How to Build a Computer-Based Maze

Creating your own personal, computer-based maze may be something you've always wanted to do, yet something you've never learned how to do. Whether you want to create an online, computer-generated maze or build a maze yourself through Microsoft Word, you'll find it's easy after following a few basic steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Maze generator software
• Microsoft Word

Build a Computer-Generated Online Maze

1. Follow the instructions and/or steps provided by the maze generator you've selected.

2. Type in the title of your maze.

3. Select the shape of your maze (most are rectangular, but other shapes are available, such as square, oval, circle, cut-out and wheel/donut).

4. Choose and enter the size of your overall maze.

5. Choose and enter how many pixels you'd like each maze square--or cell--to be.

6. Decide how you want the computer to build paths. Different methods are available--an online maze generator will generally allow you to choose the style.

7. Click "Create" (or related command telling the computer to build your maze).

Build a Maze Through Microsoft Word

8. Open a new document ("File," "New") in Microsoft Word on your computer. Save the document ("File, "Save As").

9. Click "Tables and Borders" on the standard toolbar and select "Insert Table."

10. Choose the number of columns and rows you would like for your maze in the "Insert Table" dialog box.

11. Double space the cells ("Format," "Paragraph," then select "Double" under "Line Spacing").

12. Type in "Start" and "End" in two different cells within your grid. This will represent the starting and ending positions in your maze. For example, you could put the starting position in the upper left-hand corner and the end point in the bottom right-hand corner.

13. Use the "Border" icon on the toolbar to start removing cell walls to create the maze path from "Start" to "End."

14. Give your maze a title and print it out.

Tips & Warnings

• Save your maze document in Word using your initials and the word "Maze" to label it clearly.
• Use the "Drawing" toolbar in Word to add diagonal lines and thick lines for your maze, and to use "WordArt" for your maze title.
• Include extra paths that lead to dead ends for increased maze difficulty.
• Add clipart to your Word-based maze ("Insert," "Picture," "Clipart") for visual appeal.