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My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:28 pm
by BrianMac
Well the boredom finally started getting to me today, so I fired up the constructing software to try my hand at a meta puzzle. It normally takes me a week or so to construct a puzzle that I think is worth submitting anywhere, but I blew through this from the theme, to the construction, to the cluing in just a few hours. It is rife with inelegance - too many three-letter-words, abbreviations, crosswordese - so I hope you will forgive that. I would say it's on the easy side of a MGWCC week 1, so it won't really tide you over until Thursday. Nonetheless, I thought I would offer it up in case anyone is as bored as I am.
The answer to the meta is
a 10-letter word that everyone could use these days. If you happen to take a stab at it, you can PM me the answer, but I'm afraid I don't have any prizes to offer. I hope you enjoy it.
forums/NameTags.puz
forums/NameTags.pdf
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:21 pm
by BarbaraK
Fun! Thanks!!
I did indeed have to backsolve 67A. 54A too, though that one was easier.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:24 pm
by FrankieHeck
Thank you, Brian! A *THREE*-meta day!
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:45 pm
by Hector
Wow, that is awesome!
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 12:22 am
by MajordomoTom
submitted a guess
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 12:32 am
by MajordomoTom
ok, what did you use to create your puzzle and the .puz file?
preferably an Android compatible app
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 1:32 am
by Laura M
Impressive! Thanks for sharing!
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:19 am
by LesY
MajordomoTom wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 12:32 am
ok, what did you use to create your puzzle and the .puz file?
preferably an Android compatible app
+1 to this question - Brian, any Apple-compatible constructor software recommendations?
Look forward to solving the puzzle later today!
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:34 am
by BrianMac
LesY wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:19 am
MajordomoTom wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 12:32 am
ok, what did you use to create your puzzle and the .puz file?
preferably an Android compatible app
+1 to this question - Brian, any Apple-compatible constructor software recommendations?
Look forward to solving the puzzle later today!
I use
CrossFire, which can run on Windows or Mac. It is very user-friendly and not to expensive (around $50 I think). There is also
Crossword Compiler, but I don't think that is available for Mac (at least it wasn't several years ago - perhaps it is now?). You can still run Crossword Compiler on a Mac, but you need to get special software that allows you to run Windows operating system on a Mac. That process is a little bit of a chore, but I was able to figure it out, so I'm sure you could too. Crossword Compiler seems more popular among "real" constructors, perhaps it's more powerful, but I find CrossFire more intuitive and fun to use.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:52 am
by Joe Ross
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:02 am
by LesY
BrianMac wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:34 am
LesY wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:19 am
MajordomoTom wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 12:32 am
ok, what did you use to create your puzzle and the .puz file?
preferably an Android compatible app
+1 to this question - Brian, any Apple-compatible constructor software recommendations?
Look forward to solving the puzzle later today!
I use
CrossFire, which can run on Windows or Mac. It is very user-friendly and not to expensive (around $50 I think). There is also
Crossword Compiler, but I don't think that is available for Mac (at least it wasn't several years ago - perhaps it is now?). You can still run Crossword Compiler on a Mac, but you need to get special software that allows you to run Windows operating system on a Mac. That process is a little bit of a chore, but I was able to figure it out, so I'm sure you could too. Crossword Compiler seems more popular among "real" constructors, perhaps it's more powerful, but I find CrossFire more intuitive and fun to use.
Thanks, Brian! Peter (pgw) said the same thing re: Crossword Compiler. I'll investigate level of effort for that one; if I'm not up for the tech challenge I'll likely use CrossFire. Thanks again!
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:03 am
by Al Sisti
Very nice job! Looking forward to more of these... now that you've primed the pump.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:16 am
by BrianMac
LesY wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:02 amThanks, Brian! Peter (pgw) said the same thing re: Crossword Compiler. I'll investigate level of effort for that one; if I'm not up for the tech challenge I'll likely use CrossFire. Thanks again!
This is the software I bought:
Parallels Desktop.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:40 am
by ChrisKochmanski
Very much enjoyed!
Admit, I haven’t thoroughly backsolved for 67A yet.
Also, I haven’t yet PMed anyone, so I’ll need to figure that out before I send you my answer. I’ll also have a question for you, that might be giving something away if I posted it here.
Hmm ... I suggest you stay bored. We’ll need more of your fun puzzles!
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:57 am
by MajordomoTom
and my guess was confirmed correct. Thanks - very entertaining. Now the madness begins - as all of us try our hand at constructing these.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:40 pm
by Cindy
BrianMac wrote: ↑Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:28 pm
Well the boredom finally started getting to me today, so I fired up the constructing software to try my hand at a meta puzzle. It normally takes me a week or so to construct a puzzle that I think is worth submitting anywhere, but I blew through this from the theme, to the construction, to the cluing in just a few hours. It is rife with inelegance - too many three-letter-words, abbreviations, crosswordese - so I hope you will forgive that. I would say it's on the easy side of a MGWCC week 1, so it won't really tide you over until Thursday. Nonetheless, I thought I would offer it up in case anyone is as bored as I am.
The answer to the meta is
a 10-letter word that everyone could use these days. If you happen to take a stab at it, you can PM me the answer, but I'm afraid I don't have any prizes to offer. I hope you enjoy it.
forums/NameTags.puz
I cannot open it on my iPad. Any suggestions.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:15 pm
by BrianMac
Cindy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:40 pm
I cannot open it on my iPad. Any suggestions.
Hmmm. What app are you using? It works for me with Puzzazz on my phone and iPad.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:17 pm
by Cindy
BrianMac wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:15 pm
Cindy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:40 pm
I cannot open it on my iPad. Any suggestions.
Hmmm. What app are you using? It works for me with Puzzazz on my phone and iPad.
I have puzAzz. It when I click the link it asks if I want to download. When I try, nothing happens.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:18 pm
by Cindy
Cindy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:17 pm
BrianMac wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:15 pm
Cindy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 6:40 pm
I cannot open it on my iPad. Any suggestions.
Hmmm. What app are you using? It works for me with Puzzazz on my phone and iPad.
I have puzAzz. It when I click the link it asks if I want to download. When I try, nothing happens.
Got it. Twelve step process. Lol.
Re: My first stab at a meta crossword
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:28 pm
by BrianMac
Cindy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:18 pm
Got it. Twelve step process. Lol.
Great! I was worried I would have to change the clue to 45-Across.
I've added a PDF to the original post for anyone else who's having problems with the .puz file.