Extract text from Crossword files (PUZZLE)
To convert PUZZLE Crosswords to another format, you need Stand Alone Crosswords or other Game software.
To convert other file formats to the "Puzzle Data File" file type, you need software like Stand Alone Crosswords or a similar tool.
A .puzzle file is primarily an XML-based crossword puzzle data file used by applications like Crosswords by Stand Alone, Inc. and Crossword Puzzle Maker. It stores structural grids, textual clues, answers, and the metadata required to generate interactive puzzles.
The main disadvantage of the .puzzle format is its software-dependent, siloed nature. Users cannot natively open, share, or print these files without installing the specific original application. You cannot simply view a .puzzle file in a web browser or standard office software, creating massive friction when trying to share a custom crossword with friends or students.
For broader accessibility, the ideal conversion targets are PDF (to retain the visual grid for printing) or TXT and CSV (to extract raw text clues and answers). However, because the visual rendering logic is proprietary to the app, standard online converters almost always fail to map the grid correctly.
Just drag and drop your file onto convert.guru to identify the format, view it, and convert it when possible. Since the underlying structure of many .puzzle files relies on standard XML, our analysis can often bypass the proprietary wrapper, exposing the embedded text so you can inspect the internal content and salvage your clues.
Convert.Guru analyzes your PUZZLE file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted PUZZ, SCU and ATK files.
If you want to convert PUZZLE file to , you can use Stand Alone Crosswords or similar software from the "Crossword Puzzle Data Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to PUZZLE, try Stand Alone Crosswords or another comparable tool in the "Crossword Puzzle Data Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our PUZZLE converter.