                               

                                                                          1
                               
                               
                                 Table of Contents


      I.  Notice  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
                                                               
     II.  Hard Drive Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2

    III.  Option Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
    
     IV.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
   
          A.  Word List Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3

          B.  Puzzle Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3

          C.  Making a Puzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4

          D.  Customizing Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7

          E.  Making a Word List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

          F.  Editing/Appending/Moving an Existing Word List  . . . . . . 11

          G.  Deleting Word Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

      V.  Error Messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12



                                      Notice


             Word Search Puzzle Maker program files and documentation:

                     (c) Copyright Stephen D. Groll, 1991-1995
              
              BRUN45 (c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1982 - 1988

         Portions ADVBAS v99, (c) Copyright Thomas Hanlin III, 1985 - 1988


         
          If you have any questions about this software please feel free
            to write or call after you have read all the documentation.

                               Impact D. Publishing
                                   P.O. Box 1596
                               Palm Desert, CA 92261      
                         (619) 328-2253 or (619) 328-8151      














                                                                          2

             Installing Word Search Puzzle Maker on a Hard Drive


         Put WSPM (Word Search Puzzle Maker) disk in the appropriate 
    drive.  Type the drive letter followed by a colon.  For example, if 
    the WSPM disk is in drive A you will type A: and Press ENTER.  The 
    current drive is now A, type INSTALL, your hard drive letter followed 
    by a colon, and press ENTER.  For example, INSTALL C: will install 
    WSPM on drive C.  To run the program, type WSPM and press ENTER.


           IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU RUN AND READ THE GO.BAT FILE.
               JUST TYPE GO AND PRESS ENTER AT THE DOS PROMPT.





                                 OPTION SCREEN

           
         The OPTION SCREEN will pop up after the title screen appears and 
    disappears.  From here you have access to Word Search Puzzle Maker by 
    pressing 1.  You have access to Printer Switch by pressing P.  To exit 
    to the system just press X.  Each time you exit from the program or 
    Printer Switch, you will return to this option screen.  





                                 INTRODUCTION


         WSPM is an exciting program which allows you to create many
    different variations of the popular word search puzzle.  With this 
    fun and easy to use tool you can create and save your own word lists.  
    You can control the directions words read in the puzzle grid.  You 
    can even add to the fun by changing the way words are listed in the
    word list section of the puzzle.  
         Another feature which you will appreciate is that WSPM comes 
    with a powerful editor which allows you to customize and alter your 
    creations to meet many needs.  This special editor is so powerful 
    that you can create shaped puzzle grids, save them, and use them 
    over and over again to create word search puzzles with real visual 
    appeal.  WSPM even comes with grids that have already been shaped for
    you.  How to use shaped grids is discussed later in the documentation.
         All puzzles created with WSPM can be saved in ASCII files.  
    Saved puzzles can be imported into text editors and word processors. 
    This means that you can work puzzles into newsletters and do many 
    other exciting things with them.  
                                                                           












                                                                          3


                                <F1=DIRECTORY>


    F1 displays on your monitor the names of any word lists, created by
    WSPM, found on the path indicated on the Status Screen.  The default
    path is the one where the program is located.  You can change paths 
    using F2=CHANGE SETTINGS which is discussed later.

    *   The directory is able to hold 152 word list names.  If you copy the
        list files you create with WSPM to another disk, you must copy the
        DIRECTRI.TXT file along with all files that have the .WHL extension.
        Anytime you activate a new disk using WSPM, a DIRECTRI.TXT file is 
        automatically created.  This file holds the directory information 
        which gives you access to the word lists created and saved using
        WSPM.

    *   It is possible to copy a word list from one word list directory to
        another using F5=ALTER LIST which will be discussed later.





                                 <F2=SETTINGS>


    F2 is one of the keys to the versatility of this program.  By changing
    the various settings, you can create many variations of the popular 
    word search puzzle.

    *   The first prompt allows you to change paths.  You may wish to put
        word lists in different disk directories based on topics.  Just 
        change to the path which contains the specific word list directory
        you are looking for, or where you wish to create a new word list 
        directory, and you can access/create any word list you wish.  If 
        you do not wish to change a particular setting, simply press ENTER 
        and the next prompt will appear.

    *   The second prompt allows you to select one of two standard box grid 
        sizes.  The default is the large grid which allows you to hide from 
        1 to 30 words, or phrases, up to 15 characters long.  The reduced 
        grid will hold from 1 to 15 words or phrases.  Using the reduced 
        option with a shaped grid will simply reduce the number of words 
        used in creating the puzzle from 30 to 15.

    *   The third prompt allows you to select 4 different ways to list the
        words on your printout.

        1.   The default option lists the words as they are filed.

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        



                                                                          4
        
        
        2.   The second option gives the first letter of each word
             followed by a space for each letter thereafter.  WSPM gives
             you two spacing options.  Some printers connect the underline
             characters used to make the line spaces.  This makes it
             impossible to tell how many letters are in the word you are
             looking for.  You therefore have the option of using a dot
             (period) space.  This option clearly shows, from any printer, 
             how many letters are in each word hidden in the grid.

        3.   The third listing option gives only spaces for each letter of
             the words.  You have the same space options (lines or dots)
             discussed in the previous paragraph.
                                                                         
        4.   The fourth option scrambles the letters of each word in the
             list.  The words are not scrambled in the grid.

    *   The fourth prompt gives 3 options on how words will read in the
        grid.

        1.   The first option causes WSPM to hide words horizontally 
             reading left to right, and vertically reading top to bottom.

        2.   The second option causes some of the words to read backwards. 

        3.   The default option causes the words to read in all directions
             including diagonally.





                                <F3=MAKE PUZZLE>


    Select F3 when you are ready to create a puzzle out of a word list.

    *   When you select F3, WSPM will display on your monitor the names of 
        the lists found in the word list directory on the path you are 
        using.  Use the arrow keys to highlight the list you wish to hide, 
        and press ENTER.

    *   The selected word list will be displayed to allow you to see if you
        have chosen the correct list.  If for any reason you do not want to
        hide the list being displayed, press ESC.  If you wish to proceed
        with making the puzzle, select one of the three grid options given 
        at the bottom of the screen.

        1.  The first option will create a puzzle using the standard box 
            shaped grid.













                                                                          
                                                                          5
        
        2.  The second option allows you to enter a shaped grid from a 
            puzzle file saved using the ASCII function.  Type the file name
            and WSPM will use the shape of the grid that was created in 
            the light colored grid area of the editor and hide the selected 
            word list in a grid with the same shape.  For example, if you 
            type CASTLE.PUZ (one of the shaped puzzle files already created 
            and included for your use) and press ENTER, WSPM will hide the 
            selected word list in a castle shaped grid.
          
            If you need to see the puzzle files on the path which shows on 
            the Status Screen, before you make your selection, type DIR and 
            press ENTER.  Please note that even though you can give your
            puzzle file any name and extension you wish, only files with the 
            .PUZ extension will be listed in the puzzle directory.  If you 
            need to see the .PUZ files on a different path, type DIR, leave 
            a space, and type the path name.  If there are too many files to 
            fit on the screen use the PAUSE key to stop and start listing.

            If you select a puzzle file with a shaped grid from a path 
            other than the one which shows on the Status Screen, you must 
            enter the path and file name.  For example, Let us say the 
            Status Screen shows you are using path C:\DEFAULT\.  You want 
            to use a grid shape from a puzzle you saved as CIRCLE.PUZ on a 
            floppy disk in A: drive in a directory named PUZZLES.  You would 
            type A:\PUZZLES\CIRCLE.PUZ and press ENTER.

        3.  The third option will move you directly to the Customizing 
            Editor where you can shape a puzzle grid, create a puzzle, and
            print and/or save your work.  See the section on Customizing
            Editor for how this can be done.

    *   If you are creating a puzzle using the reduced grid, you will be
        given the option of using the first or second column of words.
        Each column will hold a maximum of 15 words, or phrases.
    
    *   Because WSPM randomly places the words one at a time in the grid, 
        it may happen that some of the words, in the list being used, will 
        not go into the grid as they are being situated.  This is more 
        likely to happen with shaped grids.  Please note that shaping a 
        grid removes grid area where words would normally be hidden.  If it 
        happens that one or more words will not easily fit into the grid,
        you will be given three options.
        
        1.  Pressing K tells WSPM to keep trying to find a place for the
            word.  The program will continue to search out a place as long
            as you keep pressing K.  If WSPM fails to place a word after
            one or two extra attempts, it usually means that there is no
            longer a place in the grid where the word will fit. 
















                                                                          6
        
        2.  Pressing S will skip the word in the list that the program is
            having difficulty placing.  WSPM will immediately move to the
            next word in the word list and attempt to place it in the grid.

        3.  Pressing Q will tell WSPM to stop placing the rest of the word
            list.  The program will display the grid on the screen.  You
            can attempt to hide the word list again, print the puzzle as it
            is, or move to the Customizing Editor and attempt to place the
            unhidden words manually.  
            
            From the Customizing Editor you can see the words which the      
            program did not hide by setting CTRL + LIST to NORMAL and 
            pressing ENTER.  WSPM will display a full word list and will
            highlight the unhidden words.

        For best results, try to keep words, or phrases, under an average
        of 10 letters and spaces for standard box grids.  For shaped
        grids small words and phrases work best.

    *   When the finished puzzle is displayed, you will have 6 options.

        1.   P=PRINT.  Pressing P allows you to enter the number of copies
             you want printed.  Type the number and press ENTER.  Press the
             SPACE BAR to pause printing and press ENTER to resume printing
             or ESC to quit printing.
           
             WSPM will print on most any printer.  Since single cut sheet
             printers, like lasers and many ink jet printers, use different 
             page settings than continuous feed printers (printers that use 
             paper connected by perforation), you may need to change WSPM's
             printer switch.  This is done by selecting P = Printer Switch
             form the OPTION SCREEN.  WSPM defaults to printing on 
             continuous feed printers.  If you are using a single cut sheet 
             printer and if when you print out 2 or more copies of your work 
             from WSPM you notice that the printed material moves farther 
             down or up the page with each copy, you need to change the 
             printer switch.  Once you select P = Printer Switch from the
             option screen you simply press the appropriate number (1 for
             continuous feed, 2 for single cut sheet).  You will be 
             immediately returned to the option screen.  Once the switch is
             set, it will remain at the setting each time you run WSPM, 
             unless you reset it.

        2.   A=ASCII.  A allows you to create an ASCII file of a puzzle.
             Though WSPM cannot recall an entire ASCII file of a puzzle,
             it can recall the shape of a puzzle grid created in the light
             colored grid area of the editor.  Of course an entire puzzle
             file can be imported into a word processing program to edit,
             work puzzles into newsletters, group two or more together to
             make large puzzles, and etc.











        
        
        
                                                                          7
        
        3.   S=SOLUTION.  S displays the solution of the puzzle.  You are
             given all the same command options as with a puzzle.

        4.   H=HIDE AGAIN.  H will cause WSPM to hide the same list again,
             creating a new puzzle using the same words and grid shape.

        5.   C=CUSTOMIZE.  C will switch you to an editing screen where you
             will be able to edit and customize the puzzle area displayed on
             the screen.  See below for a detailed discussion of the editor.

        6.   ESC=EXIT.  ESC will return you to the Hide List selection
             screen.  If you are using a shaped grid chosen by selecting
             grid option 2, any word list you select will be hidden in the 
             same shaped grid.  If you no longer wish to use the shape 
             selected from a saved ASCII file, you must exit to the Status 
             Screen by pressing ESC once again.  From the Status Screen you 
             can press F3 and return to the Hide List selection screen, 
             select a new word list and then you will be given the 3 grid 
             options.
             




                               [Customizing Editor]


    *   The CUSTOMIZING EDITOR allows you to be creative, and manually 
        change a grid's size, shape, add words, move words, and so on.  You 
        can also automatically or manually change the way the words are 
        listed in the puzzle being edited.  You must hold the CTRL key down 
        as you press the letter commands discussed below.

        1.   CTRL + B=BRUSH.  CTRL + B gives you three brushes you can draw
             with.  Turn the drawing function on by pressing CTRL + D.  You
             will then be able to draw using the arrow keys.  The default
             brush is DOTS (periods).  Pressing CTRL + B will change BRUSH
             to STARS, and pressing it again will change BRUSH to random
             capitol LETTERS.  See the discussion on CTRL + C=CLEAR GRID, 
             CTRL + F=FILL, and CTRL + E=ERASE GRID below to discover what 
             effect CTRL + B has on them.

        2.   CTRL + C=CLEAR GRID.  CTRL + C will display a solution grid of 
             the puzzle being edited.  Words hidden by WSPM will be 
             revealed and dots (periods) or stars (if the brush being used 
             is STARS) will make up the rest of the grid. 


        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        





                                                                          8
        
        
        3.   CTRL + F=FILL.  CTRL + F will replace any period or star on the 
             screen with a randomly selected capital letter, if B=BRUSH is 
             set at LETTERS.  This allows you to clear a grid to check if
             the placement of the words is satisfactory or it allows you to 
             place words in a grid manually and then let WSPM do the 
             tedious job of placing the random letters.  If you are shaping 
             a grid around words that have already been placed and you have 
             been using DOTS to draw with, you can get a better idea of how 
             your grid will look when it is finished by changing BRUSH to 
             STARS and press CTRL + F; all the periods on the screen will be 
             changed to stars.  When you are ready to continue editing, 
             change BRUSH to DOTS and press CTRL + F; all the stars on the 
             screen will change back to periods.  Of course you could change 
             BRUSH to LETTERS and fill in your grid without going back to 
             DOTS, if you decide you are finished after all.

        4.   CTRL + P=PRINT.  CTRL + P will allow you to make printouts of 
             the customized puzzle.  See discussion of P=PRINT, above, to
             discover how and when to use Printer Switch.

        5.   CTRL + A=ASCII.  CTRL + A allows you to make an ASCII file of 
             the customized puzzle.  Even though WSPM cannot recall an 
             entire ASCII file of a puzzle, it can recall the shape of a 
             puzzle grid created in the light colored grid area of the 
             editor.  Of course an entire puzzle file can be imported into 
             a word processing program to edit, work puzzles into 
             newsletters, group two or more together to make large puzzles, 
             and etc.

        6.   ESC=EXIT.  ESC will return you to the Hide List selection 
             screen.

        7.   CTRL + T=TYPING.  CTRL + T allows you to type in four 
             different directions.  Each time it is pressed, the typing 
             direction changes.  The arrow to the right of the T=TYPING, 
             displayed at the bottom of your screen, shows the typing 
             direction.

        8.   CTRL + S=SPACE.  CTRL + S toggles the number of spaces the 
             cursor moves (between 1 and 2) as you type or use the arrow 
             keys to move or draw horizontally. 

        9.   CTRL + D=DRAW.  CTRL + D allows you to use the arrow keys to 
             draw with whatever the B=BRUSH is set at, or to erase periods 
             and stars.  Pressing it once turns the ERASE function on.  
             The ERASE function causes the cursor to erase periods and
             stars wherever the arrow keys move it.  Pressing it again 
             causes the arrow keys to DRAW using the selected brush.  
             Pressing it a third time turns it off.  Please note that you 
             can draw over dots and stars with LETTERS.  However, you 
             cannot draw over text with DOTS or STARS, and the ERASE will 
             only erase periods and stars.  You must erase text or place 
             periods or stars over text manually. 










                                                                          9
       

       10.   CTRL + L=LIST.  CTRL + L & ENTER gives you the same listing 
             options for your customized puzzle as those given in the puzzle 
             settings.  Press CTRL + L, and you will see the listing options 
             change in the display box to the right of L=LIST at the bottom 
             of your screen.  When the desired option is displayed, press 
             ENTER. 

             a.   NORMAL, lists the words as they are filed.  This option 
                  also highlights any words from the list that did not get 
                  hidden in the grid after an attempt was made to create a 
                  puzzle.

             b.   FIRST LETTERS, gives the first letter of each word 
                  followed by a space for each letter thereafter. 

             c.   SPACES, gives only spaces for each letter of the words. 

             d.   SCRAMBLED, scrambles the letters of each word in the list.

       11.   CTRL + E=ERASE GRID.  CTRL + E erases a grid three different 
                  ways.  
       
             a.   Press CTRL + E once and all letters and words are cleared
                  out of the grid and are replaced with dots (or stars if 
                  CTRL + B is set at STARS).  The grid shape will remain
                  intact.

             b.   Press CTRL + E a second time without pressing any other
                  key first and the entire grid area will be cleared of all
                  DOTS or STARS.  With a totally clear grid editing area you 
                  can set CTRL + B to DOTS or STARS, CTRL + D to DRAW, and 
                  use the arrow keys to create any shape or design to hide
                  your word list in.
                  
             c.   Press CTRL + E a third time without pressing any other
                  key first and the entire grid area will be filled with
                  dots (or stars if CTRL + B is set at STARS).  Any shape
                  the grid may have had will be lost.  The easiest way to
                  create a shaped grid is to start with the grid area
                  filled with stars, set CTRL + D to ERASE, and use the 
                  arrow keys to "carve out" a shape.

                  

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                                         10
       
       
       12.   CTRL + W=HIDE WORDS.  CTRL + W will attempt to hide the words 
             of your selected word list into any shape that is in the light
             colored grid editing area.  Any keyboard character present in
             the grid editing area will be considered part of the grid 
             shape.  There is an exception, a character between the normal
             columns used to create the puzzle grid.  For example, if
             CTRL + S is set at 1 and you draw, using the arrow keys, you
             will not be skipping columns as you draw.  When WSPM hides 
             words it will ignore the characters in every other column and 
             will not display them when it creates the puzzle.  For this
             reason, if you have changed CTRL + S to 1, in order to edit 
             your word list, before you change back to 2, place the cursor 
             in the first column just inside the left side of the light 
             colored grid editing area.  This will align the cursor so that 
             when you change CTRL + S back to 2 you will be able to edit in 
             the grid area correctly.

             If WSPM has difficulty hiding the words of the selected list
             you will be given the same options mentioned above.  K tells
             the program to keep trying to place the word.  S tells WSPM
             to skip to the next word in the word list.  Q will stop the
             hiding the words and display the grid.


                                 <F4=MAKE LIST>


    F4 allows you to create and save a word list to be hidden in a puzzle.
    The list of names already being used in the active directory will be 
    displayed.

    *   Give your list a descriptive name from 1 to 8 letters/numbers long.
        If you chose a name already being used, in the directory that is
        displayed, the new list will copy over the old one. 

    *   Your list can contain from 1 to 30 words, or phrases, up to
        15 letters and spaces long.  If you finish your list before 30,
        press ENTER without typing another word.

    *   You will be allowed to edit or append your list by typing the number 
        of the word you want to change or space you want to fill and then 
        press ENTER.  If you want to change the name of the list, type 31, 
        press ENTER, type a different name, and press ENTER again. 

    *   When you are finished editing your list, just press ENTER.  A 
        command bar will appear at the bottom of your screen. 

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
                                                                         11
        
        
        1.   Press S to save the list as it is. 

        2.   Press A to have the list alphabetized before it is saved. 

        3.   Press E to go back to editing the list. 

        4.   Press ESC to exit without saving the list.


    

                                 <F5=ALTER LIST>


    F5 allows you to edit and/or append a list that has already been saved.  
    It also allows you to move a list from the active directory to a word
    list directory on another path.  After the names of the lists in the 
    active directory have been listed, use the arrow keys to highlight the 
    list you want to alter and/or move, and press ENTER. 

    *   After the words are listed and numbered, type the number of the word 
        to be altered or the space to be filled. 

    *   If you want to change the name of the list, type 31, press ENTER, 
        type a different name, and press ENTER again.  The list name in the
        active directory will be changed immediately.  You will not be able 
        to change the name of an existing list to the name of another list 
        that exists in the same directory.

    *   When you are finished editing your list, just press ENTER.  A 
        command bar will appear at the bottom of your screen.

    *   Upon selecting S to save or A to alphabetize and save, you will be
        given the opportunity to save the list to a path other than the
        one that shows on the Status Screen.  A prompt will ask if you want
        to save the list to another path.  If you press ENTER, the list will
        be saved to the word list in the active directory.  If you press Y,
        you will then be asked to type the path where you want the list to
        be saved.  If no word list directory exists on the path you 
        indicate, one will be created for the list.  
        
        1.   Press S to save the list as it is.

        2.   Press A to have the list alphabetized before it is saved. 

        3.   Press E to go back to editing the list. 
         
        4.   Press ESC to exit without saving the changed list.




                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                                                         12
                                
                                
                                <F6=DELETE LIST>


    F6 allows you to remove word list files from a word list directory.
    After the word list names in the active directory are displayed on your 
    screen.  Use the arrow keys to highlight the name of the list you want 
    removed and press ENTER.  Press ESC to exit the DELETE LIST mode.





                                   Error Messages


           Below is a list of possible error messages you might run into
      while running WSPM.  If an error is encountered, the error number
      will appear on your screen.  Find the number listed below and read
      the error, given to the right of the error number.


                       7            Out of memory

                      24            Device timeout

                      25            Device fault

                      27            Out of paper

                      53            File not found

                      57            Device I/O error

                      61            Disk full

                      62            Input past end of file

                      64            Bad file name

                      68            Device unavailable

                      70            Disk copy protected

                      71            Disk not ready

                      72            Disk-media error

                      75            Path/File access error

                      76            Path not found









