~ 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