SOLVING A FUTOSHIKI PUZZLE

Futoshiki puzzles are built on square grids of typically 5x5 cells (although puzzles having sizes in the range 4x4 up to 8x8 can also be made). To solve them you must place numbers into the puzzle cells in such a way that each row and column contains each of the digits less than the size of the puzzle. In this respect they are similar to Sudoku puzzles. To give the solver a start, there will normally be several numbers already in the puzzle.

In addition, a few pairs of adjacent cells will have < and > symbols inserted between them to indicate the relative sizes of the numbers within those cells.

Any character which is typed at the keyboard will be placed into the focus cell (outlined in red), provided that it is not greater than the dimension of the puzzle.

The location of the focus cell may be shifted by means of the cursor control keys or by pointing and clicking with the mouse.

Under default conditions, the program displays in each unsolved cell, the set of candidate symbols which might legally be placed into that cell. Whenever a solution symbol is placed into one of the cells, the list of candidate symbols in other cells is automatically updated.

By the application of some logical reasoning, you will see that certain of the listed candidate symbols cannot possibly be a solution for the cell in which they are shown. Such candidates may be removed by pointing and clicking with the mouse. When the last candidate symbol is removed from a cell, it becomes the solution symbol for that cell.

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

    • Quit Solving
      Returns you to either the FUTOSHIKI Build screen or the Magnum Opus opening screen.

  • 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.

    • Toggle Assist Mode
      If you prefer to solve these puzzles without the assistance of the candidate symbols, they can be turned on and off using this option.

  • Tasks Menu
    • Undo
      This option will undo in reverse order, each of the operations you have done on the puzzle.

    • Reveal One Number
      If you need a little help to get started, this option will place the correct number into the current focus cell.

    • Reveal Errors
      If you think you may have made errors, this option will show you where they are by highlighting them for a period of 1.5 seconds.

    • Reveal Solution
      The entire solution can be seen by selecting this option.

    • Begin Again
      You can restart the entire solution process at any time by selecting this option.

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