Preferences and Defaults |
 
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Preferences and Defaults |
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Word Splash allow you to tailor many of its features so that the software will behave as you would like. Below is a list of some of these options.
Help Features:
Daily help hints are short hints that can be used to help learn how to work with Word Splash Pro. You can turn it on and off using the Show Daily Helpful Hints Window item on the General Options window.
Yellow Help Hints
These help hints are the small yellow help boxes that appear as you stop the mouse cursor on various objects on the screen. They appear if you leave the mouse over an object without moving it. You can turn these on and off using the Show Yellow Help Hints item on the General Options window.
The internet update process allows you to quickly check for, and load, updates to Word Splash Pro across the Internet. You can have Word Splash Pro remind you to check on a regular basis by setting it up on the General Options window. Turn it off if you'd rather it not remind you.
New Puzzle Features:
The New Puzzle Wizard can display each time you create a new puzzle. You can turn it on and off using the Show Wizard for New Puzzles item on the General Options window.
Styles allow you to quickly load the settings required to create different puzzle type. Word Splash Pro can automatically prompt you for a style each time you create a new puzzle. Use the Show Style Selection for New Puzzles item on the General Options window to turn this on and off.
Default Style
The "Action: Load Default Settings" style can be used to quickly return many settings back to their default values. Word Splash Pro comes with default values set for this style, but you can modify it if you prefer different defaults, or if you would like more of Word Splash Pro's features to change when this style is loaded. To change this style you must first load it. You will then make changes to the settings and use the Save menu item under the File/Styles menu to save the style again. When saving you may need to change the settings under the Style window to change which settings will be saved.
Automatic Features:
Automatic Duplicate Word Checks
Duplicate word checking finds duplicated words along with words duplicated within other words. You can turn this automatic feature on and off using the Auto Check for Duplicate Words item under the Options menu.
If turned off you can still do a duplicate word check manually using the Duplicate Word Check item under the Process menu, or by pressing the F2 key.
Auto-Generate
The auto-generate feature causes your puzzle grid to get regenerated automatically every time you change any of the puzzle parameters or cleared when you change the word list. If you would prefer to manually control the puzzle generation process, you can turn this feature off using the Auto Generate Puzzles item under the Options menu. You can then generate your puzzle using the Generate Puzzle item under the Process menu or by pressing the F9 key.
Automatic Noise Checks
Noise checking finds duplicated words in the puzzle grid. You can turn this automatic feature on and off using the Auto Check Grid Noise item under the Options menu..
If turned off you can still do a noise check manually using the Noise Check item under the Process menu, or by pressing the Ctrl-F2 keys.
The automatic capitalization feature can be turned on and off in the Options menu. When turned on it will automatically maintain the same method of capitalization for all words in the word list. You may also set a forced capitalization method under the General Options Window . The software defaults to Adaptive, which means it uses the capitalization method used on the first line in the word list.
The automatic sort feature can be turned on and off in the Options menu. When turned on it will automatically sort the words in the list for you.
You can define words that will be censored from your puzzles. This can be very useful to keep the random placement of words and noise characters from accidentally spelling words you did not intend to have in the puzzle. See the Censor feature for more details.
Some saved word lists are often too large for a single puzzle. They are best used with the Randomizer, or edited down to a smaller list. You can set an option to automatically display the Word List Trimmer Window for large word lists under the General Options Window.
Puzzle Properties:
Grid Settings
The Grid Settings window allows you to define how the puzzle grid should be generated. You may optionally save and load your grid settings for later reuse. If you save grid settings under the name "Default" these settings will be loaded each time Word Splash Pro is started. If you do not have a default grid settings file stored your last used grid settings will be loaded. The grid settings are also stored with your saved puzzles and may be stored in styles.
Text Paragraphs
The Text Paragraph window allows you to define any text paragraphs that will be used in your puzzle. You may optionally save and load your text for later reuse. If you save text definitions under the name "Default" they will be loaded each time Word Splash Pro is started. If you do not have a default file stored then no text paragraphs will be defined when it starts. The text is also stored with your saved puzzles and may be stored in styles.
Page Layout
The Page Layout window allows you to define how your puzzle will be output. You may optionally save and load your page layout settings for later reuse. If you save page layout settings under the name "Default" these settings will be loaded each time Word Splash Pro is started. If you do not have a default file stored then your last used settings will be loaded. Page layout settings are also stored with your saved puzzles and may be stored in styles.
Interface Features:
Show Toolbar
If you wish you can remove the toolbar from the screen and use the menus only. This may be desirable if you are working with a lower resolution screen and want to open as much screen real estate as possible. See the Show Toolbar item on the General Options window.
Noise Mode Display
When reviewing the noise characters in a puzzle you may sometimes wish to see how the words have been placed in the noise, and sometimes you may wish to see the noise characters only. Use the Show Words in Noise Mode on the General Options window to control this.
Save Button as "SAVE AS"
By default the Save buttons on the toolbars will work as a standard save. If you press the save button while working on an item that has already been saved once it will simply save the item over the old copy. If you would prefer the Save to work like a Save As button and always ask for the file name first then set this option on the General Options window.
Display Grid Lines
The on-screen puzzle grid work area can optionally be displayed with grid lines. Set this on the General Options window.
Grid Screen Size Menu
You can size the boxes in the grid on the screen of your monitor so that you will be able to view more of a large puzzle on the screen at one time. This is especially useful when working on a large mask. See the View Menu for details on controlling the grid box sizes.
Spell Checker
You can change how the spell checker works by using the Spell Checker Configuration item under the Options menu. See the section on the spell checker for more details.
Web Programs
If you do not like the programs your computer defaults to using then use the General Options Window to assign the programs you want to use instead.
Output Features:
Software Handles Multiple Copies
Most printers will automatically use the number of copies you request when printing, but some do not. If your printer always prints only a single copy then mark this option and Word Splash Pro will print multiple copies for you instead of depending on the printer driver to do it. You can set this option on the General Options window.
Launch Acrobat After PDF Export
If you would like to preview your Adobe Acrobat files after they have been exported from Word Splash Pro set this option on the General Options window.
Publish HTML
The Publish HTML window allows you to publish your puzzle for the web. You may optionally save and load your publishing settings for later reuse. If you save publishing settings under the name "Default" then these settings will be loaded each time Word Splash Pro is started. If you do not have a default file stored, then your last used settings will be loaded. Publishing settings are also stored with your saved puzzles and may be stored in styles.