A MINESWEEPER puzzle consists of a square or rectangular grid in which a number of mines have been laid. Some of the cells contain a hazard flag which has a
number indicating how many of the adjacent cells (horizontally, vertically and diagonally) contain a mine. To solve the puzzle, you must determine which of the
un-flagged cells contain a mine. Each puzzle has a unique solution and no guessing is required to reach a correct solution. Puzzles can be built either manually or
automatically in sizes from 6x6 up to 14x14.
Menu Functions
Use this option to choose your puzzle from the pool of MINESWEEPER puzzles currently available on your computer.
If you have done some manual editing of the puzzle, this option will save those changes under the existing file name.
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 minesweeper
folder along with all of the Minesweeper 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.
Returns you to the Magnum Opus opening screen.
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.
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.
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.
Manual construction of a MINESWEEPER 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. Simply move the cursor cell around the puzzle, and type the
required values into the appropriate 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 a message that the puzzle is not valid.
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.
This will take you to a custom print screen where you can control the details involved with printing your puzzle.
This will take you to a Solve screen which provides a fully interactive environment for solving the puzzle.
This option will export a set of files which implement a fully working interactive MINESWEEPER 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.
Use this option to eliminate unwanted MINESWEEPER puzzles from your file system.
Displays the Help screen which you are now reading.
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