Vocabulary Puzzlemaker

Note: The Vocabulary Puzzlemaker is available for various Glencoe and Macmillan titles.

 

System Requirements

Installation Tips

Issues & Solutions

 

The Vocabulary Puzzlemaker is an easy-to-use program that lets you create crossword puzzles, word search puzzles, and jumble puzzles. You can print the puzzles you create, or have students complete the puzzles on the computer.

 

ISSUES:

Windows Issues:

Will this program run on Windows 2000, XP and Vista?

Mac Issues:

Will this program run on Mac OS X or Intel MAC?

I’ve installed Puzzle Player on my Mac and it will not open a puzzle created on a PC.

General Issues:

Is this program networkable?

How do I add words to the puzzle database?

What is the difference between MPS and MPU files?

Message states the program cannot use certain words to build a crossword or word search puzzle.

The puzzle database was damaged or accidentally changed.

The software displays an error message when a student attempts to save a puzzle to the network.

A message indicates that there is not enough memory to run the program.

How do I uninstall the program?

How do you add a picture clue into a Word Search Puzzle?

Using Puzzlemaker on my Presentation Plus CD, I can open already created puzzles, but I cannot create one. Why?

How do I print a list that contains all the words in the database?

The background of the puzzle prints in black and wastes ink.

How do I add Foreign Language Characters?

Where is the database for the 3.0 Puzzlemaker? I just installed it and cannot locate the database.

 

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

Windows

 

Original Version:

·         IBM PC or 100% compatible

·         Windows 98 (or higher)

·          Color monitor

·         High-density 3.5" disk drive

·         Hard drive

·         4MB RAM

·         Mouse

·         Printer (optional)

 

Version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1

·           IBM PC  (or 100% compatible)

·           Windows 2000, XP and Vista

·           Color monitor with 256 color setting

·           Hard drive

·           CD-ROM drive

·           32 MB available memory

·           Mouse

 

 

Macintosh

 

Original Version:

·         Macintosh or 100% compatible computer

·         OS 7.0 or higher

·         Color monitor

·         High-density 3.5" disk drive

·         Hard drive

·         1 MB Ram

·         Mouse

·         Printer (optional)

 

Version 2.0,3.0 and 3.1

·           Power PC processor, 100 MHz computer

·           System 7.5 or higher. OSX  and MAC Intel

·           Color monitor with 256 colors

·           Hard drive

·           CD-ROM drive

·           12 MB available memory

·           Mouse

 

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INSTALLATION TIPS:

 

Windows:

 

Original Version:

  1. Insert the Puzzlemaker disk in Drive A.
  2. Click on Start and choose Run option. Type a:\setup and press ENTER.
  3. Follow on screen directions.

 

Version 2.0:

1.       Insert the Puzzlemaker disc into your CD-ROM drive.

2.       Click the Start button on the Taskbar and choose the Run option.

3.       Type X:\setup.exe (where X refers to the drive letter that corresponds with your CD-ROM drive.  For example, d:\setup.exe and press Enter.

4.       Follow the directions on the screen to complete the installation process for both the Puzzlemaker and Puzzleplayer or only one of the components.

 

Version 3.0 and 3.1:

      1.    Insert the PuzzleMaker disc into your CD-Rom drive.

2.    Double-click on My Computer.

3.    Double-click on your CD-Rom drive.

4.    Double-click on setup.exe.

5.    Click Next on the Welcome screen.

6.    Launch the Setup to install the PuzzleMaker.

7.    Click Next and select Yes to accept the license agreement and click Next.

8.    The default installation folder will be C:\Program Files\PuzzleMaker. To select a     different folder, click browse to select a folder. Click next to continue.

9.    Select PuzzlerMaker and PuzzlePlayer and click Next.

  10.   You are ready to install click Next.

  11.   The status screen will display after the installation is over. Click finish to exit.

  12.   The installed application will have shortcuts on the Desktop and in the Program     Menu  

 

 

Mac:

 

Original Version:

  1. Insert the Puzzlemaker disk in the floppy disk drive.
  2. Double-click on the installation program icon.
  3. Follow on screen directions.

 

Version 2.0:

  1. Insert the Puzzlemaker disc into your CD-ROM drive.
  2. Double-click the installation icon to start the installation process.
  3. Indicate the folder where you want to install the program, and then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation process.

 

Version 3.0 and 3.1:

1.       Insert the PuzzleMaker disc into your CD-Rom drive.

2.       Double-click on Glencoe PuzzleMaker icon.

3.       Click on PuzzleMaker Set-up to start the installation process.

4.       Click next on the Information screen.

5.       Select Yes to accept the license Agreement and click Next.

6.       The installation folder details need to be entered. Click browse. Navigate to Applications and create a new folder called PuzzleMakerV3.

After clicking OK, folder location should appear as Macintosh HD:Application:PuzzleMakerV3:

 

Network:

 

To install PuzzlePlayer on the network:

1.       Insert the PuzzleMaker disc into your CD-Rom drive.

2.       Double-click on My Computer.

3.       Double-click on your CD-Rom drive.

4.       Double-click on setup.exe.

5.       Click Next on the Welcome screen.

6.       On the title screen click next.

7.       Select Yes to accept the license Agreement and click Next.

8.       Click on the browse button and select the network drive and click Ok.

9.       Uncheck PuzzleMaker. Place a checkmark next to PuzzlePlayer and click next.

10.    Click next again.

11.    When the install is completed click Finish.

12.    Create a short cut on each student’s workstation to the puzzleplayer.exe located on the    server.

 

 

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ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS:

 

Windows Issues:

 

Issue: Will this program run on Windows 2000, XP and Vista?

 

Solution: Cursory testing has been performed for Version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1.  On the above platforms no problems were found.

 

Our customer base uses a wide variety of operating systems and applications and our software must be developed to be used on some lower end systems to meet our customer needs. Because of this, we cannot guarantee that our software will always work as expected as new operating systems and other applications are developed. We encourage you to give our products a 'test drive' on any new system you plan to implement. If you are not satisfied with the performance of our products, we will do our best to deliver a compatible product to you in a timely manner or refund your money.

 

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Mac Issues:

 

Issue:  Will this program run on Mac OS X or Mac Intel?

 

Solution:  Cursory testing has been performed and no problems were found.  Version 2.0 will run in Classic Mode, not natively in OS X. Version 3.0 and 3.1 will run on OSX natively and Mac Intel.

 

Our customers use a wide variety of operating systems and applications, and our software must be developed to be used on some lower end systems to meet customer needs.  Because of this, we cannot guarantee our software will always work as expected as new operating systems and other applications are developed.  We encourage you to give our products a 'test drive' on any new system you plan to implement.  If you are not satisfied with the performance of our product, we will do our best to deliver a compatible product to you in a timely manner or refund your money.

 

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Issue: I’ve installed Puzzle Player on my Mac and it will not open a puzzle created on a PC.

 

Solution: That is correct, it will not open. After trying to open the mps file with a Mac, the file extension will change to a .vdb extension (vocabulary database). Conversely, a puzzle created on a Mac can be opened with a PC.

 

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General Issues:

 

Issue: Is this program Networkable?

 

Solution: There are two components to this program. Puzzlemaker is the teacher application which can be placed on the network, but is not multi-user accessible. Puzzles created by the teacher can be saved to a location on the network and can be accessed by multiple users using the Puzzle Player.

 

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Issue: How do I add words to the puzzle database?

 

Solution: 

1.       Choose Edit a Vocabulary Database.

2.       Select a vocabulary database.

3.       Click Open.

4.       Click Add.

5.       Enter the word, clue, and choose a chapter.

6.       Click OK.

7.       Click Save As.

8.       Click Save.

 

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Issue: What is the difference between MPS and MPU files?

 

Solution: Puzzles created or edited in PuzzleMaker are saved with an .mps file extension. Puzzles that are opened with PuzzlePlayer and saved to the network are saved with the file name being the student’s last name and first initial and an .mpu file extension. The teacher can easily locate which puzzle was done by what student.

 

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Issue: Message states the program cannot use certain words to build a crossword or word search puzzle.

 

Solution: The software may have difficulty constructing a crossword or word search puzzle when many of the puzzle words are greater than 10 letters and you choose to include the maximum of (20) words.

 

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Issue: The puzzle database was damaged or accidentally changed.

 

Solution: The easiest way to fix a database that was changed or damaged is to reinstall the software. It will copy the databases without erasing any of the puzzles you may have created, but if you’ve added words they will be lost. 

 

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Issue: The software displays an error message when a student attempts to save a puzzle to the network.

 

Solution: Students must have the proper write-access privileges before they can save their work to a network server.

 

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Issue: A message indicates that there is not enough memory to run the program.

 

Solution:

On Windows systems, close other applications to free additional memory.

On Macintosh systems, verify that you have at least 1 MB of free memory.

 

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Issue: How do I uninstall the program?

 

Solution:  Version 1.0. There is not an uninstall feature. Simply delete the Puzzlemaker folder as well as the following files: pzmaker.exe, pzplayer.exe, pzmaker.hlp, pzplayer.hlp, and pzmaker.cfgQuick Tip: To locate the specific files above you can do a Find Files and Folders search (or use the Search command if you’re on Windows ME, 2000, or XP).

Version 2.0 the uninstaller is located in Start, Programs, Glencoe Puzzlemaker 2.0.

Version 3.0 and 3.1 the uninstaller is located in C:/program files/ Puzzlermaker.

 

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 Issue:  How do you add a picture clue into a Word Search Puzzle?

 

Solution:  To add a picture clue into a word search puzzle:

 

1.       Highlight the word that you want to add the picture to and click the Edit button. Or click the Add button if you will be adding a picture to a new word.

2.       Click the Picture button and navigate to the location (directory/folder) where the program will find the picture file.

3.       Select the picture and click the Open button. A dialog box will appear showing the picture that you chose. Click the Close button to return to the Edit Record or Add Word dialog box.

 

When a student is completing a puzzle on the computer or when you are creating a new puzzle, the picture button in the top right corner of the puzzle screen will become active if a clue with a picture is highlighted. When no picture is associated with a clue, the picture button will appear dimmed.

 

NOTES: Pictures added to a word or clue must have 256 colors or less and a dimension less than 400 pixels (400x400).  If your picture is a 24-bit image, open the image in Paint and choose Save As from the File menu and change the file type to 256 color bitmap.  The image must be in .BMP (Bitmap) format. Word search with word puzzles do not include pictures.

 

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Issue:  Using Puzzlemaker on my Presentation Plus CD, I can open already created puzzles, but I cannot create one.  Why?

 

Solution:  The Presentation Plus CD only contains the Puzzle Player portion of the Puzzlemaker program. You can only call up previously created puzzles.  If a customer wants to create puzzles, they need a copy of the actual Puzzlemaker program.

 

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Issue:  How do I print a list that contains all the words in the database?

 

Solution: You cannot print a list in version 3.0 or 3.1. If you are using PuzzleMaker, 2.0 program, the following steps can be used:

 

1.       Browse to C:\Program files\Puzzlemaker and locate (Name of Book).pdb.

2.       Right click the (Name of Book).pdb file, and choose Open With.

3.       From a list of programs choose ExcelNOTE:  Make sure the box that reads “Always use the selected program to open this type of file” is NOT checked, and if it is, uncheck it, and then click OK.

4.       Highlight the list of words in column A.

5.       Go to the Edit menu and choose Copy.

6.       Open Word.

7.       Go to the Edit menu and choose Paste.

8.       Go to the File menu and choose Print.

 

 

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Issue: The background of the puzzle prints in black and wastes ink.

 

Solution:  In the original version of Puzzlemaker, the puzzle background which appeared blue on the screen printed in black ink.  There is no known way to change this.  In Puzzlemaker 2.0, 3.0 & 3.1 the background prints in a grayscale checkerboard pattern which conserves ink.

 

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Issue: How do I add Foreign-Language Characters?

 

Solution: If the vocabulary database that you are editing includes a foreign language ( French, German, Latin, Spanish) you can add foreign language characters into the words and clues. You must be editing an existing word or adding a new word for the language characters to display.

1.       Open Puzzlemaker and click on Edit a Vocabulary Database.

2.       Highlight your book title and click OK.

3.       Highlight the word you want to edit.

4.       Click the Edit button on the edit record screen.

5.       Edit the word in the word box.

6.       Go to Edit on the menu bar, click on Language Characters and select your preferred language.

7.       Ensure that your insertion point is located where you want the foreign language character to be inserted. Double-click the character.

8.       Close the symbol palette and click Add.

 

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Issue: Where is the database for the 3.0 PuzzleMaker? I just installed it and cannot locate the database.

 

Solution: The default folder is unfortunately not the database folder. To locate the PuzzleMaker 3.0 database:

1.       Click on the drop-down menu and select Local Disc C:

2.       Double-click on the program files folder.

3.       Double-click on the PuzzleMaker Version 3 folder.

4.       Double-click on the database folder.

5.       Select the bank of your choice (if multiple books are installed).

Note: The steps above will only need to be followed once after the installation. 

 

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