Peter