The XWord Info Finder page helps constructors find words that match a pattern, for example to fit into a corner of a grid where certain letters are locked in place by theme entries. But normal Finder searches are limited. To find words that match patterns like “letters in backward alphabetical order” or “three consecutive double letters” requires the more powerful Regular Expressions or RegEx.
The problem is that RegEx syntax is arcane and unintuitive, even for seasoned programmers.
In my ongoing quest to provide useful tools for constructors, I decided to tackle that problem with the new Auto Regex tool. It’s currently still in Beta, meaning its available to Angel-level users who have joined the Beta program, but depending on feedback I may roll it out more broadly later.
How does it work?
The idea is that you describe in English what you’re looking for, and I try to figure out how to convert that to RegEx. If I can, I kick off a Finder search using it. The Examples section here has lots of ideas, and you can see results of those by clicking the links, even if you’re not yet a beta user.