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#1183745 - Thu Dec 07 2017 10:09 AM Crossword Question
Terry Offline
Head Honcho

Registered: Wed Dec 31 1969
Posts: 21449
Loc: USA
In redesign of clicking algorithm on new crossword interface:

1) Right now in the flash one when you click on a box it searches for a clue in the same state as you are currently in. I.e. if you are doing a down clue, where you click will give you a down clue if available. Do we want to keep that behavior?

2) The alternative is to have it always default to "across" first when you click on a box that has 2 clues. That's different than before, but to me feels more logical and predictable.

Opinions?

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#1183753 - Thu Dec 07 2017 11:31 AM Re: Crossword Question
CmdrK Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Sun Jan 17 2010
Posts: 2223
Loc: Nevada USA
To me it seems to be a case of 6 of one...

If we click on Row 1, Column 1, there's likely to be a clue in both directions. Now, when we click, we see what direction it will go in and then click again if we want to change it. Making it default to 'across' will probably be right half the time, so we still might have to click twice. I don't see an advantage either way.
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#1183754 - Thu Dec 07 2017 11:36 AM Re: Crossword Question
postcards2go Offline
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Registered: Thu Nov 20 2008
Posts: 1313
Loc: New York City USA
As long as it still toggles back and forth, it makes no difference.
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#1183755 - Thu Dec 07 2017 11:47 AM Re: Crossword Question
Terry Offline
Head Honcho

Registered: Wed Dec 31 1969
Posts: 21449
Loc: USA
I'll make it work like before then. I guess it sort of makes sense... if current direction is down and you click something new, it's fine for it to still be down.

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#1183757 - Thu Dec 07 2017 11:59 AM Re: Crossword Question
Barbarini Offline
Mainstay

Registered: Sat Sep 04 2010
Posts: 722
Loc: Alberta Canada
Terry, will we have the ability to tab to the next crossword clue/start of word in the way other sites are set up? Or where it takes you to the next word after you finish typing the last one? Both/either would be very helpful.
Thank you!

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#1183758 - Thu Dec 07 2017 12:15 PM Re: Crossword Question
postcards2go Offline
Moderator

Registered: Thu Nov 20 2008
Posts: 1313
Loc: New York City USA
I wouldn't want it to take me to the 'next' word. People do crosswords in different ways. Some do all the acrosses, and then all the downs. Some do a section, and then move to another section. 'Next' is different for each person, and for each puzzle.
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#1183759 - Thu Dec 07 2017 12:18 PM Re: Crossword Question
WesleyCrusher Offline

Administrator

Registered: Thu Sep 04 2008
Posts: 7583
Loc: Germany
I like the "stay on across/down" functionality. Quite often, I move through the across first, seeing how many I can solve, then do all the downs, then back to across and so on - this strategy optimizes the number of crossing letters you have at each point.
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#1183784 - Thu Dec 07 2017 03:37 PM Re: Crossword Question
varnish Offline
Participant

Registered: Sun Jul 06 2014
Posts: 47
Loc: Massachusetts USA
will the crosswords be playable on a mobile device without a browser app installed? If so that's great news. (Even if not, the new design to me at least is 100 times more user friendly for mobile devices) The only way I could play them before was on my iPod, which is small enough, but when you factor in that Puffin makes everything that much smaller, talk about madness!

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#1183786 - Thu Dec 07 2017 03:47 PM Re: Crossword Question
MiraJane Offline
Prolific

Registered: Tue Apr 30 2013
Posts: 1688
Loc: New York USA
I'm finding it interesting how people do crossword puzzles differently. When I do the paper and pen version of one, I try to get the top right section finished first. I'll do 1 Answer then go for all the Down clues for the letters from the answer. If one of the answer is one of the themed clues, I try to get the teamed answers next no matter where they are in the puzzle.

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#1183787 - Thu Dec 07 2017 03:52 PM Re: Crossword Question
Terry Offline
Head Honcho

Registered: Wed Dec 31 1969
Posts: 21449
Loc: USA
Originally Posted By: varnish
will the crosswords be playable on a mobile device without a browser app installed? If so that's great news. (Even if not, the new design to me at least is 100 times more user friendly for mobile devices) The only way I could play them before was on my iPod, which is small enough, but when you factor in that Puffin makes everything that much smaller, talk about madness!


Yes. A little keyboard will pop up under the crossword, allowing you to enter in letters.

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#1183789 - Thu Dec 07 2017 04:10 PM Re: Crossword Question
moonraker2 Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Wed May 30 2012
Posts: 4182
Loc: Wiltshire UK
I posted this crossword related clue on the minor issues thread about a week ago, and as it's not been answered as yet I wondered if this may be a better place to raise it:-

I've noticed on my most recent crossword SGK185 that has recently gone live, several of the clues are difficult to read and partially obliterated when going into a third line. Each clue has been entered within accepted lengths.

I have noticed similar occurrences on other puzzles, but it is by no means a regular fault as many of my puzzles with similar length clues do not suffer this aberration. For example, my previous puzzle Simply Movies 8 displays no such problems.

Is this a glitch that needs to be rectified?
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#1183790 - Thu Dec 07 2017 04:27 PM Re: Crossword Question
sally0malley Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: Wed Jun 22 2011
Posts: 308
Loc: New York USA
RE: Clues--I'm having the same problem trying to view them.

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#1183797 - Thu Dec 07 2017 05:14 PM Re: Crossword Question
Creedy Offline
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Registered: Tue Aug 03 2010
Posts: 1285
Loc: Coffs Harbour NSW Australia
Is there anywhere on the new site where we can be notified of a new crossword of our favourite creators? Like quiz notifications?
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#1183807 - Thu Dec 07 2017 06:27 PM Re: Crossword Question
Barbarini Offline
Mainstay

Registered: Sat Sep 04 2010
Posts: 722
Loc: Alberta Canada
Originally Posted By: postcards2go
I wouldn't want it to take me to the 'next' word. People do crosswords in different ways. Some do all the acrosses, and then all the downs. Some do a section, and then move to another section. 'Next' is different for each person, and for each puzzle.


It will only take you to the next word if you tab over. It's entirely user-friendly and I'm sure it'll be an easy adjustment.

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#1183808 - Thu Dec 07 2017 06:30 PM Re: Crossword Question
Barbarini Offline
Mainstay

Registered: Sat Sep 04 2010
Posts: 722
Loc: Alberta Canada
Originally Posted By: moonraker2
I posted this crossword related clue on the minor issues thread about a week ago, and as it's not been answered as yet I wondered if this may be a better place to raise it:-

I've noticed on my most recent crossword SGK185 that has recently gone live, several of the clues are difficult to read and partially obliterated when going into a third line. Each clue has been entered within accepted lengths.

I have noticed similar occurrences on other puzzles, but it is by no means a regular fault as many of my puzzles with similar length clues do not suffer this aberration. For example, my previous puzzle Simply Movies 8 displays no such problems.

Is this a glitch that needs to be rectified?


I checked a few puzzles this morning. It seems the spaces between the clues have been widened greatly to allow most to fit nicely and to avoid missing parts of the clues. Thanks Terry!

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#1183844 - Fri Dec 08 2017 04:35 AM Re: Crossword Question
moonraker2 Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Wed May 30 2012
Posts: 4182
Loc: Wiltshire UK
Barbarini, thank you for the message, but I have just looked at my SGK185 crossword and am still seeing the same problem. The very first clue 1 across, is an example of this.
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#1183854 - Fri Dec 08 2017 07:29 AM Re: Crossword Question
Barbarini Offline
Mainstay

Registered: Sat Sep 04 2010
Posts: 722
Loc: Alberta Canada
Originally Posted By: moonraker2
Barbarini, thank you for the message, but I have just looked at my SGK185 crossword and am still seeing the same problem. The very first clue 1 across, is an example of this.




I went to your crossword and could read every clue in its entirety - with room to spare - on both Opera and Chrome. It has been improved somehow but I wouldn't begin to know why clues are being cut off on your end. Perhaps you could try updating your browser. Sorry you're having this problem. It's very frustrating.


Edited by Barbarini (Fri Dec 08 2017 08:19 AM)
Edit Reason: I missed a word

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#1183856 - Fri Dec 08 2017 08:58 AM Re: Crossword Question
spanishliz Offline
Champion Poster

Registered: Thu Dec 13 2001
Posts: 23115
Loc: Ontario Canada
I just checked and I can see the entire clue in Firefox, no problem.

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#1183864 - Fri Dec 08 2017 10:25 AM Re: Crossword Question
moonraker2 Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Wed May 30 2012
Posts: 4182
Loc: Wiltshire UK
Many thanks Barbarini and spanishliz. It doesn't cause me a problem, I was simply concerned that those solving these puzzles might be similarly affected.

I have had one or two similar complaints in the past from others, but they have been few and far between so it's obviously not of major concern. It's just puzzling that I only come across this particular glitch on 'some' puzzles.

Once again thank you for your replies.
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"Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin!"

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#1183868 - Fri Dec 08 2017 11:55 AM Re: Crossword Question
Terry Offline
Head Honcho

Registered: Wed Dec 31 1969
Posts: 21449
Loc: USA
Yes, the old flash crossword interface is slowly failing on more and more devices as Flash itself gets buggier and buggier. Adobe will be discontinuing it entirely very soon.

The new interface... soon.

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#1183869 - Fri Dec 08 2017 12:03 PM Re: Crossword Question
CmdrK Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Sun Jan 17 2010
Posts: 2223
Loc: Nevada USA
Moonraker, I just checked your SGK185 and 186 using Safari and any clue that went to a third line had it cut in half. I also checked SpanishLiz's Churchill puzzle and same thing, cut in half.
_________________________
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

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#1183894 - Fri Dec 08 2017 03:42 PM Re: Crossword Question
1nn1 Offline
Prolific

Registered: Fri Nov 23 2012
Posts: 1537
Loc: Brisbane Queensland Australia
The new functionality does not tell you when you have already completed that particular crossword. Would appreciate this being investigated (Using Chrome this end)
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#1183900 - Fri Dec 08 2017 04:07 PM Re: Crossword Question
CmdrK Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Sun Jan 17 2010
Posts: 2223
Loc: Nevada USA
Originally Posted By: 1nn1
The new functionality does not tell you when you have already completed that particular crossword. Would appreciate this being investigated (Using Chrome this end)


It does with Safari.
_________________________
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

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#1183904 - Fri Dec 08 2017 04:24 PM Re: Crossword Question
moonraker2 Offline
Multiloquent

Registered: Wed May 30 2012
Posts: 4182
Loc: Wiltshire UK
Incidentally, I have just received a direct message from a team member who has just completed one of my crosswords, as follows:

"I'm using Google Chrome and today when I tried to complete crossword I got a message to update Adobe Flash. Finally Xword was displayed correctly without clues being cut off."
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"Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin!"

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#1184128 - Sun Dec 10 2017 09:57 PM Re: Crossword Question
Terry Offline
Head Honcho

Registered: Wed Dec 31 1969
Posts: 21449
Loc: USA
Ok, feel free to give the new crossword interface a test.

DELETED OLD URL

Known issues:

- Sometimes it will unexpectedly shift from "down" to "across" when you click. That is being worked on.

- Play on iPhone almost works, but the keyboard is a little messed up. This should work well on desktop and ipad.



Edited by Terry (Sun Dec 10 2017 11:03 PM)

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