BUILDING TENTS PUZZLES

A Magnum Opus TENTS puzzle consists of a square or rectangular array of squares in which some of the squares contain a tree, with the remainder containing only grass. The puzzle is solved by placing tents into selected grassy squares so that each tree has its own tent (either horizontally or vertically), and each tent has its own tree (either horizontally or vertically). The squares in which tents are placed must not touch on either the sides or the corners. Numbers located to the side and to the bottom of the puzzle tell you how many tents are in each row and column. The Magnum Opus TENTS construction function allows you to build puzzles in sizes from 5x5 up to 16x16.

Menu Functions
  • File Menu
    • Load a Puzzle
      Use this option to choose your puzzle from the pool of TENTS puzzles currently available on your computer.

    • SaveAs
      This option allows you to make an exact copy of the current puzzle using a different file name. The copy will be saved in the tents folder along with all of the Tents puzzles you have made. Alternatively, if you don't enter a new name for the puzzle, you can change the Puzzle Description, or any of the other descriptive items without changing the puzzle name.

    • Quit Construction
      Returns you to the Magnum Opus opening screen.

  • Build Menu
    • Start a New Puzzle
      This option presents you with a dialog into which you can enter a file name for your new puzzle. You can also enter several other pieces of information such as a Puzzle Title, Author and Copyright information.

    • Build Options
      Use this option to access a Build Options dialog where you can set some rules to be followed by the puzzle building function as it builds your puzzle.

    • Start / Stop Building
      Construction of the puzzle will commence when you select the Start / Stop Building option. If puzzle building is successful you will receive a message containing the name of the puzzle file, and the location where it was saved. If it becomes necessary, you can interrupt the building process by selecting this option a second time.

  • View Menu
    • Display Options
      This leads you to a dialog box in which you can change the colors of various elements within the puzzle, and control the fonts which will be used for the puzzle's text components. You can also decide if printing of the puzzle will be done in black and white or in color.

  • Tasks Menu
    • Print this Puzzle
      This will take you to a custom print screen where you can control the details involved with printing your puzzle.

    • Solve this Puzzle
      This will take you to a Solve screen which provides a fully interactive environment for solving the puzzle.

    • Export as Applet
      This option will export a set of files which implement a fully working interactive TENTS puzzle as a Java Applet. These files can be uploaded to your web server to enable you to publish interactive puzzles in your own web pages. Read the topic  Exporting an Applet  for more details.

    • Delete this Puzzle
      Use this option to eliminate unwanted TENTS puzzles from your file system.

  • Help Menu
    • Tents Help
      Displays the Help screen which you are now reading.