Puzzles on WordPress

Crossword Compiler can publish interactive puzzles for the web in just a few clicks. You can use these on your WordPress site, but will need to install a WordPress plugin. Then you can easily upload puzzles from files exported by Crossword Compiler, or import them from a puzzle page already uploaded to crossword.info (using the Web Publish button).

View a step-by-step Video .

Installing the WordPress plugin (updated 25 Oct 2021)

  • Download the WordPress puzzles plugin. (don't unzip the file)
  • On your WordPress 3.6+ site, log in to the admin area and click on Plugins on the left
    If you do not have access to install plugins yourself, you will have to ask your administrator to do it for you
  • Click Add New at the top, and then in the search box look for "Crossword Compiler".
  • Browse for and select the plugin file you downloaded, and click Install now and then activate it.
  • Select the Crossword Compiler Puzzles plugin, install and activate it
    Don't worry if it says it has not been tested on your version of WordPress; the plugin is updated whenever there is a problem.

Add a puzzle to a page or post (WordPress 5+)

  • In the page or post where you want the puzzle, click the Add block button and search for "crossword"; then click crossword block button to insert the block.
  • In the puzzle info box that pops up, select to add either add a URL (for puzzle already uploaded to crossword.info site using the Web Publish button in Crossword Compiler), or Local File to upload files you have exported using Export to files on Crossword Compiler's Web Export item the File menu.
  • Click OK. This inserts the puzzle. If the puzzle is too wide to fit in the containing space, on the published page it will automatically be resized to make it fit (unless it is a word search); if this looks too small, change the layout options when you export the puzzle.

Add a puzzle to a page or post (WordPress 3-4 or classic editor)

  • In the page or post edit area you can click on the crossword icon in the buttons above the edit box, or use the Add Crossword item below the editor box.
  • Select to add either URL (for puzzle already uploaded to crossword.info site using the Web Publish button in Crossword Compiler), or Local File to upload files you have exported using Export to files on Crossword Compiler's Web Export item the File menu.
  • Click Insert. This inserts the [crossword] placeholder for your puzzle. When you publish or preview your puzzle, you should see the puzzle.
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