Majan College (University College)

Technology Project Final

Report
Crossword puzzles

Submitted by: Asma Abdullah Saleh Al Hashimi

Student ID No. 15201154

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ABSTRACT

This document exposes all the specifics required for designing the crossword puzzle ". It's a
desktop application developed using the programming language C# (Visual studio 2012) for the
ease of playing the crossword puzzle. The applications target groups are those people who are
interested in solving puzzles as well as those who face difficulties in solving them. It's designed
for the sake of helping people to develop their skills in solving the puzzles, improve their
language and allow them to practice their vocabularies.

This type of puzzles in normal makes the forms of rectangular or a square network of the shaded
squares. The aim is to fill in the white squares with letters, putting words or phrases, by resolving
clues which leading to the answers. So, it would be easy to use the tools of programming
language C# (Visual studio 2012) NetBeans to implement this puzzle especially that it uses the
geometric shapes.
As an academy student with the passage of time and the other constraints I will try to achieve the
above objectives. In this report there will be a description of the different stages of the developed
crossword puzzle game. The output of this project (crossword puzzle game) is in the form of a
simple game that can be extended with more features as it's going to be described in the
conclusion section.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I owe my gratitude to the people who supported and helped me during the time of completing my
project (Crossword Puzzle game).
Firstly, I would like to thank god for achieving the accomplishment this system.
For me it was so thrilling to works on the project of Crossword Puzzle game. Through the
work of the project, i obtained both theoretical and the practical knowledge that was considerable
significance.
I am extremely grateful to all group members faculty of the college to guiding me over this work.
I express my thanks to the Head of IT Department of, Majan College (University College), to
Lecturer Mr. Ramalingam for increasing his support. My deep sensibility of gratitude to
Lecturer,Mrs. Jacintha menezes the guide of the project, for guiding me through my project and
supporting me. She was a sense of inspiration through this project and also helped me to solve
some problems. As well as; encouraging me and for her suggestions.
As well I also give my sincere thanks to my family and friends.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SL.NO.

CHAPTER TITLE

PAGE NO.

Abstract

Acknowledgment

Table of Content

Chapter 1: Introduction

5-6

Chapter 2: Review of Literature

Chapter 3: System Analysis

8-16

Chapter 3: Project Management

18-17

10

References

19

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction
Crossword puzzles are said to be the most popular and widespread word game in the world.
This project is about designing an easy and new way of solving the crossword puzzle. The
designed application will encourage people to solve it because it's designed relatively
different than the normal form of the crossword puzzle. It will accommodate all people from
different levels not only a specific people so that everyone will have fun when they play it.
Problem Statement
Many people around the world found solving puzzle a very hard task to do. Majority of them
get a random mix of games and puzzles. I am trying to come up with a new and easy way to
solve the crossword puzzle where the player can get each question separately and have fun
while solving it.
Project Objectives

Create an easy and flexible application to be used.

To provides a way to experiment and explore our world in a safe environment.
To encourage brain activity, and stimulate bored/unchallenged minds.
Test different things such as the patience to complete a task.
To calm some people down, and make them use their brains.

Project Description
A crossword puzzle is a visual studio C# desktop application that's designed in a very simpler
way compared to the normal puzzle. It determines the player's intelligence based on the level
he is going to choose. The system will generate the puzzle based on the number of question
that will be stored in the database which will be static for all the levels. The game required
that the player is registered on the system. It includes different categories each of them will
have three levels. The game will be restricted with time so that the time counter will count
the time of playing since the game is starting. Each player will have the ability to either pause
the timer or continue it. This application will guide the player through the hints that will be
displayed as colors in the grid ("yellow" for the question's dimension and "green" for the
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correctness of the answer). The difference between the normal crossword puzzle and mine is
the way of guiding the player through the hints. It will be shown in the grid for each question
where exactly to place the letters of the answer. Once the player provides the correct answer
his score will be increased and he can proceed to solve the next question and complete the
puzzle. If the player provided the wrong answer that will affect the score and no changes will
be applied to it. At the end if the player wants to stop the game and see his score he can exit it
and a report will be shown to him with his score.

In scope:- create a successful Login form with its fine coding

- After successful login, the user would easily navigate through my simple
system.
- Each player can choose the wanted category and level of playing and he
can proceed to play the game.

Out of scope:- could not apply functionalities to check the spread of the game by adding a
counter that lists the players who played the game daily and viewing a
general report containing the needed information that illustrates how the
game was spread!
- could not implement it on Mac or Android

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CHAPTER 2: Review

of Literature

The concept of utilizing games to attract students in the process of strong

learning is it not new. Through past disparate years, educators have been
increasingly incorporating countless games into their curriculum through
teaching to be able to tact a fun. Even though this could be extremely
challenging and loss of time, reactive, cooperative and competitive games
that will be encouraging and motivating students in their learning.
MacKenty (2006) published that, its the act of problem solving that makes
games so engaging Devoid of challenge or risk of failure, games really arent
all that much fun (p. 46). Moreover; Tom Schrand (2008) discusses the
powerful capabilities of interactive multimedia Games (or activities) where
students work together as a class to categorize information in charts
By moving facts so they rest in the appropriate labeled columns (p.81).
Revisiting these types
Of games and activities can help with reiterating important information for
students. Schaller
(2006) states that iteration, or repetition of the process, is critical to support
the learning process
By encouraging experimentation, hypothesis testing and synthesis which
are all higher level thinking skill.

As Vera Mello (2001:43) explained, crossword puzzles give students a

chance to open and use their mind. In order to solve the crosswords, they
must try to understand the terms or sentences used in the crosswords. In
the other words, the students should be thinking, guessing and also deciding
as much as they can in a short period of time. Ever more, their brains will be
peaked extremely. This type is also resolved in various constitutional of
syntax, articulation& vocabulary, etc.

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A lot of thanks to the improvement of internet epoch, those who are taking
care of the game can research it with ease through internet that is available
at http://iteslj.org/games/ or http://google.com.vn

CHAPTER 3: SYSTEM ANALYSIS

I used the questionnaire method for collected enough information .first of all;
I have distributed the questionnaire among 20 number of students then
collected ,analyzed the information and made a comparison of information
between students .At the end; that I made graphs and tables to represent
and explained the results. Findings and Interpretation

1. Do you think puzzle games are important for students?

Sales

20
15

19

10
5
0
YES

1. Do you think crossword

puzzle games are important
for students?

1
NO

Yes

No

20

This chart explains the opinion of the student about the significant of crossword puzzle
games. However; it shows that 80% of students consider that a crossword puzzle
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game is important for them. As well as, 20% of students declared that a crossword
puzzle game is not important.

2. Do you think these types of games will be learning for you as student?
15
Sales

10
14

0
YES

NO

2. Do you think these types

of games will be learning for
you as student?

Yes

No

14

The second question of my questionnaire focuses on the types of puzzle

games for students. This question was asked to know the students opinion
about these types of games if it will be learning for them as student. As the
pie chart shown, almost 40% of the student agrees that the types of games
will be learning for them as student while 60% of them disagree with this
idea.

3. Do you think these games are strongly motivating students and give them chances to give their opinions in the modules?
12
10
8
6

Sales

11

2
0
YES

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NO

Yes

No

11

3. Do you think these games are

strongly motivating students
and give them chances to give
their opinions in the modules?

The third question deals with the students opinion about these crossword
puzzle games are strongly motivating students and give them chances to
give their opinions in the modules. When the question was asked, the
majority (11%) stated yes while the others no.

4.Did u try to be a winner when playing this game?

20
15
10
5
0

Sales

15
YES

4. Did u try to be a winner when

playing this game?

5
NO

Yes

No

15

The fourth question deals with the students opinion about trying to be a
winner when playing these crossword puzzle games .When the question was
asked, the majority stated yes while the others stated no.
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5.do you think most colleges are using the crossword puzzle games?
15.5
15

Sales

14.5

15

14

14

13.5

YES

NO

5. Do you think most colleges

are using the crossword puzzle
games?

Yes

No

13

10

The fifth question deals with the students opinion about if most colleges are
using of crossword puzzle games .When the question was asked, the majority
stated NO while the others stated YES .

6. Do you accept that crossword puzzle can be used by everyone?

Sales

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

40
30
20
10

GOOD

AVERAGE

6. Do you accept that

crossword puzzle can be
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POOR BE CONSISTENT

Good

Avera
ge

Poor

Be
consiste

used by everyone?

nt
11

18

The 6th question of my questionnaire focuses on the acceptance of

crossword puzzle games if could be using by everyone. This question was
asked to know the students opinion. As the pie chart shown, almost 60% of
the student agrees Be consistent that the types of games will be learning
for them as student while 30% of them disagree with this idea POOR.

7. what is your feelings when you are playing these crossword puzzle games?
14

13

12
10
Sales

8
6

0
happy

7. What is your feeling

when you are playing
this crossword puzzle
games?

sad

aggressive

nothing

happy

Sad

Aggress
ive

Nothin
g

13

The above pie chart deals with the student's opinion about their feelings when playing this
crossword puzzle games. As the table show, 80% of the students explained their feelings

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were happy while playing a crossword puzzle. On the other hands, 20% of the students
stated that a crossword puzzle game feeling nothing while playing it.

8.Do you think these games offers better & faster recommemberance?
Sales

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

30
20
10

AGREE

DISAGREE

8. Do you think these

games offers better &
faster remembrance?

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BE CONSISTENT

Agree

Disagr
ee

Be
consistent

11

18

The above pie chart deals with the student's opinion about the better & faster
remembrance that game offers. As the table show, 10% of the students showed that
they are agree. While; 20% of the students stated disagree

9.where can be using this crossword puzzle games for students?

20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

18

1
home

1
college

phone

0
ALL ABOVE

Sales

9. Where can be using this

crossword puzzle games
for students?

Home

Colleg
e

phon
e

All
above

18

The last question of my questionnaire discussed about the place could be

using this crossword puzzle games for students. This question was asked to
know the students opinion about their knowledge about this games. As the
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pie chart shown, almost 18% of the student answered that the college will be
the appropriate place using this crossword puzzle games. On the other hand;
the others chose home and phone.

Specific Requirements
Functional Requirements
1. The system must display the interface of the application.
2. The system must allow the player to enter his username and password.
3. The system must show a popup message if the entered password is
incorrect.
4. The system must show a hint [pop up message] for the player if any of
the username or password is empty.
5. The system must limit the times of entering a wrong username or
password to 3 only.
6. The system must display a confirmation message if the user clicks the
exit button.
7. The system must show the instruction for playing the game.
8. The system must allow the player to choose the desired category of the

game.

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9. The system must allow the player to decide what level of playing he
wants to choose.
10.

The system should allow the player see view his score once he

play the game.

Non-Functional Requirements

The system must be in clear English language and have a friendly interface.

The performance should be at a high speed with minimal errors.

The system must be available 24 hours.

The system should be easy to navigate and easy to be used.

It should be widely available for all the people who want to play the game.

Security measures are reinforced as each user uses a unique username and a password to login.

Operational Requirements:

NetBeans program
C#
Internet
web browser,
Ms project
Ms Word
Laptop
Processor
memory space

External Interface Requirements

User Interfaces

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The system includes help button appearing on each frame.

Displaying an error message is a standard for the wrong input.

Simple, formal screen and clear English language.

Friendly interface with standard dark writing colors with a pale background.

CHAPTER 4: Project Management

Task Name

Duratio
n

Start

Finish

Crossword Puzzle

72
days

Tue 1709-15

Wed 1812-15

Problem recognition

3 days

Thu 19-09-15

Project topic selection and proposal

13
days
3 days

Tue 17-0915
Thu 1909-15
Thu 19-0915
Sun 22-0915
Sun 29-0915
Mon 30-0915
Thu 03-10-

Project topic selection

Discussing the idea with the
supervisor
Proposal preparation

5 days

Proposal submission

1 day

Get feedback and discuss with

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1 day

1 day

Thu 03-1015
Sun 22-0915
Thu 26-09-15
Sun 29-0915
Mon 30-0915
Thu 03-10-15

the supervisor
System requirements

5 days

Functional

5 days

Non-Functional

3 days

Design

6 days

DFD

3 days

Activity Diagram

3 days

Preparing the first review report

8 days

Prepare and finalize the first

draft of SRS
Design screens (prototypes)

3 days

Prepare for the first review

presentation
First review presentation

3 days

System implementation
System testing
Documentation
Preparing and Submission of the
first draft of the final report
Final report preparation and
submission
Final presentation

2 days

2 days
25
days
3 days
10
days
4 days
4 days
1 day

15
Fri 04-1015
Fri 04-1015
Tue 08-1015
Fri 11-1015
Fri 11-1015
Wed 16-1015
Fri 18-1015
Fri 18-1015
Wed 23-1015
Fri 25-1015
Wed 30-1015
Wed 06-1115
Mon 02-1215
Sun 0112-15
Sun 01-1215
Sun 08-1215
Wed 1812-15

Thu 10-1015
Thu 10-10-15
Thu 10-10-15
Fri 18-1015
Tue 15-10-15
Fri 18-10-15
Tue 29-1015
Tue 22-10-15
Thu 24-10-15
Tue 29-10-15
Thu 31-10-15
Sun 08-1215
Wed 04-1215
Wed 11-1215
Wed 04-1215
Wed 11-1215
Wed 18-1215

2.2.3.1 Hardware Requirement

Crossword Game can be installed on a system which should meet the
following hardware requirements.
Processor: Int Core 2 Duo CPU T6500 @ 2.10GHz.
Memory: 3.00 GB.
System type: Windows 7 Professional Edition.

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Software Requirement

IDE: NetBeans 6.9 or later

Programming Language: visual studio 2012 C#
Photoshop CS5 or later (for designing graphical components)
Microsoft Office Access: used to store student and courses information and

important data needed to be used in the application

MS word: used to document the report.
MS project: used for the action plan.

Design/Implementation Constraints
go through limitations that might affect the system on both development and testing
phase and when it's available for the user.one of these constraints is that the system
won't display more than one question at a time.
Assumptions and Dependencies

The user has to provide only the username and password as an input through the login
screen.

The user has to provide the password twice correctly in order to create a new account
for him in the application.

The user can't access the system unless he login to the system with the correct details

which also used later to display his name on the game frame.
It should be kept in mind that only one question at a time should appear on the screen
for the user.

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REFERENCES
1. Crossword - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia available at 08/10/2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossword
2. Analysis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia available at 07/10/2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis
3. Algorithm to generate a crossword, available at stackoverflaw at
11/10/2014
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/943113/algorithm-to-generate-acrossword

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