Files that contain the extension PUZ are associated with two different programs and applications which consist of various file types. The most common association is Across Lite, but the file extension can also be created by Microsoft. PUZ files contain data and information related to the program that created them.
If the PUZ file is related to Across Lite, it is a game file type that contains a puzzle format which can be modified by the user. Across Lite is a crossword puzzle program that supports crosswords from the major newspaper publications in the United States such as the Washington Post and the New York Times. The puzzles can be used on any PC that has Windows or Mac OS X installed and provides you with a pencil and paper experience in the digital environment.
PUZ files that are associated with Microsoft are a compressed file type that allows you to reduce the size of documents created with the Microsoft Publisher application. This type of PUZ file is created by Microsoft Publish Pack and Go Wizard and provides you with a way to transmit publisher files over the Internet faster and easier.
How to Open PUZ Files
Since PUZ files are associated with multiple programs and applications, double click on the file to see if it will automatically open in a default program you have installed on your PC. PUZ files can consist of different file types, so you may already have a program which will open them.
If the PUZ files are related to Across Lite and you use Windows or Mac OS X, you can open them using the Across Lite software application by Literate Software Systems. You can download Across Lite at no cost from the CNET website and then visit the Literate Software Systems website for new PUZ files that contain new crossword puzzles. Across Lite can also be downloaded from the major newspaper websites since many of these publications have switched their crossword puzzle format to Across Lite.
PUZ files that are created by Microsoft Publisher Pack and Go Wizard can be opened using Microsoft Unpack, which is an executable (EXE) file included with Publisher.
For Mac OS X, you can open PUZ files using Apple Archive Utility, which typically comes preinstalled on a Mac PC or Dare to be Creative Archiver. You can also use Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe 2011, Corel WinZip for Mac, or the Unarchiver, which is an open source compression utility program available for download in the Mac App Store.
If you use the Linux operating system, you can open PUZ files using p7zip, which is an open source compression utility available as a free download on the SourceForge website. Other programs that will open PUZ files using Linux include Unzip and Funzip, which are also free compression utility programs.
