Guide to Solving the WSJ Meta with Excel/Spreadsheets

[juliet]

Many thanks, Joe! With extra time on my hands it seems like this is a good time to get more tech savvy.

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200417 WSJCC Line of Work Excel Blank

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200424 WSJCC Capitalized Letters Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates 4 additional grids, below Row 30, to highlight & mark-up.

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200501 WSJCC King Me! Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates 4 additional grids, below Row 30, to highlight & mark-up.

[Inca]

Link to 20200501 WSJCC King Me! Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates 4 additional grids, below Row 30, to highlight & mark-up.

Just saw this update (not sure where I was last week) and it definitely is less frustrating than when I used to forget to navigate with the arrow keys and just instinctively used to click on the grid...which of course took me right out of the grid. BUT, I had gotten used to it and I liked retaining the numbers. Is it just I who loses the numbers as I enter the solution in the grid?

[Joe Ross]

I had gotten used to it and I liked retaining the numbers. Is it just I who loses the numbers as I enter the solution in the grid?

Inca,

Thank you for the feedback. I've updated this week's form by adding a picture of the grid — with numbers — for reference.

This picture can be easily sized and moved around while solving. I was doing this for myself, the past few weeks, and should have thought to add it to each week's form.

Please download this week's, again, from the same link, above.

[Inca]

I had gotten used to it and I liked retaining the numbers. Is it just I who loses the numbers as I enter the solution in the grid?

Inca,

Thank you for the feedback. I've updated this week's form by adding a picture of the grid — with numbers — for reference.

This picture can be easily sized and moved around while solving. I was doing this for myself, the past few weeks, and should have thought to add it to each week's form.

Please download this week's, again, from the same link, above.

Great. Thanks.

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200508 WSJCC Build Your Brand Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates 4 additional grids, below Row 30, to highlight & mark-up.

— A blank numbered grid is copied for reference, however you may keep the Clue #s in the cells, along with answer letters.

[Joe Ross]

As a way of showing recent changes, you will find a screencap of Al Sisti's first meta puzzle in Excel form, below.

Inspired by Spotter, I have "opened" the grid within the clues to direct editing. Previously, you would have to click on a cell to right of the grid/clues, then use keyboard arrows to move left to the grid. Then, to edit, you'd have to use menu browsing to highlight, change fonts & borders, etc. Now, a right-click brings up pop-up editing choices. THANK YOU, SPOTTER!

Also, I found myself copying & pasting grids in order to try fresh approaches, or to edit a previous approach, without losing the first. Below the grid/clues, you will find multiple grids which are generated when the top grid is filled-in. In the example, below, only two extra grids are shown. For this particular puzzle, there are a total of 12 grids, including the top grid. I think that the WSJCC will have 20, going forward. Overkill? maybe, but you might find that they are handy.

You can see how the cells in the grids, below, are automatically generated when the top grid's cells are entered - WE CAN NOW CLICK ON THE CELLS TO EDIT. After completing the top grid, the lower grids will be correct.

EXPLORE! ALL FEEDBACK & SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME.

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200515 WSJCC At Odds Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates 19 additional grids, below Row 30, to highlight & mark-up.

— A blank numbered grid is copied for reference, however you may keep the Clue #s in the cells, along with answer letters.

[Joe Ross]

BICKER

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200522 WSJCC At Odds Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates 19 additional grids, below Row 45, to highlight & mark-up.

— The Grid Answer numbers are protected. You should not be able to select nor change them.

Please post here or PM with questions, concerns, or comments!

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200529 WSJCC Sound Off Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates several additional grids, below, to highlight & mark-up.

— The Grid Answer numbers are protected. You should not be able to select nor change them.

— This is the form all future Excel spreadsheets will take.

Please post here or PM with questions, concerns, or comments!

(Apologies for late posting! I was hitting some golfs.)

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200606 WSJCC Executive Search Excel Blank

NOTE changes to the blank spreadsheet:

— The grid can be highlighted directly (not under a transparent image).

— Filling in the grid creates several additional grids, below, to highlight & mark-up.

— The Grid Answer numbers are protected. You should not be able to select nor change them.

— This is the form all future Excel spreadsheets will take.

Please post here or PM with questions, concerns, or comments!

[Joe Ross]

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200613 WSJCC Head Count Excel Blank

Please post here or PM with questions, concerns, or comments!

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200619 WSJCC Two's Company Excel Blank

Please post here or PM with questions, concerns, or comments!

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200627 WSJCC One-Word Answers Excel Blank

Please post here or PM with questions, concerns, or comments!

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200703 WSJCC Stress Test Excel Blank

[Joe Ross]

Link to 20200710 WSJCC Missing Links Excel Blank