Word searches are one of the most popular word-based puzzles and brain teasers today. They are incredibly widespread, making appearances in various publications and websites. Given their nature, it’s no wonder that you might be interested in creating one in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote.
Apple’s iWork suite is probably the best place to make a word search. Its super simple once you get the hang of it. You’ll be able to make as many as you like and even be able to create templates so you can make new designs more quickly. While its possible to make word searches in Numbers and Keynote typically word searches are meant to be printed and filled out by hand. This would make Pages the ideal format to create them in. And with the power of tables inside Pages the process is nearly identical to Numbers and Keynote.
Before I create a layout project I try to get a good grasp of how I want it to look. I ask myself three questions.
- Who will be using this document?
- What am I trying to communicate with it?
- What would be the best way for this document to communicate that message with this document?
I know that sounds a bit simplistic, but it’s super helpful. Asking yourself these questions before can save you a lot of headaches and a lot of editing.
I remember going to my grandparents house as a kid and both my grandma and grandpa would sit in their recliners and solve word searches. It was a great way for them to excersize their brains. Their house was just full of puzzle books to solve. Every newspaper had a completed word search and every Christmas and birthday they would recieve new ones. It was one of their favoirite passtimes.
Whatever your reason for needing to create a Word search follow the steps below and you will be able to make one of your own in a short time with Pages!
Creating Word Searches in Pages
Step 1: Open up Pages and create a new “Blank Layout” template.
Image 1: Pages Template Chooser. Select “Blank Layout”
Step 2: Create a table with 20 rows and 20 columns and then size the height of the rows to equal the width of the columns. In this case I’m using 0.28 in.
Image 2: Insert a 20 x 20 table into your Pages document
Image 3: Set the Row and Column Size to 0.28 in or any equal sizes to make equal sqares.
Step 3: Turn off “Alternating row color” in the table settings. Then remove all formatting from the table. That includes all fill colors and all cell borders. Set your font and font color. And make sure your text is absolutely centered in cells. When you are done your table will look complete empty and blend in with your background.
Image 4: Create your text settings. Move text to the center of your cells.
Step 4: Select the cell of the table in the upper lefthand corner and then type the formula =CHAR(RANDBETWEEN(65, 90)). Hit enter or click off of that cell, then grab the handle and drag is across the top row of your table. Then click and drag the handle on the botom of your first row and go all the way to the bottom of your table. All of the cells in your table should have a random capital letter.
Image 5: Add Random uppercase letters to each cell.
Step 5: This may be the most obvious step, but add in your words. Select the cells in which you would like to include your word, hit ‘delete’ to remove the formulas in those cells and type out your word to replace it. Its that simple.
Image 6: Add your words to the crossword puzzle by deleting the formula in the cell you want each of your letters.
Step 6: Design the rest of your document to your liking. Don’t forget to add your word list!
Image 7: Add your word list and style the document. Simple word search shown above. With title and answers.
How to Add Random Uppercase Letters to a Spreadsheet.
It is entirely possible to just type a random uppercase letter into a cell of any spreadsheet. However sometimes you want to remove the responsibility of making that decision and let your computer do it for you. This formula will work on all modern spreasheets, and it will work in tables in Pages and Keynote. It should work on other software as well.
Use these formulas below to add random uppercase letters for word searches is some common languages.
Random English Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(RANDBETWEEN(65, 90))
Random Spanish Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1, 32), 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 193, 201, 205, 211, 218, 209))
Random German Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1, 29), 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 196, 214, 220))
Random French Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1, 39), 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 192, 194, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 206, 207, 212, 217, 219, 220))
Random Italian Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1, 32), 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 192, 200, 201, 204, 210, 217))
Random Portuguese Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1, 38), 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 193, 194, 195, 192, 199, 201, 202, 205, 211, 212, 213, 218))
Random Russian Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1, 33), 1040, 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, 1025, 1046, 1047, 1048, 1049, 1050, 1051, 1052, 1053, 1054, 1055, 1056, 1057, 1058, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1064, 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071))
Random Hebrew Uppercase Letters
=CHAR(CHOOSE(RANDBETWEEN(1, 27), 1488, 1489, 1490, 1491, 1492, 1493, 1494, 1495, 1496, 1497, 1499, 1500, 1502, 1504, 1505, 1506, 1508, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513, 1514, 1498, 1501, 1503, 1507, 1509))
Create your own complelling word searches for your classroom, family or just for fun. Check out all the word search templates we have on iWorkCommunity.com and don’t forget to leave a comment about how you use or might use this info! Enjoy!
0 Comments