Word Search Puzzle Builder

[bplus]

Why did I end up 91st?

Cobalt is 91st because the list was sorted and then ordered by size, Cobalt being only 6 letters is less that most other element names in list, be glad you aren't TIN. ;)

Wait... are you here?

You know I considered a list of members for Word Search, that would be one way to get us all together before Christmas. ;)


Update: Wait... how did COBALT get to 91 here and something else in the other listing (in Off Topic Board)? Oh there is a shuffle in there too!

So from alpha ordered list there is shuffle(s) then an ordering of the list from most letters to least. Because it's easier to fit smaller words amongst the larger already placed words.

[Richard Frost]

Boobs: The primary reason to learn trigonometry.  Useful for other curves too.

[bplus]

Hi @Richard Frost

(bplus is debriefing himself here with assumed audience of R Frost who might actually know what I am talking about for others this is probably boring as hell so feel free to skip. This little exercise just helps me clarify and make productive a sort of unproductive day.)

I went in complete circle today assuming my directions were overbalanced heading Up Down Left Right with hardly any diagonals. So I added direction counting and retooled the DX DY array and code to try and place words in at a diagonal first, try all 4 directions before the 4 standards NSEW. I ran into math difficulties so I made it random diagonals all the way and then NSEW random after. (Actually it turned out to be another A+ Blunder from changing the DX, DY arrays a line disappeared on me while copy/pasting and didn't find the sucker until reverting back to old DX, DY meanwhile that line was in there screwing up my East with another dang North. That sucker cost me allot of time and frustration from misdiagnosing the problem.) Result worse than just a standard sweep around clockwise and counter clockwise. (Wait, maybe I didn't get a proper test because... nope not going through that again, it should be a random direction from a random spot for word placement no cheating by stacking deck with diagonals first!

Also "cheating" IMHO is systematically running through word placements from cell 0 to cell last. What happens there is first word is placed diagonally from (0, 0) next at (0, 1) is same diagonal (when you have a system that favors diagonals) to that (0, 2) same diagonal to that... until end of row, THEN under (0, 0) at (1, 0) another set of same diagonals going across such that the end result is a very predictable puzzle at least in top left corner! :(  (so I am not just jealous of your Lucky Charms of completing the Elements puzzle in 700 tries (Very impressive even if it is a sort of cheat though hee, hee.), Mr Frost, it's not a great puzzle that gets built that way.)

Yucko results (from a faulty test I admit) I put everything back and counted diagonals from the way I had it, and not too bad maybe 40% diagonals to 60% NSEW. What's weird is a couple of directions will dominate and a couple will be really low, but they are different each time, so much depends on the placement and direction of the first few words!

To all,
Summary I have direction counts reported in the code now.

If you are just checking this out for first time you probably wont want to run a million trys on Elements, recommend 100-1000 trys in main loop with test 1 uncommented and Elements commented out near top of code. I will put all the test Word List Files in the OP (Original Post = first in this thread).

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. OPTION _EXPLICIT
2. _TITLE "Puzzle Builder for Word Lists" 'by B+ restarted 2020-11-28 from Rosetta Code Challenge
3. ' Make a Word Search game & txt file from a list of words usu with some theme.
4.  
5. ' 2020-11-30 Puzzle Builder #2 w Finder 2020-11 Now complete the app with a word finder.
6. ' Max word letters = 15
7. ' Max cells/letters per side = 30
8. ' Max words can find on word list is 120 (that can be shown on screen).
9.  
10. ' 2020-12-2 post update: Puzzle Builder #2.1 w Finder 2020-11.bas
11. ' Added Direction counters.
12.  
13. DEFLNG A-Z
14. RANDOMIZE TIMER
15. CONST AscA = 97
16. CONST ScreenWidth = 1000, ScreenHeight = 640
17. DIM SHARED WordListFileBase$, GridSide, GridSideM1, GridSideP2M1
18.  
19.  
20. '======================================= File Base name and Grid Size ================================================
21.  
22. '   Make your word list file with: Some base name for theme + " Word List.txt"
23.  
24. ' test file 2
25. WordListFileBase$ = "Elements" ' add suffix to your file " Word List.txt"    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input
26. GridSide = 30 ' <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input later    30 the maximum grid size
27.  
28. ' test file 1
29. 'WordListFileBase$ = "Christmas" 'add suffix to your file " Word List.txt"   <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input
30. 'GridSide = 15 ' <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input later    30 the maximum grid size
31.  
32. '' test file 3
33. 'WordListFileBase$ = "The_Four"
34. 'GridSide = 5
35.  
36. '=====================================================================================================================
37.  
38. ' Calc once and for all!
39. GridSideM1 = GridSide - 1
40. GridSideP2M1 = GridSide * GridSide - 1
41.  
42. DIM SHARED LetterLimit
43. IF GridSide > 15 THEN LetterLimit = 15 ELSE LetterLimit = GridSide
44.  
45. DIM SHARED GridLabel$ ' for labeling WS grid
46. GridLabel$ = MID$("   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z", 1, GridSide * 2 + 2)
47.  
48. 'LoadWords opens file of words and sets
49. DIM SHARED NWords 'set in LoadWords, number of words
50.  
51. ' word file words (shuffled) to be fit into puzzle and index position, 24945 comes from a dictionary file
52. DIM SHARED Words$(1 TO 24945), WordsIndex AS INTEGER 'the file has 24945 words but many are unsuitable
53.  
54. 'words placed in Letters grid, word itself (WordList$) x, y head (WordX, WordY) and direction (WordDirection), WordIndex is the index to all these
55. DIM SHARED WordList$(1 TO 250), WordX(1 TO 250), WordY(1 TO 250), WordDirection(1 TO 250), WordIndex
56. DIM SHARED BestWordList$(1 TO 250), BestWordX(1 TO 250), BestWordY(1 TO 250), BestWordDirection(1 TO 250)
57.  
58. ' letters grid and for saving best grid
59. DIM SHARED Letters$(0 TO GridSideP2M1, 0 TO GridSideP2M1), Best$(0 TO GridSideP2M1, 0 TO GridSideP2M1), BestWordIndex
60.  
61. ' direction arrays
62. DIM SHARED DX(0 TO 7), DY(0 TO 7), DString$(0 TO 7)
63. DIM SHARED DirectionTotals(0 TO 7) 'used to randomly check directions to place words also used to store direction counts
64.  
65. 'new order to favor diagonals placements first if possible
66. DX(0) = 1: DY(0) = 0: DString$(0) = "East"
67. DX(1) = 1: DY(1) = 1: DString$(1) = "South East"
68. DX(2) = 0: DY(2) = 1: DString$(2) = "South"
69. DX(3) = -1: DY(3) = 1: DString$(3) = "South West"
70. DX(4) = -1: DY(4) = 0: DString$(4) = "West"
71. DX(5) = -1: DY(5) = -1: DString$(5) = "North West"
72. DX(6) = 0: DY(6) = -1: DString$(6) = "North"
73. DX(7) = 1: DY(7) = -1: DString$(7) = "North East"
74.  
75. ' signal successful fill of puzzle = either no spaces left or all words$() used
76. DIM SHARED Filled ' signal we are full and done!
77.  
78. SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight, 32)
79. _DELAY .25
80. _SCREENMOVE _MIDDLE
81.  
82. DIM try, c, r, y$, puzzleFiled
83. try = 0
84. LoadWords 'this sets NWORDS count to work with
85. WHILE try < 1000000 'for long runs uncomment BEEP
86.     Initialize
87.     'ShowPuzzle
88.     FOR WordsIndex = 1 TO NWords
89.         PlaceWord
90.         'ShowPuzzle
91.         IF Filled THEN EXIT FOR
92.     NEXT
93.     IF WordIndex > BestWordIndex THEN 'copy Letters$ into Best$
94.         FOR r = 0 TO GridSideM1
95.             FOR c = 0 TO GridSideM1
96.                 Best$(c, r) = Letters$(c, r)
97.             NEXT
98.         NEXT
99.         BestWordIndex = WordIndex
100.         ERASE BestWordList$, BestWordX, BestWordY, BestWordDirection
101.         FOR r = 1 TO WordIndex
102.             BestWordList$(r) = WordList$(r): BestWordX(r) = WordX(r): BestWordY(r) = WordY(r): BestWordDirection(r) = WordDirection(r)
103.         NEXT
104.         IF BestWordIndex = NWords THEN 'automatic file if all words positioned in puzzle
105.             ShowBestPuzzle
106.             LOCATE 33, 1: PRINT " Total Norths: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(4)); ", Total Souths: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(6));
107.             LOCATE 34, 1: PRINT " Total Easts: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(7)); ", Total Wests: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(5));
108.             LOCATE 35, 1: PRINT " Total NEs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(3)); ", Total SEs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(0));
109.             LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT " Total NWs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(2)); ", Total SWs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(1));
110.  
111.             LOCATE 37, 1: PRINT " After "; TS$(try); " tries, this complete puzzle was made."
112.             FilePuzzle
113.             LOCATE 38, 1: PRINT " Puzzle Filed, next up is word search.";
114.             LOCATE 40, 1: PRINT "      press any to continue.";
115.             puzzleFiled = -1
116.             BEEP
117.             SLEEP
118.             EXIT WHILE
119.         END IF
120.     END IF
121.     try = try + 1
122.     LOCATE 1, 1: PRINT "Try:"; try
123. WEND
124. IF puzzleFiled = 0 THEN
125.     ShowBestPuzzle
126.     BEEP
127.     LOCATE 33, 1: PRINT " Total Norths: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(4)); ", Total Souths: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(6));
128.     LOCATE 34, 1: PRINT " Total Easts: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(7)); ", Total Wests: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(5));
129.     LOCATE 35, 1: PRINT " Total NEs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(3)); ", Total SEs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(0));
130.     LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT " Total NWs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(2)); ", Total SWs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(1));
131.     LOCATE 37, 1: PRINT " After "; TS$(try); " tries, this was best puzzle."
132.     LOCATE 38, 1: INPUT " Enter y for yes, to save the best to file."; y$
133.     IF y$ = "y" THEN
134.         FilePuzzle
135.         LOCATE 39, 1: PRINT " Puzzle Filed.";
136.     END IF
137.     LOCATE 40, 1: PRINT " Next up is word search, press any to continue.";
138.     LOCATE 1, 1
139.     SLEEP
140. END IF
141.  
142. ' Now to find words in our best puzzle
143. DIM bestPuz, mx, my, mb, wIndex, hx, hy, wd, i, sx, sy, navX$, navY$, navD$
144.  
145. ShowBestPuzzle 'get a snapshot
146. bestPuz = _NEWIMAGE(ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight, 32)
147. _PUTIMAGE , 0, bestPuz
148. WHILE _KEYDOWN(27) = 0
149.     _PUTIMAGE , bestPuz, 0
150.     LOCATE 34, 1: PRINT "Move mouse over a word to find."
151.     WHILE _MOUSEINPUT: WEND
152.     mb = _MOUSEBUTTON(1) 'wait for a word to be clicked
153.     mx = INT(_MOUSEX / 8) + 1: my = INT(_MOUSEY / 16) + 1
154.     IF mx >= 65 AND mx <= 84 THEN
155.         wIndex = my
156.     ELSEIF mx >= 85 AND mx <= 104 THEN
157.         wIndex = my + 40
158.     ELSEIF mx >= 105 AND mx <= 125 THEN
159.         wIndex = my + 80
160.     ELSE
161.         wIndex = 0
162.     END IF
163.     IF wIndex > BestWordIndex THEN wIndex = 0
164.     IF wIndex THEN
165.         IF Found(BestWordList$(wIndex), hx, hy, wd) THEN 'high lite it black, yellow
166.             ConvertCR2Screen hx, hy, sx, sy '    tranlate array location to screen location and navigate column, row
167.             ConvertCR2Nav hx, hy, wd, navX$, navY$, navD$
168.             LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT BestWordList$(wIndex); " found at ("; navX$; ", "; navY$; ") going "; navD$
169.             COLOR &HFF0000BB, &HFFFFFF00
170.             LOCATE sy, sx: PRINT Best$(hx, hy);
171.             FOR i = 2 TO LEN(BestWordList$(wIndex))
172.                 hx = hx + DX(wd): hy = hy + DY(wd)
173.                 ConvertCR2Screen hx, hy, sx, sy
174.                 LOCATE sy, sx: PRINT Best$(hx, hy);
175.             NEXT
176.             COLOR &HFFFFFFFF, &HFF000000
177.         ELSE
178.             LOCATE 34, 1: PRINT "Sorry, something is screwed up!"
179.             LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT "       press any to continue..."
180.         END IF
181.     END IF
182.     _LIMIT 60
183. WEND
184.  
185. SUB LoadWords
186.     DIM wd$
187.     OPEN WordListFileBase$ + " Word List.txt" FOR INPUT AS #1
188.     WHILE EOF(1) = 0
189.         INPUT #1, wd$
190.         IF LEN(wd$) <= LetterLimit THEN
191.             NWords = NWords + 1: Words$(NWords) = UCASE$(wd$) ' traditional ucase, works better with proper names
192.         END IF
193.     WEND
194.     CLOSE #1
195. END SUB
196.  
197. SUB Shuffle 'then order biggest first smallest last
198.     DIM i, j
199.     FOR i = NWords TO 2 STEP -1
200.         SWAP Words$(i), Words$(INT(RND * i) + 1)
201.     NEXT
202.     i = 0
203.     WHILE i < NWords - 1 'order the hard way but less than 100 words
204.         i = i + 1
205.         FOR j = i + 1 TO NWords
206.             IF LEN(Words$(j)) > LEN(Words$(i)) THEN SWAP Words$(i), Words$(j)
207.         NEXT
208.     WEND
209. END SUB
210.  
211. SUB Initialize ' zero out everything
212.     DIM r, c
213.  
214.     FOR r = 0 TO GridSideM1
215.         FOR c = 0 TO GridSideM1
216.             Letters$(c, r) = " "
217.         NEXT
218.     NEXT
219.     ERASE WordList$, WordX, WordY, WordDirection
220.     WordIndex = 0
221.     Shuffle 'reset word order
222. END SUB
223.  
224. FUNCTION TS$ (n) ' this shorthand for TrimString and I want it shorthand!
225.     TS$ = _TRIM$(STR$(n))
226. END FUNCTION
227.  
228. FUNCTION CountSpaces () 'used in PlaceWord
229.     DIM x AS _BYTE, y AS _BYTE, count AS INTEGER
230.     FOR y = 0 TO GridSide - 1
231.         FOR x = 0 TO GridSide - 1
232.             IF Letters$(x, y) = " " THEN count = count + 1
233.         NEXT
234.     NEXT
235.     CountSpaces = count
236. END FUNCTION
237.  
238. FUNCTION Match (word AS STRING, template AS STRING) 'used in PlaceWord
239.     DIM i AS INTEGER
240.     Match = 0
241.     IF LEN(word) <> LEN(template) THEN EXIT FUNCTION
242.     FOR i = 1 TO LEN(template)
243.         IF ASC(template, i) <> 32 AND (ASC(word, i) <> ASC(template, i)) THEN EXIT FUNCTION
244.     NEXT
245.     Match = -1
246. END FUNCTION
247.  
248. SUB PlaceWord
249.     ' place the words randomly in the grid
250.     ' start at random spot and work forward or all the squares
251.     ' for each open square try the 8 directions for placing the word
252.     '
253.     ' Filled will now signal that all the words have been positioned
254.     ' if place a word update Letters$, WordIndex, WordList$(WordIndex), WordX(WordIndex), WordY(WordIndex), WordDirection(WordIndex)
255.  
256.     DIM wd$, wLen, spot, testNum, rdir ' rdir go forward or back form spot
257.     DIM x, y, d, dNum, rdd ' dNum counts number of directions we tried,  rdd sets direction to rotate
258.     DIM template$, b1, b2 'for match against letters already in Letters$ grid
259.     DIM i, j
260.  
261.     wd$ = Words$(WordsIndex) 'the right side is all shared
262.     wLen = LEN(wd$) - 1 '     from the spot there are this many letters to check
263.     testNum = 1 '             when this hits GridSide*GridSide we've tested all possible spots on grid
264.     IF RND < .5 THEN rdir = -1 ELSE rdir = 1 ' go forward or back from spot for next test
265.     spot = INT(RND * GridSide * GridSide)
266.     WHILE testNum < GridSide * GridSide
267.         y = INT(spot / GridSide)
268.         x = spot MOD GridSide
269.         IF Letters$(x, y) = MID$(wd$, 1, 1) OR Letters$(x, y) = " " THEN
270.             d = INT(8 * RND)
271.             IF RND < .5 THEN rdd = -1 ELSE rdd = 1
272.             dNum = 1
273.             WHILE dNum < 9
274.                 'will wd$ fit? from  at x, y
275.                 template$ = ""
276.                 b1 = wLen * DX(d) + x >= 0 AND wLen * DX(d) + x <= GridSideM1 'wLen = len(wd$) - 1
277.                 b2 = wLen * DY(d) + y >= 0 AND wLen * DY(d) + y <= GridSideM1
278.                 IF b1 AND b2 THEN ' build the template of letters and spaces from Letter grid
279.                     FOR i = 0 TO wLen
280.                         template$ = template$ + Letters$(x + i * DX(d), y + i * DY(d))
281.                     NEXT
282.                     IF Match(wd$, template$) THEN 'the word will fit but does it fill anything?
283.                         FOR j = 1 TO LEN(template$)
284.                             IF ASC(template$, j) = 32 THEN 'yes a space to fill
285.                                 FOR i = 0 TO wLen 'adding word to letter grid
286.                                     Letters$(x + i * DX(d), y + i * DY(d)) = MID$(wd$, i + 1, 1)
287.                                 NEXT
288.                                 WordIndex = WordIndex + 1 'add word to loacting arrays
289.                                 WordList$(WordIndex) = wd$: WordX(WordIndex) = x: WordY(WordIndex) = y: WordDirection(WordIndex) = d
290.                                 IF CountSpaces = 0 OR WordIndex > NWords THEN Filled = -1
291.                                 EXIT SUB 'get out now that word is loaded
292.                             END IF
293.                         NEXT
294.                         'if still here keep looking
295.                     END IF
296.                 END IF
297.                 d = (d + 8 + rdd) MOD 8 'set next direction to try
298.                 dNum = dNum + 1 'count number of resets done when have 9 resets
299.             WEND
300.         END IF
301.         spot = spot + rdir ' ok try next spot
302.         IF spot >= GridSide * GridSide THEN spot = 0
303.         IF spot < 0 THEN spot = GridSideP2M1
304.         testNum = testNum + 1 'until tried every spot on grid
305.     WEND
306. END SUB
307.  
308. 'SUB ShowPuzzle 'this was needed to make sure finding the best puzzle was working correctly
309. '    DIM i, x, y
310.  
311. '    CLS
312. '    LOCATE 1, 1: PRINT GridLabel$
313. '    FOR i = 3 TO 2 + GridSide
314. '        LOCATE i, 1: PRINT MID$(GridLabel$, i * 2 - 2, 1);
315. '    NEXT
316. '    FOR y = 0 TO GridSide - 1
317. '        FOR x = 0 TO GridSide - 1
318. '            LOCATE y + 3, 2 * x + 4: PRINT Letters$(x, y)
319. '        NEXT
320. '    NEXT
321. '    FOR i = 1 TO WordIndex
322. '        IF i <= 40 THEN
323. '            LOCATE i, 65: PRINT TS$(i); " "; WordList$(i);
324. '        ELSEIF i <= 80 THEN
325. '            LOCATE i - 40, 85: PRINT TS$(i); " "; WordList$(i);
326. '        ELSEIF i <= 120 THEN
327. '            LOCATE i - 80, 105: PRINT TS$(i); " "; WordList$(i);
328. '        END IF
329. '    NEXT
330. '    LOCATE 35, 1: PRINT "Spaces left:"; CountSpaces
331. '    LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT "Words placed:"; WordIndex
332. '    LOCATE 37, 1: PRINT SPACE$(16)
333. '    IF WordsIndex THEN LOCATE 37, 1: PRINT TS$(WordsIndex); " "; Words$(WordsIndex)
334. 'END SUB
335.  
336. SUB FilePuzzle
337.     DIM i, r, c, b$, x$, y$, d$
338.  
339.     OPEN WordListFileBase$ + " Word Search Puzzle.txt" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
340.     PRINT #1, GridLabel$
341.     PRINT #1, ""
342.     FOR r = 0 TO GridSideM1
343.         b$ = MID$(GridLabel$, r * 2 + 4, 1) + "  "
344.         FOR c = 0 TO GridSideM1
345.             b$ = b$ + Best$(c, r) + " "
346.         NEXT
347.         PRINT #1, b$
348.     NEXT
349.     PRINT #1, ""
350.     PRINT #1, " Search Word Solutions:"
351.     PRINT #1, ""
352.     PRINT #1, " Words from: " + WordListFileBase$ + " Word List.txt found here:"
353.     PRINT #1, ""
354.     FOR i = 1 TO BestWordIndex
355.         ConvertCR2Nav BestWordX(i), BestWordY(i), BestWordDirection(i), x$, y$, d$
356.         PRINT #1, RIGHT$(SPACE$(3) + TS$(i), 3); ") "; RIGHT$(SPACE$(LetterLimit) + BestWordList$(i), LetterLimit);
357.         PRINT #1, "("; x$; ", "; y$; ") >>>---> "; d$
358.     NEXT
359.     PRINT #1, " "
360.     PRINT #1, "Total Norths: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(4)); ", Total Souths: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(6))
361.     PRINT #1, "Total Easts: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(7)); ", Total Wests: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(5))
362.     PRINT #1, "Total NEs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(3)); ", Total SEs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(0))
363.     PRINT #1, "Total NWs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(2)); ", Total SWs: "; TS$(DirectionTotals(1))
364.     CLOSE #1
365. END SUB
366.  
367. SUB FillBlanksInBest
368.     DIM y, x, m
369.     FOR y = 0 TO GridSide - 1
370.         FOR x = 0 TO GridSide - 1
371.             IF Best$(x, y) = " " THEN
372.                 m = (m + 1) MOD 5
373.                 Best$(x, y) = MID$("BPLUS", m + 1, 1)
374.             END IF
375.         NEXT
376.     NEXT
377. END SUB
378.  
379. SUB ShowBestPuzzle
380.     DIM i, x, y
381.  
382.     FillBlanksInBest
383.     CLS
384.     LOCATE 1, 1: PRINT GridLabel$
385.     FOR i = 3 TO 2 + GridSide
386.         LOCATE i, 1: PRINT MID$(GridLabel$, i * 2 - 2, 1);
387.     NEXT
388.     FOR y = 0 TO GridSide - 1
389.         FOR x = 0 TO GridSide - 1
390.             LOCATE y + 3, 2 * x + 4: PRINT Best$(x, y)
391.         NEXT
392.     NEXT
393.     ERASE DirectionTotals
394.     FOR i = 1 TO BestWordIndex
395.         IF i <= 40 THEN
396.             LOCATE i, 65: PRINT TS$(i); " "; BestWordList$(i);
397.         ELSEIF i <= 80 THEN
398.             LOCATE i - 40, 85: PRINT TS$(i); " "; BestWordList$(i);
399.         ELSEIF i <= 120 THEN
400.             LOCATE i - 80, 105: PRINT TS$(i); " "; BestWordList$(i);
401.         END IF
402.         DirectionTotals(BestWordDirection(i)) = DirectionTotals(BestWordDirection(i)) + 1
403.     NEXT
404. END SUB
405.  
406. FUNCTION Found (word$, headX, headY, direction)
407.     'First find a letter that matches the first letter in word$,
408.     'then at that x, y try each of 8 directions to see if find a match.
409.     'See if enough room to fit the find word before heading out to match letters.
410.  
411.     DIM first$, lenFind, x, y, d, b1, b2, xx, yy, b$, i
412.  
413.     first$ = MID$(word$, 1, 1): lenFind = LEN(word$) - 1
414.     FOR y = 0 TO GridSideM1
415.         FOR x = 0 TO GridSideM1
416.             IF Best$(x, y) = first$ THEN
417.                 FOR d = 0 TO 7 'will word fit in this direction? 2 booleans True condition
418.                     b1 = lenFind * DX(d) + x >= 0 AND lenFind * DX(d) + x <= GridSideM1
419.                     b2 = lenFind * DY(d) + y >= 0 AND lenFind * DY(d) + y <= GridSideM1
420.                     IF b1 AND b2 THEN 'word fits,
421.                         ' build word from Letters block to see if matches word to find
422.                         b$ = first$: xx = x + DX(d): yy = y + DY(d)
423.                         FOR i = 2 TO LEN(word$)
424.                             b$ = b$ + Best$(xx, yy)
425.                             xx = xx + DX(d): yy = yy + DY(d)
426.                         NEXT
427.                         xx = x: yy = y 'copy x, y for rebuilding word on screen
428.                         IF b$ = word$ THEN 'found one show our result
429.                             headX = x: headY = y: direction = d: Found = -1
430.                             EXIT SUB
431.                         END IF
432.                     END IF
433.                 NEXT
434.             END IF
435.         NEXT
436.     NEXT
437. END FUNCTION
438.  
439. SUB ConvertCR2Screen (c, r, screenC, screenR)
440.     screenC = 2 * c + 4: screenR = r + 3
441. END SUB
442.  
443. SUB ConvertCR2Nav (c, r, d, navX$, navY$, navD$)
444.     IF c > 9 THEN navX$ = CHR$(c - 9 + AscA - 1) ELSE navX$ = TS$(c)
445.     IF r > 9 THEN navY$ = CHR$(r - 9 + AscA - 1) ELSE navY$ = TS$(r)
446.     navD$ = DString$(d)
447. END SUB
448.  

 

Here is: Elements Word Search Puzzle.txt,  file that is output that you can print out with solution below puzzle.
 

Elements Word Search Puzzle.txt

Along with cleaner presentation of solution, there is a Total Directions Report at bottom which is of interest to us taking this as a programming challenge more than a fancy puzzle end product (yet).

For screen shot above and Elements Word Search Puzzle.txt, Direction Totals:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Total Norths: 38, Total Souths: 20
2. Total Easts: 7, Total Wests: 2
3. Total NEs: 6, Total SEs: 30
4. Total NWs: 15, Total SWs: 0
5.  

[bplus]

Here is one kick butt Puzzle Builder! I've picked up on Richard Frost methods, Evaluate, what I call Scoring system. Tinkered with the scoring system and the order of directions and getting mighty fine results for the harder Elements Puzzle, puzzle usually built with all 118 Elements positioned mostly diagonally around the puzzle, in 10 tries or less, under a minute! Builder #2.1 was taking 100,000's of tries taking hours.

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. OPTION _EXPLICIT
2. _TITLE "Puzzle Builder for Word Lists" 'by B+ restarted 2020-11-28 from Rosetta Code Challenge
3. ' Make a Word Search game & txt file from a list of words usu with some thene.
4.  
5. ' 2020-11-30 Puzzle Builder #2 w Finder 2020-11 Now complete the app with a word finder.
6. ' Max word letters = 15
7. ' Max cells/letters per side = 30
8. ' Max words can find on word list is 120 (that can be shown on screen).
9.  
10. ' 2020-12-2 post update: Puzzle Builder #2.1 w Finder 2020-11.bas
11. ' Added Direction counters.
12.  
13. ' 2020-12-2 Puzzle Builder #3 try Eval 2020-12.bas try Richard Frost approach find a best or better placement of words.
14. ' This will take 30 * 30 * 8 steps for seaching every position and direction on grid.
15. ' This needs overhaul with UDT's
16.  
17. DEFLNG A-Z
18. RANDOMIZE TIMER
19. CONST AscA = 97, WordLengthLimit = 15
20. CONST ScreenWidth = 1000, ScreenHeight = 640
21.  
22. TYPE WordSearch 'having trouble tracking all Global shared variables for puzzle so here is that container
23.     FileTheme AS STRING ' the theme name for + " Word List.txt" file we are doing
24.     GridSide AS LONG ' number of letters per side of square grid
25.     GridSideM1 AS LONG ' grid size - 1
26.     GridSideP2M1 AS LONG ' grid size ^ 2 - 1
27.     GridLabel AS STRING ' top and side labeling of letters grid
28.     NWords AS LONG ' number of words
29.     PlaceWordIndex AS LONG ' current index of word we are working
30.     NPlacedWords AS LONG ' current number of placed words
31.     NUnplaced AS LONG 'count the disasters
32.     UnfilledCellF AS LONG 'there are still unfilled cells
33.     BestNPlacedWords AS LONG ' best number of placed words here is goal  = nWords
34. END TYPE
35.  
36. TYPE WordType
37.     S AS STRING ' the word
38.     Len AS LONG ' it's length
39.     Placed AS LONG
40.     X AS LONG 'placements
41.     Y AS LONG
42.     D AS LONG 'direction 0 to 7
43. END TYPE
44.  
45. REDIM SHARED WS AS WordSearch
46. REDIM SHARED Words(1 TO 250) AS WordType, ascWord(1 TO 250, WordLengthLimit), BestWords(1 TO 250) AS WordType
47. REDIM SHARED AscLetters(0 TO WS.GridSideM1, 0 TO WS.GridSideM1), AscBestLetters(0 TO WS.GridSideM1, 0 TO WS.GridSideM1)
48. REDIM SHARED DX(0 TO 7), DY(0 TO 7), DString$(0 TO 7)
49. REDIM SHARED DirectionTotals(0 TO 7) 'used to randomly check directions to place words also used to store direction counts
50.  
51.  
52. '======================================= Word Search File Base Name and Grid Size ================================================
53.  
54. '   Make your word list file with: Some base name for theme + " Word List.txt"
55.  
56. ' test file 2
57. WS.FileTheme = "Elements" ' add suffix to your file " Word List.txt"    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input
58. WS.GridSide = 30 ' <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input later    30 the maximum grid size
59.  
60. ' test file 1
61. 'WS.FileTheme = "Christmas" 'add suffix to your file " Word List.txt"   <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input
62. 'ws.GridSide = 15 ' <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<    Input later    30 the maximum grid size
63.  
64. '' test file 3
65. 'WS.FileTheme = "The_Four"
66. 'ws.GridSide = 5
67.  
68.  
69. SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight, 32)
70. _DELAY .25
71. _SCREENMOVE _MIDDLE
72.  
73. DIM try, c, r, cnt, y$, puzzleFiled
74.  
75. InitializeOnce
76. WHILE try < 8 'for long runs uncomment BEEP
77.     try = try + 1
78.     RestartPuzzleFill
79.     IF WS.PlaceWordIndex > 0 THEN ShowPuzzle
80.     WHILE WS.PlaceWordIndex < WS.NWords
81.         WS.PlaceWordIndex = WS.PlaceWordIndex + 1
82.         WS.UnfilledCellF = 0 ' set F that all are filled
83.         PlaceWord
84.         IF try MOD 25 = 0 THEN ShowPuzzle
85.         IF WS.UnfilledCellF = 0 OR (WS.NPlacedWords = WS.NWords) THEN EXIT WHILE
86.     WEND
87.     'BEEP
88.     IF WS.NPlacedWords > WS.BestNPlacedWords THEN 'copy Letters$ into Best$
89.         REDIM AscBestLetters(0 TO WS.GridSideM1, 0 TO WS.GridSideM1) '??????????????????
90.         FOR r = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
91.             FOR c = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
92.                 AscBestLetters(c, r) = AscLetters(c, r)
93.             NEXT
94.         NEXT
95.         WS.BestNPlacedWords = WS.NPlacedWords
96.         cnt = 0
97.         FOR r = 1 TO WS.NWords 'copy everything because we shuffle each time
98.             IF Words(r).Placed THEN
99.                 cnt = cnt + 1
100.                 BestWords(cnt).S = Words(r).S: BestWords(cnt).Len = Words(r).Len
101.                 BestWords(cnt).X = Words(r).X: BestWords(cnt).Y = Words(r).Y: BestWords(cnt).D = Words(r).D
102.             END IF
103.         NEXT
104.         IF WS.BestNPlacedWords = WS.NWords THEN 'automatic file if all words positioned in puzzle
105.             ShowBestPuzzle
106.             PrintDirectionTotals 0
107.             LOCATE 37, 1: PRINT " After "; TS$(try); " tries, this complete puzzle was made."
108.             FilePuzzle
109.             LOCATE 38, 1: PRINT " Puzzle Filed, next up is word search.";
110.             LOCATE 40, 1: PRINT "      press any to continue.";
111.             puzzleFiled = -1
112.             'BEEP
113.             SLEEP
114.             EXIT WHILE
115.         END IF
116.     END IF
117.     LOCATE 2, 1: PRINT "Try:"; try
118. WEND
119.  
120. IF puzzleFiled = 0 THEN
121.     ShowBestPuzzle
122.     'beep
123.     PrintDirectionTotals 0
124.     LOCATE 37, 1: PRINT " After "; TS$(try); " tries, this was best puzzle."
125.     LOCATE 38, 1: INPUT " Enter y for yes, to save the best to file."; y$
126.     IF y$ = "y" THEN
127.         FilePuzzle
128.         LOCATE 39, 1: PRINT " Puzzle Filed.";
129.     END IF
130.     LOCATE 40, 1: PRINT " Next up is word search, press any to continue.";
131.     LOCATE 1, 1
132.     SLEEP
133. END IF
134.  
135. ' Now to find words in our best puzzle
136. DIM bestPuz, mx, my, mb, wIndex, hx, hy, wd, sx, sy, navX$, navY$, navD$, i
137.  
138. ShowBestPuzzle 'get a snapshot
139. bestPuz = _NEWIMAGE(ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight, 32)
140. _PUTIMAGE , 0, bestPuz
141. WHILE _KEYDOWN(27) = 0
142.     _PUTIMAGE , bestPuz, 0
143.     LOCATE 34, 1: PRINT "Move mouse over a word to find."
144.     WHILE _MOUSEINPUT: WEND
145.     mb = _MOUSEBUTTON(1) 'wait for a word to be clicked
146.     mx = INT(_MOUSEX / 8) + 1: my = INT(_MOUSEY / 16) + 1
147.     IF mx >= 65 AND mx <= 84 THEN
148.         wIndex = my
149.     ELSEIF mx >= 85 AND mx <= 104 THEN
150.         wIndex = my + 40
151.     ELSEIF mx >= 105 AND mx <= 125 THEN
152.         wIndex = my + 80
153.     ELSE
154.         wIndex = 0
155.     END IF
156.     IF wIndex > WS.BestNPlacedWords THEN wIndex = 0
157.     IF wIndex THEN
158.         IF Found(BestWords(wIndex).S, hx, hy, wd) THEN 'high lite it black, yellow
159.             ConvertCR2Screen hx, hy, sx, sy '    tranlate array location to screen location and navigate column, row
160.             ConvertCR2Nav hx, hy, wd, navX$, navY$, navD$
161.             LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT BestWords(wIndex).S; " found at ("; navX$; ", "; navY$; ") going "; navD$
162.             COLOR &HFF0000BB, &HFFFFFF00
163.             LOCATE sy, sx: PRINT CHR$(AscBestLetters(hx, hy));
164.             FOR i = 2 TO BestWords(wIndex).Len
165.                 hx = hx + DX(wd): hy = hy + DY(wd)
166.                 ConvertCR2Screen hx, hy, sx, sy
167.                 LOCATE sy, sx: PRINT CHR$(AscBestLetters(hx, hy));
168.             NEXT
169.             COLOR &HFFFFFFFF, &HFF000000
170.         ELSE
171.             LOCATE 34, 1: PRINT "Sorry, something is screwed up!"
172.             LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT "       press any to continue..."
173.         END IF
174.     END IF
175.     _LIMIT 60
176. WEND
177.  
178. SUB InitializeOnce ' everything that needs to be done once to get going
179.     REDIM wd$, i
180.  
181.     'new order to favor diagonals placements first if possible
182.     DX(0) = 1: DY(0) = 0: DString$(0) = "East"
183.     DX(1) = 0: DY(1) = 1: DString$(1) = "South"
184.     DX(2) = -1: DY(2) = 0: DString$(2) = "West"
185.     DX(3) = 0: DY(3) = -1: DString$(3) = "North"
186.     DX(4) = -1: DY(4) = 1: DString$(4) = "South West"
187.     DX(5) = -1: DY(5) = -1: DString$(5) = "North West"
188.     DX(6) = 1: DY(6) = -1: DString$(6) = "North East"
189.     DX(7) = 1: DY(7) = 1: DString$(7) = "South East"
190.  
191.     WS.GridSideM1 = WS.GridSide - 1
192.     WS.GridSideP2M1 = WS.GridSide * WS.GridSide - 1
193.     WS.GridLabel = MID$("   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z", 1, WS.GridSide * 2 + 2)
194.     WS.NWords = 0
195.     OPEN WS.FileTheme + " Word List.txt" FOR INPUT AS #1
196.     WHILE EOF(1) = 0
197.         INPUT #1, wd$
198.         IF LEN(wd$) <= WordLengthLimit AND _TRIM$(wd$) <> "" THEN  '<<< EDIT OR to AND
199.             WS.NWords = WS.NWords + 1
200.             Words(WS.NWords).S = UCASE$(wd$)
201.             Words(WS.NWords).Len = LEN(wd$)
202.             FOR i = 1 TO LEN(wd$)
203.                 ascWord(WS.NWords, i) = ASC(wd$, i)
204.             NEXT
205.         END IF
206.     WEND
207.     CLOSE #1
208.     REDIM AscLetters(0 TO WS.GridSideM1, 0 TO WS.GridSideM1) 'now that we have the right size
209. END SUB
210.  
211. SUB RestartPuzzleFill
212.     DIM i, j, k, r, c
213.  
214.     WS.PlaceWordIndex = 0
215.     WS.NUnplaced = 0 'count the disasters
216.     WS.NPlacedWords = 0
217.     FOR i = 1 TO WS.NWords 'clear positions of words
218.         Words(i).Placed = 0: Words(i).X = -1: Words(i).Y = -1: Words(i).D = -1
219.     NEXT
220.     FOR r = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1 ' clear the letter numbers
221.         FOR c = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
222.             AscLetters(c, r) = 32
223.         NEXT
224.     NEXT
225.     FOR i = WS.NWords TO 2 STEP -1 'shuffle the list of Words to load
226.         r = INT(RND * (i + 1)) + 1
227.         SWAP Words(i), Words(r)
228.         FOR j = 0 TO WordLengthLimit
229.             SWAP ascWord(i, j), ascWord(r, j)
230.         NEXT
231.     NEXT
232.     i = 0
233.     WHILE i < WS.NWords - 1 'order word length
234.         i = i + 1
235.         FOR j = i + 1 TO WS.NWords
236.             IF Words(j).Len > Words(i).Len THEN
237.                 SWAP Words(i), Words(j)
238.                 FOR k = 0 TO WordLengthLimit
239.                     SWAP ascWord(i, k), ascWord(j, k)
240.                 NEXT
241.             END IF
242.         NEXT
243.     WEND
244. END SUB
245.  
246. SUB ShowPuzzle 'this was needed to make sure finding the best puzzle was working correctly
247.     DIM i, x, y, cnt, notPlaced$, cntUnplaced
248.     notPlaced$ = ""
249.     CLS
250.     LOCATE 1, 1: PRINT WS.GridLabel$
251.     FOR i = 3 TO 2 + WS.GridSide
252.         LOCATE i, 1: PRINT MID$(WS.GridLabel$, i * 2 - 2, 1);
253.     NEXT
254.     FOR y = 0 TO WS.GridSide - 1
255.         FOR x = 0 TO WS.GridSide - 1
256.             LOCATE y + 3, 2 * x + 4: PRINT CHR$(AscLetters(x, y))
257.         NEXT
258.     NEXT
259.     FOR i = 1 TO WS.PlaceWordIndex
260.         IF Words(i).Placed THEN
261.             cnt = cnt + 1
262.             IF cnt <= 40 THEN
263.                 LOCATE cnt, 65: PRINT TS$(cnt); " "; Words(i).S;
264.             ELSEIF cnt <= 80 THEN
265.                 LOCATE cnt - 40, 85: PRINT TS$(cnt); " "; Words(i).S;
266.             ELSEIF i <= 120 THEN
267.                 LOCATE cnt - 80, 105: PRINT TS$(cnt); " "; Words(i).S;
268.             END IF
269.         ELSE
270.             cntUnplaced = cntUnplaced + 1
271.             notPlaced$ = notPlaced$ + Words(i).S + " "
272.         END IF
273.     NEXT
274.     LOCATE 36, 1: PRINT "Words placed:"; WS.NPlacedWords
275.     LOCATE 37, 1: PRINT "Unplaced: "; WS.NUnplaced
276.     LOCATE 38, 1: PRINT "Not placed words: "; notPlaced$; cntUnplaced
277.     LOCATE 39, 1: PRINT "Last word: "; TS$(WS.PlaceWordIndex); " "; Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).S;
278.     'SLEEP
279. END SUB
280.  
281. SUB PlaceWord
282.     DIM bestScore, score, y, x, d, b1, b2, i
283.  
284.     bestScore = -1 ' going through entire array of AscLetters try every direction looking for best score = placement
285.     FOR y = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
286.         FOR x = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
287.             IF ascWord(WS.PlaceWordIndex, 1) = AscLetters(x, y) OR AscLetters(x, y) = 32 THEN
288.                 IF ascWord(WS.PlaceWordIndex, 1) = AscLetters(x, y) THEN score = 20
289.                 IF AscLetters(x, y) = 32 THEN score = 0: WS.UnfilledCellF = -1 'no points for blanks but may proceed
290.                 FOR d = 0 TO 7
291.                     b1 = x + DX(d) * (Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Len - 1) >= 0 AND x + DX(d) * (Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Len - 1) <= WS.GridSideM1
292.                     b2 = y + DY(d) * (Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Len - 1) >= 0 AND y + DY(d) * (Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Len - 1) <= WS.GridSideM1
293.                     IF b1 AND b2 THEN 'we're in
294.                         FOR i = 2 TO Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Len
295.                             IF ascWord(WS.PlaceWordIndex, i) = AscLetters(x + DX(d) * (i - 1), y + DY(d) * (i - 1)) THEN
296.                                 score = score + 10 + (d <= 3) * -5 + (d > 3) * -6
297.                             ELSEIF AscLetters(x + DX(d) * (i - 1), y + DY(d) * (i - 1)) = 32 THEN
298.                                 WS.UnfilledCellF = -1
299.                                 score = score + (7 - d)
300.                             ELSE
301.                                 GOTO skip
302.                             END IF
303.                         NEXT
304.                         IF score > bestScore THEN
305.                             Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).X = x: Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Y = y: Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).D = d
306.                             bestScore = score 'local
307.                         END IF
308.                     END IF
309.                     skip:
310.                 NEXT
311.             END IF
312.         NEXT
313.     NEXT
314.     'BEEP
315.     IF bestScore > -1 THEN 'we have a good place for this word put it there and update stuff
316.         FOR i = 1 TO Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Len
317.             AscLetters(DX(Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).D) * (i - 1) + Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).X,_
318.              DY(Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).D) * (i - 1) + Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Y) = ascWord(WS.PlaceWordIndex, i)
319.         NEXT
320.         Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Placed = -1
321.         WS.NPlacedWords = WS.NPlacedWords + 1
322.     ELSE
323.         Words(WS.PlaceWordIndex).Placed = 0
324.         WS.NUnplaced = WS.NUnplaced + 1
325.     END IF
326. END SUB
327.  
328. FUNCTION TS$ (n) ' this shorthand for TrimString and I want it shorthand!
329.     TS$ = _TRIM$(STR$(n))
330. END FUNCTION
331.  
332. SUB FilePuzzle
333.     DIM i, r, c, b$, x$, y$, d$
334.  
335.     OPEN WS.FileTheme + " Word Search Puzzle.txt" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
336.     PRINT #1, WS.GridLabel$
337.     PRINT #1, ""
338.     FOR r = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
339.         b$ = MID$(WS.GridLabel$, r * 2 + 4, 1) + "  "
340.         FOR c = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
341.             b$ = b$ + CHR$(AscBestLetters(c, r)) + " "
342.         NEXT
343.         PRINT #1, b$
344.     NEXT
345.     PRINT #1, ""
346.     PRINT #1, " Search Word Solutions:"
347.     PRINT #1, ""
348.     PRINT #1, " Words from: " + WS.FileTheme + " Word List.txt found here:"
349.     PRINT #1, ""
350.     FOR i = 1 TO WS.BestNPlacedWords
351.         ConvertCR2Nav BestWords(i).X, BestWords(i).Y, BestWords(i).D, x$, y$, d$
352.         PRINT #1, RIGHT$(SPACE$(3) + TS$(i), 3); ") "; RIGHT$(SPACE$(WordLengthLimit) + BestWords(i).S, WordLengthLimit);
353.         PRINT #1, "("; x$; ", "; y$; ") >>>---> "; d$
354.     NEXT
355.     PRINT #1, " "
356.     PrintDirectionTotals -1
357.     CLOSE #1
358. END SUB
359.  
360. SUB FillBlanksInBest
361.     DIM y, x, m
362.     FOR y = 0 TO WS.GridSide - 1
363.         FOR x = 0 TO WS.GridSide - 1
364.             IF AscBestLetters(x, y) = 32 THEN
365.                 m = (m + 1) MOD 5
366.                 AscBestLetters(x, y) = ASC("BPLUS", m + 1)
367.             END IF
368.         NEXT
369.     NEXT
370. END SUB
371.  
372. SUB PrintDirectionTotals (toFileTF)
373.     DIM s$(1 TO 4), i
374.     s$(1) = " Total Norths: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(3)) + ", Total Souths: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(1))
375.     s$(2) = " Total Easts: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(0)) + ", Total Wests: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(2))
376.     s$(3) = " Total NEs: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(6)) + ", Total SEs: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(7))
377.     s$(4) = " Total NWs: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(5)) + ", Total SWs: " + TS$(DirectionTotals(4))
378.     FOR i = 1 TO 4
379.         IF toFileTF THEN PRINT #1, s$(i) ELSE LOCATE 32 + i, 1: PRINT s$(i);
380.     NEXT
381. END SUB
382.  
383. SUB ShowBestPuzzle
384.     DIM i, x, y
385.  
386.     FillBlanksInBest
387.     CLS
388.     LOCATE 1, 1: PRINT WS.GridLabel$
389.     FOR i = 3 TO 2 + WS.GridSide
390.         LOCATE i, 1: PRINT MID$(WS.GridLabel$, i * 2 - 2, 1);
391.     NEXT
392.     FOR y = 0 TO WS.GridSide - 1
393.         FOR x = 0 TO WS.GridSide - 1
394.             LOCATE y + 3, 2 * x + 4: PRINT CHR$(AscBestLetters(x, y))
395.         NEXT
396.     NEXT
397.     REDIM DirectionTotals(0 TO 7)
398.     FOR i = 1 TO WS.BestNPlacedWords
399.         IF i <= 40 THEN
400.             LOCATE i, 65: PRINT TS$(i); " "; BestWords(i).S;
401.         ELSEIF i <= 80 THEN
402.             LOCATE i - 40, 85: PRINT TS$(i); " "; BestWords(i).S;
403.         ELSEIF i <= 120 THEN
404.             LOCATE i - 80, 105: PRINT TS$(i); " "; BestWords(i).S
405.         END IF
406.         DirectionTotals(BestWords(i).D) = DirectionTotals(BestWords(i).D) + 1
407.     NEXT
408. END SUB
409.  
410. FUNCTION Found (word$, headX, headY, direction)
411.     'First find a letter that matches the first letter in word$,
412.     'then at that x, y try each of 8 directions to see if find a match.
413.     'See if enough room to fit the find word before heading out to match letters.
414.  
415.     DIM first$, lenFind, x, y, d, b1, b2, xx, yy, b$, i
416.  
417.     first$ = MID$(word$, 1, 1): lenFind = LEN(word$) - 1
418.     FOR y = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
419.         FOR x = 0 TO WS.GridSideM1
420.             IF AscBestLetters(x, y) = ASC(first$) THEN
421.                 FOR d = 0 TO 7 'will word fit in this direction? 2 booleans True condition
422.                     b1 = lenFind * DX(d) + x >= 0 AND lenFind * DX(d) + x <= WS.GridSideM1
423.                     b2 = lenFind * DY(d) + y >= 0 AND lenFind * DY(d) + y <= WS.GridSideM1
424.                     IF b1 AND b2 THEN 'word fits,
425.                         ' build word from Letters block to see if matches word to find
426.                         b$ = first$: xx = x + DX(d): yy = y + DY(d)
427.                         FOR i = 2 TO LEN(word$)
428.                             b$ = b$ + CHR$(AscBestLetters(xx, yy))
429.                             xx = xx + DX(d): yy = yy + DY(d)
430.                         NEXT
431.                         xx = x: yy = y 'copy x, y for rebuilding word on screen
432.                         IF b$ = word$ THEN 'found one show our result
433.                             headX = x: headY = y: direction = d: Found = -1
434.                             EXIT SUB
435.                         END IF
436.                     END IF
437.                 NEXT
438.             END IF
439.         NEXT
440.     NEXT
441. END FUNCTION
442.  
443. SUB ConvertCR2Screen (c, r, screenC, screenR)
444.     screenC = 2 * c + 4: screenR = r + 3
445. END SUB
446.  
447. SUB ConvertCR2Nav (c, r, d, navX$, navY$, navD$)
448.     IF c > 9 THEN navX$ = CHR$(c - 9 + AscA - 1) ELSE navX$ = TS$(c)
449.     IF r > 9 THEN navY$ = CHR$(r - 9 + AscA - 1) ELSE navY$ = TS$(r)
450.     navD$ = DString$(d)
451. END SUB
452.  

 

Code: QB64: [Select]

1.   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t
2.  
3. 0  E P M U I C N A R F L L R A D I U M U S M H O L M I U M B M
4. 1  P N L U U M G U L U E I S B P Y U R A N I U M U I R E C U G
5. 2  N L I R I A U U Y I F M V U B I S M U T H S I M N O R I E B
6. 3  B O I S L L O I N R U L T E N P L P M A U D U S S B T R R O
7. 4  M U S L S R L S S I U I U U R P L U R U R I S B S E M O P H
8. 5  M U I S I E T Y D E T C T S M M I G M O N L M U T A M S K R
9. 6  D U I N E E N N R A C P R U N D O U F I S U B U N I T R P I
10. 7  M L E R I N I N N E E L I E A N I R T N I I L I N U Y O S U
11. 8  D U O N U B A I E N B N G N M S E C I T M M U E P P M M P M
12. 9  L U I G U L U G S T E Y A U E H A O D U U M G M T U U B P L
13. a  M U B V U M L S R L X V N N T T B A I I M O B O I I Y N C G
14. b  M U I N E H R E E O P I G U O I T N N M R U N C M T E O A E
15. c  U U I M I L L S T U T A R R U S E F U T E I I Y T G P D S S
16. d  I M I N U U E B M A M P P M M G A I I L C N D R O P O U M E
17. e  G U U H O I M D L U A B S R T H C N F K R O I R E L B U P N
18. f  R L T I T L D P N L I M A N A N E E E E E U D R I N I U I A
19. g  O A S H D E O I B E U D E R E S R L P N M Y E N O V T T P G
20. h  B T D L U A M P R I M O N R I M E O I S H V I B O L U I E N
21. i  A N L O S L L O L I R B W A I U C O O U L U R C C H H N E A
22. j  E A P I N D I L R L C A U U C C M D D I M A S N A S I C B M
23. k  S T A P T T A U A P L A M L U S I S S Y C O I S S D B P O M
24. l  F B E S C H H E M P C A L C I U M U E L M Z S T O N M L U N
25. m  L E M C T H I O L Y L U N I M S R U M U I I R I O U Y I E M
26. n  E R U R H A R U R U N I B T F O R T I R U O U B I B N T U N
27. o  R K I H P N T O M I H O L U H O L B C M N S E M D E S I O M
28. p  O E D O B O E I M O U B M P P A R O P T L L S E H G R N U S
29. q  V L I D N O N T N I B M S I B E N N I P I O N T N A E O L U
30. r  I I B I S U R I I E U O U O T I B U I U P U U U M X L E U S
31. s  U U U U M B U O P U H M C T U N M L M U M R T A R S E N I C
32. t  M M R M U M S B N P M P Y M L U A S B P M L S I L I C O N U
33.  
34.  Search Word Solutions:
35.  
36.  Words from: Elements Word List.txt found here:
37.  
38.   1)   RUTHERFORDIUM(c, c) >>>---> North East
39.  2)    PROTACTINIUM(c, d) >>>---> North East
40.  3)    PRASEODYMIUM(c, d) >>>---> South East
41.  4)    DARMSTADTIUM(b, g) >>>---> North East
42.  5)     MENDELEVIUM(a, h) >>>---> North West
43.  6)     COPERNICIUM(g, i) >>>---> North East
44.  7)     LIVERMORIUM(a, 0) >>>---> South East
45.  8)     ROENTGENIUM(a, i) >>>---> North East
46.  9)     CALIFORNIUM(a, j) >>>---> South East
47. 10)     EINSTEINIUM(a, 1) >>>---> South West
48. 11)      TENNESSINE(9, 9) >>>---> North West
49. 12)      MEITNERIUM(t, j) >>>---> North West
50. 13)      LAWRENCIUM(a, k) >>>---> North East
51. 14)      PHOSPHORUS(9, t) >>>---> North East
52. 15)      PROMETHIUM(9, k) >>>---> North West
53. 16)      GADOLINIUM(t, a) >>>---> South West
54. 17)      ORGANESSON(9, b) >>>---> North West
55. 18)      SEABORGIUM(0, k) >>>---> North
56. 19)      TECHNETIUM(1, k) >>>---> South East
57. 20)      MOLYBDENUM(t, j) >>>---> South West
58. 21)      DYSPROSIUM(e, 0) >>>---> South East
59. 22)       NEPTUNIUM(9, 8) >>>---> North East
60. 23)       PALLADIUM(9, l) >>>---> North West
61. 24)       LANTHANUM(a, k) >>>---> South East
62. 25)       RUTHENIUM(l, s) >>>---> North East
63. 26)       PLUTONIUM(9, l) >>>---> South West
64. 27)       YTTERBIUM(c, t) >>>---> North East
65. 28)       POTASSIUM(s, 8) >>>---> North West
66. 29)       BERYLLIUM(a, 8) >>>---> North West
67. 30)       MOSCOVIUM(k, l) >>>---> North East
68. 31)       TELLURIUM(8, c) >>>---> North West
69. 32)       MAGNESIUM(a, d) >>>---> North East
70. 33)       FLEROVIUM(0, l) >>>---> South
71. 34)       AMERICIUM(a, e) >>>---> South East
72. 35)       MANGANESE(t, j) >>>---> North
73. 36)       NEODYMIUM(j, g) >>>---> North East
74. 37)       ZIRCONIUM(l, l) >>>---> South West
75. 38)       BERKELIUM(1, l) >>>---> South
76. 39)       GERMANIUM(t, 1) >>>---> South West
77. 40)       STRONTIUM(o, k) >>>---> South West
78. 41)        SELENIUM(7, c) >>>---> North East
79. 42)        THALLIUM(4, m) >>>---> North East
80. 43)        VANADIUM(b, a) >>>---> North East
81. 44)        ALUMINUM(b, l) >>>---> South West
82. 45)        ASTATINE(2, k) >>>---> South East
83. 46)        FLUORINE(9, 0) >>>---> South West
84. 47)        ACTINIUM(g, 9) >>>---> North East
85. 48)        LUTETIUM(m, 7) >>>---> North East
86. 49)        TUNGSTEN(m, s) >>>---> North East
87. 50)        PLATINUM(7, f) >>>---> North East
88. 51)        POLONIUM(7, h) >>>---> North West
89. 52)        NOBELIUM(p, l) >>>---> South West
90. 53)        SAMARIUM(m, t) >>>---> North East
91. 54)        NITROGEN(h, e) >>>---> North East
92. 55)        CHROMIUM(4, l) >>>---> South East
93. 56)        TANTALUM(1, k) >>>---> North
94. 57)        CHLORINE(r, j) >>>---> North West
95. 58)        EUROPIUM(i, l) >>>---> South West
96. 59)        FRANCIUM(9, 0) >>>---> West
97. 60)        HYDROGEN(k, h) >>>---> North East
98. 61)        ANTIMONY(g, t) >>>---> North West
99. 62)        SCANDIUM(f, k) >>>---> North West
100. 63)        TITANIUM(c, 3) >>>---> South West
101. 64)        RUBIDIUM(2, t) >>>---> North
102. 65)        NIHONIUM(c, m) >>>---> South West
103. 66)         GALLIUM(6, 1) >>>---> South West
104. 67)         LITHIUM(2, i) >>>---> South East
105. 68)         SILICON(m, t) >>>---> East
106. 69)         KRYPTON(s, 5) >>>---> South West
107. 70)         NIOBIUM(j, 7) >>>---> South West
108. 71)         CADMIUM(n, i) >>>---> South East
109. 72)         BISMUTH(e, 2) >>>---> East
110. 73)         MERCURY(e, 8) >>>---> North West
111. 74)         IRIDIUM(9, i) >>>---> North West
112. 75)         HASSIUM(p, i) >>>---> South West
113. 76)         BROMINE(t, 2) >>>---> South West
114. 77)         ARSENIC(n, s) >>>---> East
115. 78)         RHODIUM(3, n) >>>---> South
116. 79)         HAFNIUM(f, e) >>>---> North East
117. 80)         HOLMIUM(l, 0) >>>---> East
118. 81)         THORIUM(5, k) >>>---> South East
119. 82)         DUBNIUM(0, 8) >>>---> South East
120. 83)         URANIUM(g, 1) >>>---> East
121. 84)         RHENIUM(6, b) >>>---> West
122. 85)         CALCIUM(a, l) >>>---> East
123. 86)         YTTRIUM(q, a) >>>---> South West
124. 87)         TERBIUM(e, r) >>>---> North East
125. 88)         BOHRIUM(t, 2) >>>---> South
126. 89)         THULIUM(2, f) >>>---> South East
127. 90)         FERMIUM(i, e) >>>---> South West
128. 91)          SODIUM(j, h) >>>---> South West
129. 92)          IODINE(n, m) >>>---> North East
130. 93)          COPPER(s, a) >>>---> South West
131. 94)          OSMIUM(l, q) >>>---> North East
132. 95)          CERIUM(r, 1) >>>---> West
133. 96)          NICKEL(m, b) >>>---> South West
134. 97)          ERBIUM(f, q) >>>---> North East
135. 98)          CURIUM(5, 0) >>>---> South West
136. 99)          INDIUM(6, 7) >>>---> North East
137. 100)          BARIUM(b, e) >>>---> South East
138. 101)          RADIUM(c, 0) >>>---> East
139. 102)          SILVER(i, k) >>>---> North East
140. 103)          CESIUM(a, 6) >>>---> North West
141. 104)          OXYGEN(9, b) >>>---> North East
142. 105)          SULFUR(d, 5) >>>---> North West
143. 106)          HELIUM(f, e) >>>---> South East
144. 107)          COBALT(c, s) >>>---> North East
145. 108)          CARBON(k, k) >>>---> North East
146. 109)           XENON(p, r) >>>---> North East
147. 110)           BORON(4, p) >>>---> South East
148. 111)           ARGON(j, 3) >>>---> South West
149. 112)           RADON(0, f) >>>---> South East
150. 113)            NEON(r, s) >>>---> North
151. 114)            IRON(r, 2) >>>---> West
152. 115)            LEAD(8, m) >>>---> North West
153. 116)            GOLD(3, 9) >>>---> North West
154. 117)            ZINC(l, l) >>>---> North East
155. 118)             TIN(r, g) >>>---> North East
156.  
157.  Total Norths: 5, Total Souths: 4
158.  Total Easts: 7, Total Wests: 4
159.  Total NEs: 36, Total SEs: 18
160.  Total NWs: 19, Total SWs: 25
161.  
162.  

[bplus]

Update: I tried the Christmas List and there is still more things to do.

Making all Letters from list CAP's is easy enough but I want to at least get the word list up next to puzzle without the clues to use as a printout from your favorite Word Processor.

I am hoping to give this to great nieces and nephews to use with their vocabulary and spelling lists. Wait... they still do that don't they? ;-))

Yeah and the Elements list is for the budding scientists for 3-4 year old Sheldon like folks. :)

Maybe instead of BLUS as filler, we could use their own name!

Oh better put words in alpha order, Sheldon would like demand that.

[bplus]

Puzzle Builder #5 coming soon, meanwhile here is a 28x28 letter grid with all 118 Elements placed:
 

Here is where they're at:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1.  
2.  Search Word Solutions:
3.             Words from: Elements Word List.txt
4.  
5.  First Letter Location and Direction:
6.  
7.    1)        ACTINIUM (7, g) >>>---> North West
8.   2)        ALUMINUM (k, k) >>>---> South East
9.   3)       AMERICIUM (h, 1) >>>---> West
10.   4)        ANTIMONY (k, 7) >>>---> North East
11.   5)           ARGON (a, f) >>>---> South West
12.   6)         ARSENIC (7, k) >>>---> South West
13.   7)        ASTATINE (o, 5) >>>---> South West
14.   8)          BARIUM (0, r) >>>---> North
15.   9)       BERKELIUM (4, k) >>>---> North East
16.  10)       BERYLLIUM (n, r) >>>---> North West
17.  11)         BISMUTH (0, l) >>>---> North
18.  12)         BOHRIUM (f, l) >>>---> South East
19.  13)           BORON (l, 2) >>>---> South West
20.  14)         BROMINE (f, o) >>>---> North West
21.  15)         CADMIUM (g, 2) >>>---> West
22.  16)         CALCIUM (c, 0) >>>---> West
23.  17)     CALIFORNIUM (n, 9) >>>---> South
24.  18)          CARBON (b, a) >>>---> South East
25.  19)          CERIUM (5, g) >>>---> North West
26.  20)          CESIUM (5, r) >>>---> East
27.  21)        CHLORINE (b, 8) >>>---> South East
28.  22)        CHROMIUM (7, f) >>>---> North West
29.  23)          COBALT (5, b) >>>---> South West
30.  24)     COPERNICIUM (g, 2) >>>---> South East
31.  25)          COPPER (d, 8) >>>---> South East
32.  26)          CURIUM (5, r) >>>---> North West
33.  27)    DARMSTADTIUM (g, 0) >>>---> South East
34.  28)         DUBNIUM (b, h) >>>---> South West
35.  29)      DYSPROSIUM (9, 9) >>>---> South West
36.  30)     EINSTEINIUM (k, g) >>>---> North West
37.  31)          ERBIUM (5, i) >>>---> West
38.  32)        EUROPIUM (c, j) >>>---> North
39.  33)         FERMIUM (e, l) >>>---> South East
40.  34)       FLEROVIUM (8, 2) >>>---> South West
41.  35)        FLUORINE (j, h) >>>---> South East
42.  36)        FRANCIUM (3, j) >>>---> North East
43.  37)      GADOLINIUM (b, f) >>>---> South
44.  38)         GALLIUM (r, h) >>>---> North
45.  39)       GERMANIUM (8, f) >>>---> North West
46.  40)            GOLD (8, h) >>>---> East
47.  41)         HAFNIUM (8, o) >>>---> North East
48.  42)         HASSIUM (q, i) >>>---> North
49.  43)          HELIUM (5, 2) >>>---> South West
50.  44)         HOLMIUM (j, l) >>>---> South East
51.  45)        HYDROGEN (3, q) >>>---> North East
52.  46)          INDIUM (6, q) >>>---> North West
53.  47)          IODINE (q, 5) >>>---> South West
54.  48)         IRIDIUM (o, g) >>>---> North West
55.  49)            IRON (g, 3) >>>---> South East
56.  50)         KRYPTON (k, 1) >>>---> East
57.  51)       LANTHANUM (b, j) >>>---> South West
58.  52)      LAWRENCIUM (l, l) >>>---> North West
59.  53)            LEAD (j, o) >>>---> South East
60.  54)         LITHIUM (q, r) >>>---> North West
61.  55)     LIVERMORIUM (k, e) >>>---> South West
62.  56)        LUTETIUM (q, r) >>>---> North
63.  57)       MAGNESIUM (g, 1) >>>---> South West
64.  58)       MANGANESE (b, o) >>>---> North West
65.  59)      MEITNERIUM (p, a) >>>---> North West
66.  60)     MENDELEVIUM (f, 9) >>>---> South East
67.  61)         MERCURY (9, 1) >>>---> West
68.  62)      MOLYBDENUM (p, j) >>>---> North
69.  63)       MOSCOVIUM (8, 9) >>>---> West
70.  64)       NEODYMIUM (g, f) >>>---> South East
71.  65)            NEON (a, 5) >>>---> West
72.  66)       NEPTUNIUM (d, 4) >>>---> South East
73.  67)          NICKEL (i, r) >>>---> West
74.  68)        NIHONIUM (7, 6) >>>---> South West
75.  69)         NIOBIUM (6, g) >>>---> North West
76.  70)        NITROGEN (c, 4) >>>---> West
77.  71)        NOBELIUM (6, h) >>>---> South East
78.  72)      ORGANESSON (a, d) >>>---> South West
79.  73)          OSMIUM (q, 6) >>>---> South
80.  74)          OXYGEN (d, i) >>>---> South East
81.  75)       PALLADIUM (0, 1) >>>---> South East
82.  76)      PHOSPHORUS (g, j) >>>---> North West
83.  77)        PLATINUM (j, 1) >>>---> South East
84.  78)       PLUTONIUM (i, 4) >>>---> South West
85.  79)        POLONIUM (7, c) >>>---> North West
86.  80)       POTASSIUM (g, j) >>>---> South East
87.  81)    PRASEODYMIUM (n, 1) >>>---> South West
88.  82)      PROMETHIUM (g, j) >>>---> North East
89.  83)    PROTACTINIUM (j, 1) >>>---> South West
90.  84)          RADIUM (i, 0) >>>---> West
91.  85)           RADON (m, 2) >>>---> East
92.  86)         RHENIUM (d, l) >>>---> South East
93.  87)         RHODIUM (0, 0) >>>---> East
94.  88)     ROENTGENIUM (4, 2) >>>---> South East
95.  89)        RUBIDIUM (o, j) >>>---> North
96.  90)       RUTHENIUM (8, 8) >>>---> West
97.  91)   RUTHERFORDIUM (0, 0) >>>---> South East
98.  92)        SAMARIUM (7, p) >>>---> North West
99.  93)        SCANDIUM (r, 3) >>>---> South West
100.  94)      SEABORGIUM (5, l) >>>---> North East
101.  95)        SELENIUM (7, a) >>>---> West
102.  96)         SILICON (r, 3) >>>---> South
103.  97)          SILVER (n, 0) >>>---> West
104.  98)          SODIUM (h, q) >>>---> West
105.  99)       STRONTIUM (4, j) >>>---> South East
106. 100)          SULFUR (d, 3) >>>---> West
107. 101)        TANTALUM (q, n) >>>---> North West
108. 102)      TECHNETIUM (9, a) >>>---> North East
109. 103)       TELLURIUM (j, e) >>>---> South East
110. 104)      TENNESSINE (l, e) >>>---> North West
111. 105)         TERBIUM (j, k) >>>---> North West
112. 106)        THALLIUM (j, k) >>>---> South
113. 107)         THORIUM (6, 8) >>>---> North West
114. 108)         THULIUM (2, q) >>>---> East
115. 109)             TIN (l, e) >>>---> South East
116. 110)        TITANIUM (f, p) >>>---> West
117. 111)        TUNGSTEN (f, 4) >>>---> South East
118. 112)         URANIUM (7, 8) >>>---> North East
119. 113)        VANADIUM (7, 2) >>>---> South West
120. 114)           XENON (3, 2) >>>---> South East
121. 115)       YTTERBIUM (k, j) >>>---> South West
122. 116)         YTTRIUM (n, 3) >>>---> South West
123. 117)            ZINC (o, 4) >>>---> North East
124. 118)       ZIRCONIUM (i, k) >>>---> North West
125.  
126.  Total Norths: 8, Total Souths: 5
127.  Total Easts: 6, Total Wests: 16
128.  Total NWs: 23, Total SWs: 22
129.  Total NEs: 28, Total SEs: 10
130.  
131.  Message in unused letters: bplus
132.  
133.  

[bplus]

Wait was that a fluke?

Lightning strike twice in a row! all 118 Elements in a 28x28 this time it tool only 7476 tries:
 

Solution set:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1.  
2.  Search Word Solutions:
3.             Words from: Elements Word List.txt
4.  
5.  First Letter Location and Direction:
6.  
7.    1)        ACTINIUM (e, p) >>>---> North East
8.   2)        ALUMINUM (e, p) >>>---> East
9.   3)       AMERICIUM (8, g) >>>---> West
10.   4)        ANTIMONY (d, j) >>>---> South East
11.   5)           ARGON (o, 5) >>>---> North
12.   6)         ARSENIC (0, 8) >>>---> North
13.   7)        ASTATINE (8, c) >>>---> North West
14.   8)          BARIUM (4, b) >>>---> South East
15.   9)       BERKELIUM (4, b) >>>---> North East
16.  10)       BERYLLIUM (i, i) >>>---> South East
17.  11)         BISMUTH (q, 8) >>>---> North
18.  12)         BOHRIUM (q, 8) >>>---> West
19.  13)           BORON (i, 0) >>>---> South West
20.  14)         BROMINE (9, 8) >>>---> South East
21.  15)         CADMIUM (7, p) >>>---> West
22.  16)         CALCIUM (l, e) >>>---> South East
23.  17)     CALIFORNIUM (h, b) >>>---> South East
24.  18)          CARBON (6, 8) >>>---> South West
25.  19)          CERIUM (8, d) >>>---> South East
26.  20)          CESIUM (b, 2) >>>---> West
27.  21)        CHLORINE (o, 7) >>>---> North West
28.  22)        CHROMIUM (a, i) >>>---> South East
29.  23)          COBALT (l, r) >>>---> West
30.  24)     COPERNICIUM (a, i) >>>---> North East
31.  25)          COPPER (p, 7) >>>---> South
32.  26)          CURIUM (l, r) >>>---> East
33.  27)    DARMSTADTIUM (l, 1) >>>---> South West
34.  28)         DUBNIUM (6, 1) >>>---> West
35.  29)      DYSPROSIUM (9, 9) >>>---> South West
36.  30)     EINSTEINIUM (d, f) >>>---> South East
37.  31)          ERBIUM (6, 4) >>>---> South West
38.  32)        EUROPIUM (k, n) >>>---> North East
39.  33)         FERMIUM (e, 0) >>>---> West
40.  34)       FLEROVIUM (2, d) >>>---> South East
41.  35)        FLUORINE (e, 9) >>>---> South East
42.  36)        FRANCIUM (a, e) >>>---> South
43.  37)      GADOLINIUM (9, b) >>>---> South West
44.  38)         GALLIUM (j, a) >>>---> South
45.  39)       GERMANIUM (b, q) >>>---> North West
46.  40)            GOLD (b, 8) >>>---> South East
47.  41)         HAFNIUM (6, 3) >>>---> South West
48.  42)         HASSIUM (p, 6) >>>---> North West
49.  43)          HELIUM (1, 4) >>>---> South
50.  44)         HOLMIUM (6, o) >>>---> West
51.  45)        HYDROGEN (k, h) >>>---> South West
52.  46)          INDIUM (r, n) >>>---> North West
53.  47)          IODINE (p, 5) >>>---> North
54.  48)         IRIDIUM (q, a) >>>---> South
55.  49)            IRON (0, c) >>>---> East
56.  50)         KRYPTON (o, 9) >>>---> North West
57.  51)       LANTHANUM (r, d) >>>---> North
58.  52)      LAWRENCIUM (5, h) >>>---> South East
59.  53)            LEAD (e, f) >>>---> North West
60.  54)         LITHIUM (f, p) >>>---> North West
61.  55)     LIVERMORIUM (r, d) >>>---> South West
62.  56)        LUTETIUM (r, j) >>>---> North West
63.  57)       MAGNESIUM (8, m) >>>---> West
64.  58)       MANGANESE (e, q) >>>---> West
65.  59)      MEITNERIUM (a, 3) >>>---> South
66.  60)     MENDELEVIUM (a, c) >>>---> South West
67.  61)         MERCURY (q, q) >>>---> West
68.  62)      MOLYBDENUM (i, e) >>>---> South
69.  63)       MOSCOVIUM (b, 0) >>>---> South West
70.  64)       NEODYMIUM (3, h) >>>---> South East
71.  65)            NEON (e, d) >>>---> South East
72.  66)       NEPTUNIUM (9, q) >>>---> North East
73.  67)          NICKEL (5, n) >>>---> West
74.  68)        NIHONIUM (9, q) >>>---> North West
75.  69)         NIOBIUM (l, 9) >>>---> North East
76.  70)        NITROGEN (d, 7) >>>---> North East
77.  71)        NOBELIUM (d, 7) >>>---> North West
78.  72)      ORGANESSON (9, a) >>>---> North East
79.  73)          OSMIUM (a, n) >>>---> North East
80.  74)          OXYGEN (9, p) >>>---> North West
81.  75)       PALLADIUM (j, 8) >>>---> South East
82.  76)      PHOSPHORUS (n, 1) >>>---> South
83.  77)        PLATINUM (c, g) >>>---> South East
84.  78)       PLUTONIUM (h, f) >>>---> South East
85.  79)        POLONIUM (7, h) >>>---> West
86.  80)       POTASSIUM (j, 8) >>>---> North West
87.  81)    PRASEODYMIUM (n, 1) >>>---> South West
88.  82)      PROMETHIUM (f, 1) >>>---> South East
89.  83)    PROTACTINIUM (7, 3) >>>---> South East
90.  84)          RADIUM (o, f) >>>---> North
91.  85)           RADON (l, o) >>>---> West
92.  86)         RHENIUM (l, q) >>>---> North East
93.  87)         RHODIUM (0, 0) >>>---> East
94.  88)     ROENTGENIUM (4, 2) >>>---> South East
95.  89)        RUBIDIUM (1, c) >>>---> North East
96.  90)       RUTHENIUM (k, k) >>>---> North
97.  91)   RUTHERFORDIUM (0, 0) >>>---> South East
98.  92)        SAMARIUM (5, e) >>>---> South East
99.  93)        SCANDIUM (p, g) >>>---> South West
100.  94)      SEABORGIUM (d, 4) >>>---> South East
101.  95)        SELENIUM (7, q) >>>---> West
102.  96)         SILICON (r, f) >>>---> North West
103.  97)          SILVER (r, m) >>>---> South
104.  98)          SODIUM (0, f) >>>---> North
105.  99)       STRONTIUM (g, i) >>>---> North
106. 100)          SULFUR (r, i) >>>---> South West
107. 101)        TANTALUM (8, b) >>>---> South East
108. 102)      TECHNETIUM (9, r) >>>---> North West
109. 103)       TELLURIUM (g, d) >>>---> South West
110. 104)      TENNESSINE (d, 9) >>>---> North
111. 105)         TERBIUM (9, r) >>>---> East
112. 106)        THALLIUM (7, a) >>>---> South West
113. 107)         THORIUM (h, 6) >>>---> North East
114. 108)         THULIUM (6, a) >>>---> South West
115. 109)             TIN (2, 2) >>>---> South West
116. 110)        TITANIUM (2, 2) >>>---> South
117. 111)        TUNGSTEN (9, r) >>>---> West
118. 112)         URANIUM (8, i) >>>---> North East
119. 113)        VANADIUM (p, f) >>>---> North West
120. 114)           XENON (f, f) >>>---> North
121. 115)       YTTERBIUM (8, a) >>>---> West
122. 116)         YTTRIUM (k, q) >>>---> West
123. 117)            ZINC (b, 6) >>>---> North West
124. 118)       ZIRCONIUM (i, b) >>>---> North West
125.  
126.  Total Norths: 11, Total Souths: 10
127.  Total Easts: 5, Total Wests: 18
128.  Total NWs: 18, Total SWs: 18
129.  Total NEs: 25, Total SEs: 13
130.  
131.  Message in unused letters: bplus
132.  
133.  

Start time 1:34 PM file time 1:41 PM = 7 minutes