How To Litz

Back

The following help is from the AcrossLite software verson 1.x and has been modified slightly here for better understanding (hopefully). Version 2 has a PDF guide available

1. Write the puzzle in a text file using a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) or any word-processor.
2. Enter the puzzle with the specific format listed below.
3. Save the puzzle.  If you used a word-processor use the "Save As" feature under the "File" menu and save as text file with a text extension (.txt)
4. Open (i.e. start) Across Lite.
5. In the file open dialog box that comes up when you select Open command in the File menu, select Across TEXT format in the file types list to display all files with extension .TXT.
6. Select the file you saved in Step 3 and click on OK.
7. If there are no errors in the puzzle description, the puzzle will be read in.  If there are errors, see common errors below
8. Save the puzzle using the Save command in the File menu. The puzzle will be saved as an Across puzzle.

Specific format

The TEXT file for importing must conform to the following template for it to be successfully read. The format is case sensitive and the order of items is important. All leading and trailing blanks and tabs are ignored in each line except in the <NOTEPAD> section. Empty lines are not ignored.

<ACROSS PUZZLE>
<TITLE>
...puzzle title here... (or leave a blank line)
<AUTHOR>
...puzzle author here... (or leave a blank line)
<COPYRIGHT>
...puzzle copyright notice here... (or leave a blank line)
<SIZE>
...grid size as No. of columns x No. of rows (e.g., 15x15). Must provide this line.
<GRID>
...Use one line for each row in the grid. Enter a period(.) for black square or the solution letter for each position. No spaces are allowed.
<ACROSS>
... List Across clues one entire clue per line in increasing order of clue numbers. Do not enter the clue number itself.
<DOWN>
... List Down clues one entire clue per line in increasing order of clue numbers. Do not enter the clue number itself.
<NOTEPAD>
.... Notepad entry for the puzzle here. This section is optional. All spaces and line breaks are preserved.

Common errors

• "Unrecognized extra lines at the end of the file" means too many DOWN clues (or blank lines at the end of the file)
• "End of file reached before complete description" means not enough DOWN clues
• "<DOWN> header not found where expected" means not enough OR too many ACROSS clues
• "Across clue section has too many clues" is self-explanatory
• "A line in the grid section has extra/missing characters" can be a missing a grid line, an extra grid line, and too long/short line all in reference to the SIZE.
• "Incorrect grid size specification" probably means a capital "X" instead of a small "x" in the SIZE line or no SIZE specified at all.

Back