Implementation of .puz crossword puzzle file parser based on .puz file format documentation here: http://code.google.com/p/puz/wiki/FileFormat

import puz

# Load a puzzle file:
p = puz.read('testfiles/washpost.puz')

# Print clues with answers:
numbering = p.clue_numbering()
solution = puz.Grid(p.solution, p.width, p.height)

print('Across')
for clue in numbering.across:
    answer = solution.get_string_for_clue(clue)
    print(clue['num'], clue['clue'], '-', answer)

print('Down')
for clue in numbering.down:
    answer = solution.get_string_for_clue(clue)
    print(clue['num'], clue['clue'], '-', answer)

# Print the grid:
grid = puz.Grid(p.fill, p.width, p.height)
for row in range(p.height):
    print(' '.join(grid.get_row(row)))

# Unlock a scrambled solution:
p.unlock_solution(7844)

# Print the unscrambed solution grid:
solution = puz.Grid(p.solution, p.width, p.height)
for row in range(p.height):
    print(' '.join(solution.get_row(row)))

# Save a puzzle with modifications:
p.fill = 'LAMB' + p.fill[4:]
p.save('example.puz')

# Convert from Across Lite text format to .puz:
p2 = puz.read_text('testfiles/text_format_v1.txt')
p2.save('example2.puz')

The parser is as strict as Across Lite, enforcing internal checksums and magic strings. The parser is designed to round-trip all data in the file, even fields whose utility is unknown. This makes testing easier. It is resilient to garbage at the beginning and end of the file (for example some publishers put the filename on the first line and some files have a rn at the end).

In addition to the handful of tests checked in here, the library has been tested on over 9700 crossword puzzles in .puz format drawn from the archives of several publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Onion, and, the Wall Street Journal. As of writing, it can round-trip 100% of them with full fidelity.

To run the full suite of tests: tox

To run tests using the currently installed version: pytest

To run a subset of tests on python 2.7: python2 -m unittest tests

All currently supported python3 versions are supported. Python 2.7 was supported, and may still work, though ongoing support is not guaranteed.

• .puz file format
• .txt file format
• Archive of NYT daily puzzles 1993 - August 2021
• .puz to .pdf file converter

MIT License.