BUILDING KAKURO PUZZLES

A KAKURO puzzle is constructed on a crossword grid just like a standard crossword, but the digits 1 to 9 are used instead of the letters of the alpahabet. In a standard KAKURO puzzle, the Across and Down clues are simply the sums of the digits in the across and down words. A variant of this standard is to use the products of the digits for the clues. Magnum Opus will make both of these variants.

Menu Functions
  • File Menu
    • Load a Puzzle
      Use this option to choose your puzzle from the pool of KAKURO 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 kakuro folder along with all of the Kakuro 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 KAKURO grids. For example you could begin their names with K_ or something similar. If you are intending to make a series of puzzles (see Kakuro 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.

  • 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 KAKURO 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 KAKURO puzzles from your file system.

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