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Upload formats

Objective

Learn the different ways in which you can upload puzzle files.

PuzzleMe™ supports uploading puzzle files in CSV, XML, JPZ, and PUZ formats.

Uploading a crossword puzzle file

CSV files​

You can upload crossword puzzles using CSV (Comma Separated Values) files.

File naming convention​

  • Name your CSV file with the extension .crossword.csv.
  • Example: my_puzzle.crossword.csv
  • The platform will only recognize files ending with .crossword.csv.

Data structure​

Your CSV file should be structured with columns for Entry, Clue, and Media.

  • Column order: The order of the columns does not matter. You can have Clue before Entry, and so on.
  • Entry: This column is mandatory and case-sensitive. It must be named exactly Entry. If this column is missing or misnamed (e.g., entry), the platform will reject the file. The Entry column contains the word that will appear in the crossword grid.
  • Clue: This column is optional. It contains the clue for the corresponding entry.
  • Media: This column is optional. It allows you to include a media URL (image, audio, or video) related to the clue or word.

Example CSV data row:

Entry,Clue,Media
Samosa,Popular Indian snack,
Mumbai,Largest city in India,https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Mumbai_Photomontage.png
...,...,...

In this example:

  • Samosa is the entry, and Popular Indian snack is its clue. There is no media specified for this entry.
  • Mumbai is the entry, Largest city in India is its clue, and a URL to an image is provided in the Media column.

XML/JPZ/PUZ​

PuzzleMe supports uploading puzzles in XML, JPZ, and PUZ formats. These formats are often generated by puzzle creation software.

  • Supported Formats: XML, JPZ, and PUZ.
  • Software Compatibility: These formats are compatible with popular puzzle creation tools such as:
    • CrossFire (for macOS, supports crosswords)
    • Crossword Compiler (supports various grid-based puzzles including crosswords, sudokus, word searches, and codewords).
  • Exporting Files: You can export files in PUZ format from both CrossFire and Crossword Compiler. Crossword Compiler also allows exporting to JPZ or XML formats.
  • Sample Files: Sample files in these formats are available on the PuzzleMe upload page for your reference.

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