To create a new crossword, go to the File > New menu, or press the button on the Toolbar, or press Ctrl + N. You will be presented with 3 options in the following dialog:
Fig. 3.3.1. New crossword dialog
Pattern option
Load the crossword from a pattern file.
A pattern file is a simple text file containing the crossword grid structure as an array of characters, where rows are delimited by a new-line symbol. The following characters may be used in a pattern file:
Alphabetic characters in the lower case, e.g. "a", "b", "c" (or any non-Latin Unicode ones)
The underscore ("_") for a blank (unfilled) character