Crossword Compiler word lists are in a special format that cannot be used by other programs. However, it is possible to convert to and from the Crossword Compiler format by using the commands on the Convert menu of the Word List Manager.
Converting a word list to a theme list or plain text
Select the word list you want to convert in the Word List Manager and then select List to plain text file or List to theme list from the Convert menu. Type in the name you want to save the converted file as and press Save. If exporting to a file, you will be prompted whether to include scores, and if so, using what score separator (theme lists do not have scores). In both cases words are saved one per line.
Converting plain text file to a word list
You can convert a plain text word list file containing one word per line (as for adding plain text word lists to existing Crossword Compiler lists). Select Plain text file from the Word List Manager's Convert menu and select the file that you want to convert. You will then be prompted for a name for the converted word list, and what score you want to give its words. You can also select a character set for the new list, and specify its equivalent letters (for how you want words in the list to be mapped into words shown in the grid).
You can also import scored word lists, where each line in the file has a word followed by a score. By default, the score is separated by a semicolon, but you can also specify tab-separated or a custom separator. Usually the separator will automatically be set for you.
Converting a theme list to a word list
To convert a theme list to a main word list, change to the Theme lists tab in the Word Lists Manager, select the list you want to convert, then select Theme list to list on the Convert menu.
Converting words in a clue database to a word list
You may wish to use only words for which you have clues written, in which case it is useful to have a word list containing only words for which there are clues in the clue database. Select Clue database words to list from the Word List Manager's Convert menu.