Newbie puzzle help

[GregB]

Hi there, this may be a silly question but very new to Crossfire.

Im trying to compile a themed crossword (cryptic) for a group of people with a common interest. A lot of the answers are likely to be very specialised or words only used by the group (its a medical examination board so lots of references to textbook names etc which are unlikely to appear in a dictionary data base)

Is there a way of getting the crossfire app to use exclusively all the words I have generated clues for to start a grid, and THEN filling in any remaining gaps with other clues? In other words Id like to find a way of getting as many of my pre written clues into the grid, and then filling in after with more generic words if that makes sense?

Apologies if this is a repeated or stupid question, but would appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

Greg

[chestnutslollipop]

Hi there, this may be a silly question but very new to Crossfire.

Im trying to compile a themed crossword (cryptic) for a group of people with a common interest. A lot of the answers are likely to be very specialised or words only used by the group (its a medical examination board so lots of references to textbook names etc which are unlikely to appear in a dictionary data base)

Is there a way of getting the crossfire app to use exclusively all the words I have generated clues for to start a grid, and THEN filling in any remaining gaps with other clues? In other words Id like to find a way of getting as many of my pre written clues into the grid, and then filling in after with more generic words if that makes sense?

Apologies if this is a repeated or stupid question, but would appreciate any advice.snow rider

Thanks!

Greg

Your question is not silly at all! Creating a themed crossword puzzle, especially with specialized vocabulary, can indeed be challenging. Crossfire, a crossword construction software, can help you achieve your goal.
Tips:
Priority Setting: By giving your specialized words a higher priority, Crossfire will try to use these words first when auto-filling the grid.
Manual Adjustment: Don’t hesitate to manually adjust the grid if the auto-fill doesn’t perfectly meet your expectations. Sometimes, a little manual tweaking is necessary.
Balance: Ensure there is a good balance between your specialized words and the more generic fill-ins to maintain the puzzle's overall solvability.

[Velmenson]

Hi there, this may be a silly question but very new to Crossfire.

Im trying to compile a themed crossword (cryptic) for a group of people with a common interest. A lot of the answers are likely to be very specialised or words only used by the group (its a medical examination board so lots of references to textbook names etc which are unlikely to appear in a dictionary data base)

geometry dash

Is there a way of getting the crossfire app to use exclusively all the words I have generated clues for to start a grid, and THEN filling in any remaining gaps with other clues? In other words Id like to find a way of getting as many of my pre written clues into the grid, and then filling in after with more generic words if that makes sense?

Apologies if this is a repeated or stupid question, but would appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

Greg

Crossword Compiler is out of date, and I need to get a new one. According to The NYT: "CrossFire is the most popular choice among professional constructors ...." According to Cruciverb: "Crossword Compiler is considered by most constructors to be one of the best puzzle-making software package available." Do you have any recommendations from people who have used both? Although Crossfire is more affordable, I am more used to the way Crossword Compiler works.

[ferretmarked]

No need to worry, your question makes perfect sense! In Crossfire, you can prioritize your prewritten clues by manually entering them into the grid first. Once you've placed as many of your specialized words as possible, you can then use Crossfire's autofill feature to fill in the remaining gaps with more generic words. This approach allows you to maintain the thematic integrity of your crossword while ensuring the grid is fully completed. Just ensure the specialized words fit well together in the grid to maximize space for other words.
planet clicker