All about PUZ Files

The PUZ file type is primarily associated with Across Lite.

PUZ	File extension: PUZ
	File type:	crossword puzzle data

What is a PUZ file?

PUZ files mostly belong to Across Lite by Literate. PUZZ or PUZ files fall in two categories: game data and compressed files. Compressed files use encoding algorithms to compress one or multiple files into smaller archives in size. Game data usually contain graphic and sound assets used by a game or application.

• Game files: PUZZ files contain electronic crossword puzzles. They're available to play or print on different Across Lite software. These files contain one single crossword puzzle to be filled out by the user. PUZZ files are primarily provided by different publications such as the New York Times, etc. They're given as free bonus features and download content for premium subscribers. Their filename typically contains the date of publishing. for example, apr0911-4.puz.
• Compressed files: The PUZZ compression format is used by Microsoft Publisher's Pack and Go Wizard. These files are compressed publications converted into a standard Publisher document to make transferring it to different devices easier. These files can only be opened and read using Microsoft Unpack and are accessible only on Windows based systems.

How to open a PUZ file

You need a suitable software like Across Lite to open a PUZ file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your PUZ file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a PUZ file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online PUZ Text Viewer

Choose your .puz file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to extract texts from PUZ files or capture a screenshot to PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...

1. To do this, click the button "Choose your .puz file to view" on this page.
2. After your file is opened in browser,
3. click "Save as..." in the menu.
4. Then choose the file format (e.g. JPG, PDF, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
5. Your file will be converted and downloaded.

PUZ file format:

Every file has a defined file format, i.e. how the data is arranged in the file. Often, the file format can be deduced from the file extension or the initial bytes (called the signature). Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. When there is a problem with a file, the first step to solving it is to determine the file format. Our analysis of the PUZ files produces the following result:

PUZ is not a commonly used file extension and mainly uses a special format. The following file formats are most commonly found in PUZ files:

• 85% of all PUZ files start with the bytes ACROSS&DOWN crucial for this file format. These files are plain text, which means they can be viewed with any text editor such as Windows Editor, Nano for Linux, and TextEdit for macOS. The files are on average 2 KB in size and range from 1 KB to 2 KB. This file type is based on cutting-edge technology. Certain words are almost always found in the files, such as ACROSS&DOWN. Files like these are sometimes connected to puzzle, crossword, themeless, cryptic, index, mini, normal, grids, times and good.
• 7% of all PUZ files have the same signature DC+. If you open these files in a text editor, you will see only illegible characters. PUZ files can be up to 3 MB in size, but are often around 28 KB - 140 KB. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. Datacomp Krakow, KOSZTORYS v and BUDYNKU. These files are often associated with przedmiar and etap.

The remaining 8% of all PUZ files are files with no common format, the following 3 formats exist: Microsoft Publisher document. Often described as packed. If you want to find out what your PUZ file contains, drag and drop it onto this page.