Grid Pattern Generator

The Grid Pattern Generator window allows you to generate patterns for crossword grids based on specified parameters, select the option from the Grid menu. The interface can toggle between two styles: American and Cryptic/Quick.

Symmetry

Symmetry: Choose the symmetry type for the grid. Normal is the default for newspaper-style grids.

Pattern type

• American: Follows American crossword symmetry rules, with no un-checked letters.
• Cryptic/quick: For cryptic or quick crosswords, with alternate letters unchecked.

American Style Options

When the American style is selected, the following options are available:

• Largest letter square: Maximum size of the largest square containing only letters.
• Largest rectangular letter area: Maximum area (in squares) of the largest rectangular section containing only letters.
• All letters in at least 2x2 square: Ensures that all letters are part of at least a 2x2 letter square. Enable this by checking the box.

Cryptic/Quick Style Options

When the Cryptic/quick style is selected, the following option is available:

• Base pattern: Select the starting point for the grid filling process:
• Fill from 1,1: Starts blocks from the top-left corner.
• Fill from 2,1: Starts blocks from the second row, first column.
• Fill from 1,2: Starts blocks from the first row, second column.
• Fill from 2,2: Starts blocks from the second row, second column.

General Options

• Largest block square: Maximum size of the largest square containing only blocks (black squares).
• Min word length: Minimum length for words in the grid.
• Max % of words of min word length: Maximum percentage of words in the grid that can be of the minimum word length.
• Min block %: Minimum percentage of blocks (black squares) in the grid.
• Max block %: Maximum percentage of blocks in the grid.
• Max consecutive edge blocks: Maximum number of consecutive blocks allowed along the edge of the grid.
• Allow corner blocks: Check this box to allow blocks (black squares) in the corners of the grid.

Buttons

• Generate: Click this button to generate the grid pattern based on the specified parameters.
• Lengths >>>: Click this button to expand or collapse the word length configuration section.

Word Length Counts [window expanded]

• Max number of full-length words: Maximum number of words that can be of the maximum word length.
• Max word length: Maximum length of any word in the grid.
• Minimum word length distribution

  Set the minimum count for words of specific lengths by adjusting the values next to each word length (Len). For example, to ensure there are at least 4 words of length 11, set the value next to 11 to '4'. Once you have generated a fill, the window will show the actual distribution of word lengths generated.

Note that it may not be possible to generate certain configurations, or the generator may time out. Increasing the number of allowed blocks and minimum-length words can make it easier to generate more patterns, as well as allowing at least two consecutive edge blocks.