- First, you pick the number of squares you'd like to have in your
crossword puzzle's "grid." I recommend using small numbers (6 or less)
to start out with. This limits the size of your words, but is easier
to work with until you get used to the interface. There is a 15 x 15
demo puzzle here. You can see that with
a puzzle that large, one must scroll over on the screen to see the clues.
- Next, the program asks you to fill in words in the grid in crossword
puzzle format, so that they overlap each other. Check the demo puzzle
if you're not sure what this means. When you've got your words, you will
need to count the number of words across and the number of words down and
enter those numbers into the appropriate slots. This tells the program
how many slots to give you for writing the clues for the words.
- Once you've done that, the program will show you a filled-in crossword
puzzle with the words you've chosen, and give you the opportunity to fill
in clues for those words. (This is a good time to hit the "back" button
on your browser if you've misspelt something!) Just fill in the clues
and click "Go to Step 3".
- Now, the program will create your crossword puzzle, and give you
a chance to number the entries. Just put a number in to the left of
the first letter in each word that corresponds to the number Across or
Down of the clues, and number the clues themselves. Then, click "Create Puzzle".
- At this point, the program will create an HTML file containing
the puzzle, and show you a link to that file. It will also show you
what the finished puzzle will look like. You may then link the
puzzle to an appropriate place on your website. If all has gone well,
the puzzle that is created will be graded by the program.
- The program is not very smart: it will tell the person who does the puzzle only if they have solved the entire puzzle correctly, or if they have not. It will not give any hints as to where they might have gone wrong, nor will it give a percentage score. For this reason, you should use the puzzles for practice, games, exercises, etc, but probably not for graded homework. :-)
- Gzipped Tar format: crosswordmaker.tar.gz
- Zip format: crosswordmaker.zip
- crossword.cgi
- the actual program that processes the data from the form, creates and grades the puzzles.
- demopuzzle.html
- A 15 x 15 demonstration of the puzzles you can create with this.
- README.crosswordmaker
- contains information on how to get started using the program. READ THIS before you get started!
[Demo] [Who's using?] [System Requirements] [Download!] [Bug Fix Announcements] [Changelog] [License]
Program Summary
[Version 1.6 Released 01/10/2004]CrosswordMaker is a tool for creating web-based crossword puzzles. This can be a fun tool for students learning vocabulary, slang, or other word/meaning-related activities. The program leads the creator through a series of steps as follows:
Working Demo
There is a working version of CrosswordMaker online for you to try out. Feel free to play around and create as many puzzles as you like. NOTE, however, that this is for demonstration purposes only! All crossword puzzles are periodically deleted, so please don't create one and then just link it to your website or it may be lost. If you've gotten CrosswordMaker to work, send me the address of your
website and I'll post a link to it.
This Google search usually shows a few sites using the program.
If you're using it, let me know and get free traffic to your website by linking here! :-)
The web server where this script will be installed must have Perl 5.000 or higher. Scripts that send email require that "Sendmail" or "qmail-inject" be available on Unix/Linux-type systems. Scripts that send email under Windows-based systems require use of the Socket Perl module (Socket.pm). All scripts may require the Perl CGI module, CGI.pm .
This script is NOT supported on the following web hosting providers:
Tripod.com
Angelfire.com
Lycos.com
Also, sorry, but the scripts are not supported under mod_perl, PerlEx, or speedy_cgi as I don't have any way to test them in that environment. :-(
You must be able to execute cgi programs on your web server. If
you're not sure whether you have permission to do this, or are not sure
how to configure the files, please ask your system administrator, or
check the web pages of your web hosting provider for Help or Support
information. For a free web hosting provider who supports CGI scripts, or
low-cost web hosting providers, you can try looking at
the "Some Places to Host
your Website" page I've put together.
The web server must support both the GET and POST request methods. (Ask your
hosting provider about this if you're not sure.)
Please remember: you get what you pay for, and free web hosting
services are often worth what you pay for them.
But first, the obligatory plea for funding. :-)
All the files you need are contained in these packages. Download it
in the format you wish. If you have MS Windows, there is a program called WinZip (available
at TuCows) which will
uncompress and de-archive tar/gz files as well as Zip files. The package contains the following files: After a major release, you may get one or two messages a week.
Mostly, though, I'm afraid it's less than once a month.
You may also sign up for announcements about other scripts on
the
main Scripts for Educators Mailing List page.
This list is ONLY for announcements specifically about CrosswordMaker:
(Scroll down if you don't want to read this part. You
do NOT have to give money to download these scripts!)
Like
the scripts? Give me a dollar, or say thanks!
If you like the scripts, you can send
me cash through PayPal, Amazon, or through snail mail
or you can show
your support in other ways. Remember: only about one
out of 100 people who download the scripts even says
"Thanks." :-)
On a Unix-type system, if you have console or command prompt access, you
may unzip the tar.gz file by typing 'gunzip < crosswordmaker.tar.gz | tar -xvf
-'. If you're not very familiar with Unix, you may want to ask someone
who is to help you. The latest version of Stuffit for the Mac will also
handle tar.gz files.
I strongly recommend that you sign up here for update and bug fix
announcements about this script. I will not spam you with advertising: I
just want to make sure you have the latest fixes. :-)
The program will send a confirmation message to your email address when
you sign up. In order to get on the announcement list, you MUST click on
the confirmation link contained in that email message. This is to
protect you from someone signing you up as a joke, and to protect me
from being accused of spamming. Since update announcements are sometimes
few and far between, sometimes people forget that they've subscribed and
report me for sending junk mail. Luckily, the system logs the address,
time, and date of everyone who signs up so that I can prove I'm only
sending to people who asked for it. :-)