While cubes with marked centres make use of the same macros used for standard cubes with unmarked centres, some extra macros and instructions are added when marked centres are in use. Macro command (definition) files to reflect the differences need different filenames and content. The differences are listed in the following table.
Filename | Function |
urvcmdnn.txt | Used when unmarked centres are in use and cover the size range "nn" equals 2 to 99 (program limit but actual limit may be different depending on available vertical and horizontal pixels). |
urvcmdnnm.txt | Used when marked centres are in use and, if the cube size is odd numerical or corner rotation of the absolute centre cubie is applied if the cube size is within the numerical marking range. Any marking above the numerical marking limit uses the corner marking style. |
urvcmdnns.txt | Used when marked centres are in use and rotation of absolute centre cubie for odd size cube is simulated. The simulation can be applied to odd size cubes in the 3 to, typically, 31 limit (one less than the upper limit indicated above). Since the simulation requires the next size up even cube for the simulation, the "s" identifier can be used only for even size cubes in the size 4 to 32 (typically) range for a size 3 to 31 simulation. The form of marking used for absolute centre cubie rotation simulation is not the default option (the default is corner marking as in the previous item). |
The default macro set for cubes with unmarked centres is intended to assist users to solve those cubes with some restraints on the sequence. The sequence that has a good match with the default macro set is:
Alignment of centre, edge and corner cubies in bottom layer.
Alignment of all the remaining centre cubies.
Alignment of the remaining edge cubie sets (with some position and orientation alignment of final layer edge cubies left till next step).
Alignment of top layer corner and edge cubies.
For cubes with marked centres the preferred sequence is:
Alignment of centre, edge and corner cubies in bottom layer.
Alignment of the remaining edge cubie sets (with some position and orientation alignment of final layer edge cubies left till next step).
Alignment of top layer corner and edge cubies.
Alignment of all the remaining centre cubies except for those on the top face.
Alignment of the top layer centre cubies.
When cubes with unmarked centres are used, the default macros may be of little use in the early stages of unscrambling a cube. However, while macros are always usable for more than 50% of the placements, the figure is not much greater than 50% for cubes of large size. The more complex cubes that have marked centres are likely to involve a much higher percentage of placements using macros.
The General help, provided by this Unravel Online Help dialog, and the Macro help also available while the Unravel program is run, do not attempt to provide guidance on how to unscramble the portion of the cube for which macros are not provided, and on how to handle some tricky unscrambling steps that may be required in conjunction with the use of some macros. Some people, especially beginners, may appreciate a small amount of help in these areas. For cubes with unmarked centres that help is provided in the supporting document cubesolving.pdf. For cubes with marked centres that document still applies but additional help is given in markedcubesolving.pdf.