Batch Create Puzzles with Time Saver

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How to Batch Create Puzzles with Time Saver

Summary:
Time Saver allows you to batch create puzzles using multiple rows of settings, quantities, and presets. This helps automate repetitive puzzle generation tasks and makes it easier to build larger puzzle collections, books, and worksheet sets.

Overview

Creating one puzzle at a time works well for small projects.

However, when you want to create:

  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Different puzzle sizes
  • Several puzzle variations
  • Large puzzle collections
  • Puzzle books

repeating the same process manually becomes time-consuming.

Time Saver solves this problem by allowing you to create multiple puzzle-generation rows and process them together in a single run.

Each row can have its own:

  • Preset
  • Quantity
  • Puzzle settings
  • Optional word list (for supported modules)
  • Optional image list (for supported modules)

This creates a more efficient workflow for publishers, educators, and creators producing larger collections.

Required Modules

Time Saver add-on or Productivity Edition for your puzzle module.

Note: This tutorial teaches the new ‘multi-module’ Time Saver option. Older modules may use a custom Time Saver with its own tutorial.

Preparation

Before using Time Saver:

  • Configure and preview a puzzle normally.
  • Save any useful presets.
  • Decide which puzzle variations you want to generate.

For larger projects, planning your variations before building Time Saver rows can save additional time.

Step-by-Step

1. Enable Time Saver

Open a puzzle module that supports Time Saver.

Enable the Use Time Saver option in the main window.

The standard Create button becomes the Time Saver creation workflow.

2. Open the Time Saver Screen

Open the module’s Time Saver interface.

Time Saver uses a row-based system that allows multiple puzzle-generation jobs to be configured in one place.

3. Add Rows

Use Add Row to create one or more generation rows.

Each row represents a separate puzzle-generation task.

For example:

RowPurpose
1Easy puzzles
2Medium puzzles
3Hard puzzles

This allows multiple puzzle variations to be generated during a single creation run.

4. Select Presets

The Preset column lets you choose saved puzzle presets.

Using presets is often the fastest way to build a batch-generation workflow because puzzle settings can be reused without reconfiguring them manually.

5. Set Quantities

Use the Quantity column to determine how many puzzles each row will create.

Examples:

  • 10 easy puzzles
  • 20 medium puzzles
  • 20 hard puzzles

Each row can use a different quantity.

6. Edit Row Settings

Click the Settings Summary cell to edit the puzzle settings used by that row.

This opens the module-specific editor where you can customize:

  • Difficulty
  • Puzzle size
  • Puzzle variations
  • Other module-specific settings

The exact options depend on the selected puzzle type.

7. Understand the Modified Column

The Modified column indicates whether a row contains custom settings beyond the selected preset.

This is an informational field that helps identify rows that have been customized.

8. Save Your Time Saver Setup

Use the preset toolbar at the top of the Time Saver screen to save your row configuration.

This allows you to reuse the same batch workflow later without rebuilding it from scratch.

9. Generate the Puzzles

When your rows are ready:

  1. Return to the main window.
  2. Verify your output settings.
  3. Click Create (TS).

Puzzle Maker Pro processes each row and generates all configured puzzles automatically.

Word Lists and Image Lists

Some puzzle types require additional source material.

When supported by a module, Time Saver can create rows using:

  • Word lists
  • Image lists

In these modules:

  • Additional row options become available.
  • Rows can be generated from multiple source files.
  • The Word List or Image List column is used to assign the source content.

Modules that do not use word lists or image lists simply ignore these features.

Multi-Module Time Saver

Some puzzle types support mixing multiple puzzle modules within a single Time Saver setup.

When available:

  • The Puzzle Type column becomes visible.
  • Different puzzle types can be combined in one batch.
  • Each row can use a different module.

If the active module does not support mixed-module workflows, only the current puzzle type will be available.

Outcome

You can now:

  • Generate multiple puzzle variations in one run
  • Reuse puzzle presets efficiently
  • Create larger puzzle collections faster
  • Automate repetitive puzzle generation tasks
  • Build more scalable publishing workflows
  • Prepare puzzle books and worksheet collections more efficiently

Time Saver is one of the most effective ways to increase productivity when creating larger puzzle projects in Puzzle Maker Pro.

Further Reading

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