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~ Arctan Computer Ventures'  WordPuzzle Pro ~

What Details are Saved?

File Extensions

File Structure

Registry Information


File Extensions are as follows:-

File extensions are suffixes for filenames which are used to identify the use of the file. The following suffixes are used by WordPuzzle Pro.
Note that it is still possible to open files that have been given a different extension (e.g. .bak for a backup file) - it's just a little more difficult to find them easily!

Puzzle .xwd
Puzzle Template .xwt
Encrypted Crossword .xwe
Clue Pool .xpl
Word List .lex
Web Script HTML Template .xht
Help Management File wordpuzzhlp_01_03.hmd

File Structures are as follows:-

When you save a file, a number of pieces of information are stored that you may not be aware of. This page lists everything that is stored when you save a Puzzle file, a Pool file, a Word List File, or a Help Management File.

Arctan Computer Ventures use a standardised file format, which is designed so that files created in later versions of a product can still be opened in earlier versions, even if extra information is stored in later versions of the program.

Puzzle File
File identification information (fixed)
Company Name (Arctan Computer Ventures Ltd)
Program Name (WordPuzzle Pro) - 'Compressed' added if compressed to prevent v1.4 or prior opening the puzzle
Version Number
Build Number (usually 0.0 on release versions)
File Type (Either Puzzle or Puzzle Template or Encrypted Puzzle

The rest of the information is specific to each crossword.

Password (encrypted) in Security section.
Minimum Version reqd for puzzle to open correctly
Puzzle Compressed?

If an encrypted crossword, the following is encrypted:-

Images Information
List Name (not utilised)
List of Categories
Picture data made up of:-
Name
Filename
Graphic Type extension
Categories for picture
Filetype originally imported as
Picture as a data stream
List of Pictures on the grid made up of:-
Position of picture in main picture list
Dimensions and location of picture on grid
Whether picture In Front of grid
Whether picture is currently visible
Properties Information:-
Title
Author
Notes
Main Heading
Alternative Heading
Grid Colour
Out Colour
Grid Colour when clue is Focussed
Out Colour when clue is Focussed
Mismatch Colour when letter does not match in Test mode
Missing Colour when clue not completed
Grid Letter font
Grid Number font
Factor between size of Number and Letter on Grid
Bitmap (picture) index in picture list for grid squares
Bitmap (picture) index in picture list for outs
Factor between size of GridClue  and Letter on Grid
Font used for GridClues
Cell border colours
Color of bars
Width of borders as factor of Letter on Grid
Width of bars / direction indicator as a factor of Letter on Grid
Grid spacing as a factor of Letter on Grid
Printer Settings:-
Printer Zoom Percent
Grid Colour
Out Colour
Font for clue text
Font for Numbers on Grid
Font for Letters on Grid
Print Answers & Clues?
Print Empty Grid & Clues?
Print Answers Grid?
Print Answers List?
Print Hints List?
Print Explanation List?
Print Title?
Include Normal text?
Include Alternative text?
Include empty (uncompleted) Clues?
Collate?
Factor between size of Number and Letter on Grid
Ignore grid square pictures when printing?
Alternative Clues start in a new column?
Down Clues start in a new column?
Header text for first page
Footer text for first page
Header text for further pages
Footer text for further pages
Line between columns?
Print Empty grid only?
Print Empty grid with word sizes
Factor between  GridClue and Letter on Grid
Font used to print GridClues
Number of Rows in grid
Number of Columns in grid
Zoom value
First row number showing at top of grid
First column number showing at left of grid
Whether in Create Mode or Test Mode
Relative path of the linked Pool File
Relative path of the linked Word List File
Custom Colours
Left position on screen of Grid Window
Top position on screen of Grid Window
Width of Grid Window
Height of Grid Window
Left position on screen of Clue Window
Top position on screen of Clue Window
Width of Clue Window
Height of Clue Window
Colour of word selection on grid
Whether ClueTips enabled for the grid
Check for Duplicates on Refresh Enabled?
Allow answers list to be printed for Distributable?
Show alternate clue in ClueTips?
Generate numbers on grid?
Match grid with clues on refresh?
Grid transparent as default?
Hide grid squares if no letters or outs
If numbers not generated as clue no, generate as a code representing the letter on the grid?
Valid letter type
If above is Custom type:-
write list of letter / code number combinations for each allowed letter
Write AutoFill biases for ASCII character 32-255
Average bias probability between current biases and those imported from the text file?
Use biasing in autofill?
Attempt to find word with alternate consonant and vowels first for each space?
Iterate on AutoFill, so see each step of the process?
Bias % towards longer words
Interval between screen updates during AutoFill
Allow words to be dragged onto a space too large on the grid?
Position of grid relative to screen when loaded (Top-Left, Centred, or As Saved)
Total time taken to solve the puzzle
Auto Fill interval time to reset to Best version
Auto Fill interval time to reset to Original version
Auto Fill recursion levels
List of category names
Grid squares, each of which comprises:-
Letter
Test Letter
Binary representation of following booleans:-
Is an out?
Has a bar across?
Has a bar down?
Inherit the global colour or picture?
Inherit whether square has its own number?
Inherit whether square should be matched to clues?
Inherit whether should hide square if empty
Hide square if empty?
Grid square can match to clues?
Hide square if empty?
Square has own number?
Inherit border attributes from global settings?
Grid square transparent?
If colour bitmap not inherited and transparent:-
Colour of square
Index of picture in square
If square has own number, write text for the numbering on this square
If border not inherited from global:-
Border colour
Border width as percentage of grid square size
Grid Clues: For each square on grid, in binary boolean format:-
For each of -45 degrees, forward, and 45 degrees:-
Whether there is a GridClue above this square
Whether there is a GridClue below this square
Whether there is a GridClue to the left of this square
Whether there is a GridClue to ther right of this square
Clue Lists - Each of Across List, Down List and Pending List.
Note that only non-blank clues are written.
Structure for each clue is:-
Number of Clues in List
Each Clue comprises:-
Clue
Answer
Alternative Clue
Hint
Explanation
Category List, which comprises:-
Number of categories on list
List of category names
Word Links, i.e. Links between clues for Multi-Word Lists. Each of Across List, Down List and Pending List.
Note only lists for non-blank are written
Structure for each clue is:-
    Answer Text for Previous word in word list, or blank if none
    Answer Text for Next word in word list, or blank if none
Settings for Web Scripts:-
Use Colour names instead of RGB colours when possible?
Save script override values with puzzle?
Number of Values / Variables
For each of these values / variables:-
Script Variable Name
Script Variable Value
Pool File
File identification information (fixed)
Company Name (Arctan Computer Ventures Ltd)
Program Name (The Crossword Companion). Word 'Compressed' added for compressed files to prevent being opened by v1.4 or earlier.
Version Number
Build Number (usually 0.0 or 0.0s for shareware, on release versions)
File Type (Clue Pool)

The rest of the information is specific to each crossword:-

Properties Information:-
Title
Author
Notes
Minimum Version reqd for clue pool to open correctly
Clue Pool Compressed?
List of category names
Clue List - see structure for Crossword File
Word Links - see structure for Crossword File
Word List
File identification information (fixed)
Company Name (Arctan Computer Ventures Ltd)
Program Name (The Crossword Companion) - 'Compressed' added if word list compressed, to prevent v1.4 or earlier from openining it
Version Number
Build Number (usually 0.0 or 0.0s for shareware, on release versions)
File Type (Clue Pool)
Globals Section
Title
Author
Notes
Minimum version for word list to open correctly
Word list compressed?
Body of word list:-
Letters allowed in words (up to 63)
Separators allowed (subset of Letters)
Current category/rating level at which words are found
List of 4 category names
Tree of letters, each letter has 2 bytes, which includes:-
Letter
How many letters stem from this letter on the tree
Is this letter a terminator to show where a word/phrase ends?
Is this letter validated, excluded or unvalidated?
What category is this word, if terminator?
Help Management File
File identification information (fixed)
Company Name (Arctan Computer Ventures Ltd)
Program Name (The Crossword Companion)
Version Number
Build Number (usually 0.0 or 0.0s for shareware, on release versions)
File Type (Help Manager)
Recursively linked Tree Structure of help data. Each node is comprised of:
Name (used by program to identify help item)
Filename (relative to parent node - can be blank). Filetype must be registered on the computer.
Title (Description of help file item)
Relative Path (relative to parent's path). Cannot use .. notation
Number of Child Nodes

 

Registry Entries are as follows:-

The following are the standard Windows Registry locations to which data is stored that is to be kept for the configuration of WordPuzzle Pro.

You can access the Registry by clicking on the Start button in Windows 95/98/2000 and clicking on the Run... option and then entering regedit

The root location for all of these items is:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Arctan Computer Ventures Ltd\WordPuzzle Pro

Defaults\AutoLoad The crossword file to be loaded automatically when WordPuzzle Pro is started
Defaults\AboveArrow
Default\BelowArrow
Defaults\LeftArrow
Default\RightArrow
Defaults\AboveLeftArrow
Defaults\AboveRightArrow
Defaults\LeftUpArrow
Defaults\LeftDownArrow
Default\BelowLeftArrow
Defaults\BelowRightArrow
Defaults\RightUpArrow
Defaults\RightDownArrow
File locations of the bitmaps that are to be used for arrows pointing from GridClue squares.
MRUList\Item0
MRUList\Item1
..
MRUList\Itemn
Most Recently Used puzzles list - the list of most recently Opened or Saved Puzzle files in WordPuzzle Pro up to n entries where n is either the number of files opened in the history of the program (or since the MRU list was cleared by the user), or alternatively a maximum of   9 entries.
Pool MRU\Item0
Pool MRU\Item1
..
Pool MRU\Itemn
Most Recently Used Clue Pool Files list - the list of most recently Opened or Saved Clue Pool files in WordPuzzle Pro up to n entries where n is either the number of files opened in the history of the program (or since the MRU list was cleared by the user), or alternatively a maximum of   9 entries.
Words MRU\Item0
Words MRU\Item1
..
Words MRU\Itemn
Most Recently Used Word List Files list - the list of most recently Opened or Saved word list files in WordPuzzle Pro up to n entries where n is either the number of files opened in the history of the program (or since the MRU list was cleared by the user), or alternatively a maximum of   9 entries.
Help\Path The directory in which all help files for WordPuzzle Pro are held. The default is the subdirectory help from the same directory in which WordPuzzle Pro executable is held.
Help\Filename The filename of the help manager file. Default is wordpuzzhlp_01_02.hmd. This refers to Version 1.3

Also the extension .xwd is defined for use with Windows Explorer in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/.XWD/SHELL/OPEN/COMMAND and also HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/CLASSES/.XWD/SHELL/OPEN/COMMAND.

Other file extensions are the same, except substitute .XWD for the appropriate file extension.


(c) Copyright 2000-1 Arctan Computer Ventures Ltd.   All Rights Reserved.
If you have any issues regarding this on-line help, please contact the author by clicking here.
This Page was last updated: 06 July 2001 23:32