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.
Menu Functions
Use this option to choose your puzzle from the pool of FUTOSHIKI 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 futoshiki
folder along with all of the Futoshiki 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.
If you wish to build your FUTOSHIKI puzzles manually, you can do so by typing digits directly into the puzzle. The < and >
symbols can be entered by issuing a mouse click when the mouse cursor is pointing to the space between a pair of adjacent cells. You would
normally only adopt this strategy if you were wanting to enter an existing puzzle...possibly one which you found published in a magazine or
puzzle book. Clicking the Test Puzzle Validity button will tell you the status of your design:-
If there is a single unique solution to the puzzle you have entered, the puzzle will be saved automatically, and you will receive
a message telling you where it was saved.
Otherwise you will receive a message box telling you that The current puzzle is invalid.
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 FUTOSHIKI 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 FUTOSHIKI puzzles from your file system.
Displays the Help screen which you are now reading.
|