BUILDING AKARI PUZZLES

An AKARI puzzle consists of a square grid in which some of the cells are painted black in the same way as in a crossword puzzle. Think of it as the floor plan of a building in which the black cells represent pillars or wall segments. The remainder of the cells represent floor area which must be illuminated by lamps placed in certain of the cells. A lamp illuminates all cells in its row and column up to the edge of the puzzle, or up to an intervening black cell. No lamp is allowed to illuminate any other lamp, and the numbers in some of the black cells indicate the number of lamps which are adjacent to that cell both horizontally and vertically. Each puzzle has a unique solution which does not require any guesswork to achieve. Puzzles can be built either manually or automatically in sizes up to 16x16.

An AKARI puzzle is constructed on a crossword grid just like a standard crossword. A number of grids suitable for building AKARI puzzles are distributed with this program, and you also have the option of making an unlimited number of new ones using the Grid Maintenance function. Be aware though that it is easy to make a grid on which Magnum Opus will find it impossible to build a puzzle so it is advisable to try a few test builds on any new grid that you do make.

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

    • Save
      If you are part-way through manually entering an Akari puzzle, and need to interrupt the process, this option will allow you to save the work you have done so far. You will be able to return to it whenever you please.

    • 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 akari folder along with all of the Akari 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.

    • Select a Grid
      Use this option to select the grid which is to be used for the puzzle. You will probably need to make use of the Grid Maintenance function to create suitable grids, and to prevent confusion, it may be a good idea to adopt a naming convention for your AKARI grids. For example you could begin their names with A_ or something similar. If you are intending to make a series of puzzles (see  Build Options ), then you can select a number of grids...simply hold down the Control key as you click-select them with the mouse. Subsequently when you make the puzzles, the grids you have selected will be used sequentially as the puzzles are built.

    • 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.

    • Test Puzzle Validity
      Manual constructiom of an Akari puzzle is not recommended. You should only attempt this if you have a valid puzzle (possibly one published in a magazine) which you would like to enter into the program. In such a case you will need to construct a new grid which matches the one you are aiming to create. When you have done this, and selected the grid into the Construction screen, simply move the cursor cell around the puzzle, and type the required values into the pattern cells. Selecting the Test Puzzle Validity option will check the validity of the puzzle. If it has a unique solution, it will be saved, and you will be advised of this. If not, you will receive the message that the puzzle is not valid.

  • 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 AKARI 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 AKARI puzzles from your file system.

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