Creating an interactive crossword puzzle in Excel takes just five steps, so let's get started.

Note: The sample interactive crossword below is on U.S. presidents. If you have another topic in mind, feel free to adapt the instructions as necessary.

• Open Microsoft Excel.
• Click Format>Columns>Width, change the width to .75, and then click OK.
• Click File>Page Setup, and then click Landscape and OK.
• In cells A3 through J3 (horizontally), type the word WASHINGTON (one letter per cell: "W" in A3, "A" in B3, "S" in C3, and so on.).
• In cells B3:B7, type the word ADAMS vertically.
• In cells D2:D11, type the words WHITEHOUSE (no spaces).
• Save your work; name the file "USPresidentsPuzzle."
• Highlight all the cells, from A1:J12.
• Right click (or Control Click on a Mac) inside the highlighted area, and then left-click (or click once on a Mac) Format Cells.
• Choose the Border tab and click Outline. Choose the Alignment tab and select Center in the pull-down menu beneath Horizontal. Click OK.
• Click outside the highlighted area to remove the highlighting.
• Hold down the Control button (or the Command button on a Mac) and highlight one of the words you typed.
  1. Right click (or Control Click on a Mac) inside the highlighted area and then left click (or click once on a Mac) Format Cells.
  2. Choose the Border tab, click Outline, and then click Inside to make a box for that puzzle clue. Click OK.
  3. Click outside the highlighted area to remove the highlighting.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 above for each word in the puzzle.
     
     

Next: Finishing the basic puzzle!