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PREFERENCES

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Below is a quick reference followed by more detailed documentation. There are some handy shortcuts for certain actions that may not be obvious, particularly if you are on a device with a keyboard.

Quick Reference:
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Starting a game:
1. use the NEW button
2. select a dictionary (word list)
3. look up opponent (exact username required)
4. click/tap the "START GAME WITH ..." button

Navigating between games:
* the NEXT button goes to the next game in which it is your turn (or which has just ended) (keyboard: N, also P=previous)

Putting tiles on the board:
* option 1: one tile at a time: click/tap a tile to highlight it, then click/tap on a board square to put it there
* option 2: use a projection: click/tap on the board to show a line of numbers (click/tap again to change its direction; Shift-click forces vertical), then click/tap on rack tiles (or use keyboard) to place them along that projection (keyboard note: use Shift to force the use of a blank)

Removing tiles from the board:
* click/tap on a single board tile to return it to the rack
* click/tap on an empty rack slot to return all tiles to the rack (keyboard: Escape)

Moving tiles around on the rack:
* click/tap a tile to highlight it, then click/tap another tile or empty rack slot to move it
* click/tap MIX button to randomly reorder tiles (keyboard: s (shuffle))
* click/tap AZ button to order tiles alphabetically (keyboard: a)

Chat:
* to open: click/tap on CHAT button (keyboard c)
* to close: click/tap on X in corner of chat dialog, or on game board (keyboard: Escape)
* to send message: type in text box, then type Enter or click/tap ">" button

Miscellaneous:
* to dismiss highlighting of most recent play: click/tap anywhere on the board, rack or on the rectangle above the board indicating the score of the play (keyboard: h -- toggles play highlighting on/off)


User Manual
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This document is intended to be a reference for how to use the Zigzaggy Words interface. You can play Zigzaggy Words on any device with a web browser: laptop, desktop, tablet, phone, and so on. If you are on a device with a keyboard (laptop or desktop), there are numerous keyboard shortcuts available that you might find useful.

GAMES:
In Zigzaggy Words, you can have multiple ongoing games at once. There is currently no time limit on games, nor on individual turns.

To start a new game, click/tap the NEW button, select the dictionary (more below), and type in the name of your opponent. There is currently no way to search for players other than if you already know their exact usernames. (This will improve in time.) Once you find another player, click/tap the "START GAME WITH ..." button.

Word lists (dictionaries):

The North American English (NAE) word list primarily reflects the language of US and Canada (as well as much of their British influence), but does not include as many words found in other English variants around the world. The World English (WE) word list is inclusive of English as spoken in all parts of the world. It is the only list used outside of the US and Canada for sanctioned word game events, and is becoming increasingly common in North America as well. Not surprisingly, the World English list is much larger. Please note: both dictionaries contain words which would be considered vulgar or offensive in a general context.

To navigate between games, use the NEXT button, which goes to the next game in which it is your turn, or to unacknowledged completed games (Shift-N and also Shift-P for previous).

[documentation is still a work in progress ...]