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Basic Actions and Helpers


Basic Actions


Starting a new game:

You can start a new game using "new random game" from tool bar or File->New game. It will open the generator dialog which will start to frame a new random game. The type of the game ie two player, one player, time game, puzzle size can be changed from settings menu or from settings->settings->Game. The File->select game should be understood. You can start a one player game or two player game directly from the File menu, but still it would get the time preference from the setings->settings->Game.

generator in action


Generating easy, normal and difficult... puzzle:

By customizing the generator and solver, you can generate puzzle with varying diffculties. The customization in the generator will allow you to get to a puzzle quickly, while customizing the solver will create puzzles with varrying difficulties. If it takes more time to generate or solve the puzzle then uncheck the detect visible doublets triplets etc and detect hidden doublets triplets etc, they are the time consuming loops in the program. This is more evident in 16x16 puzzle. If you like to generate 16x16 puzzle then check these two options only if you have a super computer or can wait for a day.

The threshold is the limit under which no algorithms are used to rule some possible candidates. The generator has a random position marker which will decide the candidate's cell. I can guarentee that it is very rare you will see a conflict at a threshold level of 16 in 9x9 puzzle. So, Why use advance alogrithms unneccesarily and waste time. For a 16x16 puzze guess threshold of 84 is sufficient.

You can also switch between symmetric or asymmetric puzzles from settings->settings->generator.

The generating speed also depends on the aesthetic of the generator ie by disabling console messages and draw figures on the puzzle box you will save a lot of time.

Creating and playing custom puzzle:

Choose File->create puzzle will reintitialize the puzzle box with empty cells. create the puzzle. Use helpers to validate and assist you in creating the puzzle. Then choose File->Play created puzzle to play your custom puzzle. The type of the game ie two player, one player, time game, puzzle size can be changed from settings menu or from settings->settings->Game. The custom puzzle is validated whether it is a true sudoku puzzle, You can disable check puzzle validity from settings->settings->preference, which will allow you to start with a empty puzzle, useful for a two player game.

Using keyboard and mouse:

Refer Mouse and keyboard navigation

Helpers


Check for conflicts:

Checks if there are conflicts in the puzzle box. ie repeated numbers within row, column or box. The conflicts are marked by lines. The lines will stay there until you click or press a key once.

Auto check conflicts

will check for conflicts after every candidate entered.

displays conflicts


Checking the solution:

If you have entered all the values then this will check the validity of the solution. it checks for two conditions, is all the cells filled and is there conflicts else it will display a congratulations dialog. This is shown as a thumbs up icon in the tool bar.

Solve the puzzle:

This will open the solver dialog which will start to solve the puzzle. The solver dialog is self explainatory. Solver is also very helpful while you are creating your own puzzle in the editor. You can enable or disable show console messages and draw figures(candidates) on puzzle box in settings->settings->preference. This shown as inkpen nip icon in the tool bar

solver in action


Fill pencil in:

Fills the puzzle box with all the possible candidates.

Remove pencil in:

Removes all the possible candidates in the puzzle box.

Auto remove pencil in:

Removes all the possible candidates at the cell where candidate is enetered and removes the candidate from the list of possible candidates in row, column and box that interact with original cell.



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