OK im making a game of scrabble in java for Computer Science.

The thing I can't work out, is how when given a string for a word and its direction (horizontal, vertical) can I check whether it goes there ( 1 char per cell-thingo without leaving the 15x15 array, and whether it will be allowed, must have a common letter with a word already placed (unless first word).

This is important so I can implement the scoring method.

Thanks in advance

llama009