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viresh-ratnakar / exet

Web app for crossword construction: designing a grid, filling the grid, creating straight or cryptic clues, and downloading as Exolve or .puz. All data is saved locally, no crosswords are sent to any server.
https://viresh-ratnakar.github.io/exet.html
MIT License
46 stars 12 forks source link

unsymmetrical crossword possible? #17

Closed RobertEcker closed 11 months ago

RobertEcker commented 3 years ago

Hi ;)

Is it possible to create asymmetrical crosswords too? If yes, how?

viresh-ratnakar commented 3 years ago

Hi, yes, this is already possible. It is slighlty painful, I'll admit (but it's done this way as a design choice, to keep the more common case -- that of symmetry -- simple to maintain).

You should start with a completely blank grid. Or you can start with a new symmetric grid with blocks -- what you get on a new grid with the "Add automagic blocks" option turned on.

You can then modify this starting point by adding blocks (and/or bars), while forcing the option to not enforce symmetry on each added block.

On the Exet tab, in the Edit menu, go to the "Edit grid cell:" sub-menu. At the top, there is a checkbox option that says: "Do not force symmetry on the next 'Toggle block/bar'" -- check that option and then add a block in any cell (using the menu or by pressing "." in that cell). A symmetric block will not get placed. Repeat the procedure (but you'll have to check the toggle option for every added block that you do not want a symmetric counterpart for -- that's the painful part).

viresh-ratnakar commented 3 years ago

Closing this now, hopefully the answer is good enough.

martindemello commented 1 year ago

why not have the setting be global and sticky until toggled back?

viresh-ratnakar commented 1 year ago

I can do that. I worry a bit about "forgetting to toggle it back on," but I suppose I can address that with a "tip" showing up if symmetry is off and you try to add a new block.

martindemello commented 1 year ago

or change the grid border colour to red if symmetry is off :)

viresh-ratnakar commented 1 year ago

Oh, the setting is sticky currently, but just for the current crossword. I thought I had it apply only to the next added block/bar, but that's not the case. So, I think that is how it should be—it should not persist on to a new crossword.

Or am I missing something?

I am going to move the setting from "Edit > Edit grid cell > [checkbox]" to "Edit > Preferences > [checkbox]." I will also play a bit with the idea of a visual indicator for this setting.

viresh-ratnakar commented 11 months ago

Closing again, as no further change seems to be really needed.