SOLVING A SUDOKU PUZZLE

The solving of a SUDOKU puzzle is guided by a red focus cell which can be moved about the puzzle by pointing and clicking with the mouse or by means of the cursor keys.

Any character which is typed at the keyboard will be placed into the focus cell.

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.

If you are familiar with some of the more advanced SUDOKU solving techniques (X wing, Swordfish etc), you may 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 SUDOKU puzzles currently available on your computer.

    • Quit Solving
      Returns you to either the SUDOKU 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 Symbol
      If you need a little help to get started, this option will place the correct symbol 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.

    • Request a Hint
      This option will highlight one or more puzzle cells in blue to indicate the location within the puzzle where further progress can be made. In addition an automatic Help screen will appear giving you a detailed description of the strategy you will need to apply.

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

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