Gallery: Solving Applets in Browsers

external: Crosshare* | Cruciverbalizer | (Drupal: crosswordplayground.com) |
DSlager | PuzzleMe* (AmuseLabs) | RSchroll | Spoonbill (APH) | Squares | XWordInfo
internal: Crossword Compiler* | Crossword Nexus* | Drupal* | Exolve* | Xroz*

  • external: applet code hosted on own web site or puzzle opened on outside web site
  • internal: applet code and puzzle hosted on own web site
  • *: applet can be embedded (via IFRAME) inside web page
  • Crossword Embedding Options
    AmuseLabs(PuzzleMe), Crosshare, Squares.io, Crossword Nexus, Exolve, Crossword Compiler; CN; 3/15/2022
  • Note: the .pdf version of this section will have some strange page breaks (difficult to fix)
  • I have mostly transitioned from Crossword Compiler (internal)
    to PuzzleMe (external*) for my own interactive puzzles (free for personal use);
    a close runner-up would be Crossword Nexus (HTML5 Crossword Solver; internal*) (free)
  • Crossword Scraper browser extension (Firefox, Chrome) can extract .puz, .jpz, .pdf from some sites.
    "CS" marks "Crossword Scraper" compatible applets:
    Crosshare, Crossword Compiler, Crossword Nexus, PuzzleMe, XWordInfo; others?
    Sources: Web Sites includes CS compatible puzzles
  • Some other custom/internal applets observed in the wild:
    Arkadium/King, Chicago Tribune (LAT), Seattle Times (NYT), USA Today

chCrosshare: .puz; CS


Crossword Compiler (CC): .js; CS


Crossword Nexus: .puz, .jpz, .xml, .cfp; CS


crucCruciverbalizer: .puz


Drupal: Crossword: .puz, .txt

  • Module for web sites using Drupal (Content Management System) -- used by my site [embedded example below];
    scroll up for title, author, clue controls; scroll down for help: Keyboard Control and Entering Text; possible to omit page header/footer?
  • crosswordplayground.com uses Drupal Crossword module but can't be embedded in IFRAME

dslagerDSlager: .puz

  • [drag&drop local .puz], e.g., .puz; [image on right];
    no URL parameter? no IFRAME? source code; 2011

Exolve: .puz, .ipuz


PuzzleMe: .puz, .jpz, .xml, .xw (AmuseLabs); CS

  • free for non-commercial use
  • after creating or importing puzzle, copy Embed code
  • schoOLLIfe example -- or embedded below
  • Crossword Scraper (Firefox, Chrome browser extension)
    can extract .puz, .jpz, .pdf on PuzzleMe (and some other) sites.

rschrollRSchroll: .puz

  • Import File: local .puz; [image on right];
    circle support? no URL parameter?
    no embed via IFRAME?
    source code; ~2015

(Spoonbill) American Printing House: .puz, .xwc


squaresSquares: .puz, .jpz, .ipuz

  • upload file to server; e.g., schoOLLIfe example:
    [click to open in new tab]; [image on right];
    expiration? no embed via IFRAME?

Xroz: .puz


xwordinfoXWordInfo: Analyze: .puz; CS

  • upload .puz file to server; analyze.pdf;
    no embed via IFRAME? [image on right];
    note same applet used elsewhere on xwordinfo.com: NYT Variety & Pre-Shortzian puzzles;
    schoOLLIfe example (unless expired)