Puzzle generators for InDesign???

[Meliss...@adobeforums.com]

Hi there...first time posting to this forum. I was just curious if anyone knew if there was any kind of plugin for InDesign that generates puzzles. I found a few things where you can generate puzzles online but nothing that I can make hi-res or edit elements like what kind of font to use or colors.

Thanks in advance to anyone that lends a hand.

Have a great day!
Melissa

[Robert...@adobeforums.com]

You'd be more likely to have success with Photoshop.

www.avbros.com

Bob

[Dylan Channon]

I just launched a Puzzle mag here in the UK, and couldnt find any available at all. However, there is an Xtension for Xpress called PuzzleMaster Pro, which I am told may be soon made available for InDesign, link below...

<http://www.xchangeus.com/product_1368_detailed.html>

Hope this Helps, Dylan

--
Dylan Channon
Senior Art Editor

InDesign Migration Team
Future Publishing Limited
-----------------------------------------------------
[T] 01225 788168
[M] 07789 451490
[E] dylan....@futurenet.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------

[Robert...@adobeforums.com]

Hmmm, interesting. I thought he meant jigsaw puzzles. For crossword
puzzles, I'd think you could use any special software for it and then
just create a PDF.

Bob

[Dylan Channon]

Thats what we did in the end. The crossword software created generic EPS files, I then opened them in Illutsrator CS then copied and pasted into InDesign. Worked a treat in the end too.

Dylan

[Meliss...@adobeforums.com]

You guys have been very helpful. Thank you very much.

What is the name of the crossword software that you use Dylan. And does it also allow you to create wordsearches as well? It sounds like something I might find useful for my project.

Thanks again,
Melissa

[Dylan Channon]

Here is a link to the Software Manufacturer's site, plus I have pasted the features list below. Hope this helps! Dylan

<http://www.crossword-compiler.com>

Program Features
Design and edit crossword puzzles

Create freeform or standard newspaper-style crosswords. Make barred grids, clues-in-quares puzzles, fill-ins, French-style crosswords, coded grids and skeleton puzzles. Puzzles can be any size up to 50x50 squares with automatic numbering of grid squares. Color grid lines and squares, show hint letters in the puzzle, include pictures in the grid, and lots more.
Fill grids with words

Fill in entire blank puzzles, or just a section, with words from a word list. Crossword Compiler has a very powerful grid filling system that can fill many grids in seconds or less. Use the supplied word lists or make your own. Optimize the filling process to use more 'good' or theme words. Generate multiple fills and view the differences. Also read about the optional Professional Grid Filler and see this Screen Shot.
Create vocabulary puzzles

Type in some words and get the program to build a crossword using them. The computer places the black squares for you and tries to use as many of the words as possible. Create puzzles directly from words you type and write clues later, or build a puzzle from a list of words and clues or a clue database. A variety of theme word lists are supplied. Create the puzzle in a pre-defined shape, or a freeform rectangle. Screen Shot.

Publish on the web

Export your puzzles to a web page. Either as a picture and text clues, or an interactive puzzle that can be solved on screen. You can customize layout and colors used by the applet and the applet supports standard, freeform, barred and coded puzzles. Include italic and bold in the clues, use linked clues, color squares and grid lines, and more. Create the web page using a custom template. Licence included to use the applet on one web site. More....

Write and edit clues

Write clues with bold and italic, lookup words in dictionaries or lookup-lists, and find anagrams. Optional automatic word length after clues, with support for compound words and phrases. Add explanations/citations to each clue. Write joint clues (link words in the grid together). Review and spell-check your clues. Screen Shot.

Find words and anagrams

Find words to fit in a slot in the grid. Search for words matching a pattern. Find multi-word anagrams of words and all the words that can be made from the letters of another word. Search through different word lists (including ones you've made yourself).

Use clue databases

Insert clues automatically from a clue database. Add clues from puzzles, paste clues from the database into the clue editor, browse and edit the database. Use clues that are most recent, oldest, or randomly. Uses standard spreadsheet/database format.

Print out and export to other programs

Print out puzzles for solving, solutions, or clues with answers for professional crossword submissions. Print with MS Word option to fit everthing on one page. Copy puzzles to the clipboard or save to a file for use with other programs. Export puzzle, solution, numbered solution, clues, answers and explanations. Export grids as Metafile, Bitmap, GIF, TIFF or Encapsulated Postscript (with optional preview). Export for use with Crossword Maestro or Across solving software.

Word List Manager

View, edit and create word lists. Many list manipulation and conversion features. Use different character sets for multilanguage crosswords. Word lists can contain words from 2-50 letters long and the default word list can be configured for British or American English.

Customize most properties of the grid and clues

Change square sizes, size ratios, fonts, colors, line thickness, side numbering, clue numbering, clue spacing, etc. Save settings and grids in template files for easy reuse.

Puzzle information and printout headers

Supply a title, author, copyright and description for each puzzle. Print out headers containing this information or statistics for the puzzle. Customize the headers with different fonts, styles, etc.

Extensive context sensitive help

Find help related to what you are doing at the press of a button. The help file explains all the features of the program, and tells you how to go about create the various types of puzzle.

Link up to dictionaries from the clue editor

Add buttons to the clue editor ToolBar so you can look up words in dictionaries. Smooth integration with the WordWeb Pro thesaurus/dictionary add-on. The installation program automatically detects and sets up a link to most popular dictionaries.

Optional extras

Sets of additional word lists are available, including foreign words, compounds and phrases, unusual words and words in categories. You can use these lists for word finding, grid filling, adding to other lists, or whatever you like. WordWeb Pro thesaurus/dictionary can be used from the clue editor or to look up a word in the grid. The Professional Grid Filler has the most powerful grid filling system currently available, and gives you complete control over which words are used.

System requirements

Pentium or equivalent PC running Windows 95/98/Me/XP or Windows NT/2000.

[Meliss...@adobeforums.com]

Thanks so much Dylan. You've been extremely helpful.

Melissa

[Leigh_...@adobeforums.com]

It's not a puzzle generator plug-in, but I like Crossword Forge. It costs $39 and is available for both Mac OS X and Windows. I've only used the Mac version. You can create either a traditional crossword puzzle or a word-search puzzle. In the Mac version, you print as a PDF and can then scale the puzzle in Illustrator to whatever resolution required.

I use Crossword Forge to create a puzzle for a newsletter I help edit -- and have been extremely satisfied with this program, as well as tech support from its author.

<http://www.solrobots.com/crosswordz.html>

[Dylan Channon]

Just had the printed job back, and the crossword compiler files worked a treat

Cheers, Dylan