The "Read puzzle" option in the File menu can be used to read grids stored in files. The files must be in one of the formats shown below. Some formats contain clues only, while others can handle clues and candidates and so are suitable for partially completed puzzles. If the file contains more than one puzzle, only the first will be read.
If the puzzle data is found to contain errors the program will automatically load up a Puzzle Entry window to allow the user to make corrections. Although this will enable the puzzle to be entered into the program IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE PUZZLE FILE.
Note that you can make sure that the entered puzzle has only one solution by using the Check puzzle option in the File menu.
At present the program can read grids stored as files or from the Puzzle entry window in the formats shown schematically below. In these schematics "x" represents a valid cell symbol ("0-9" and "."). In actual files the symbols "0" and "." are used to represent unknown values. All other symbols in the files are ignored, which means that space (" ") cannot be used for unknown symbols.
So "076000000" is equivalent to ".76......",
but " 76 " is invalid.
When a puzzle is read from the Puzzle entry window or from file the program attempts to solve it. If the file format is not recognised or if there are other errors the program will display an error window and discard the puzzle.
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx Format 1 0000000128000400000000000600902000007000004000005010000150.. Format 2 [Puzzle] xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx Format 3 xxx|xxx|xxx xxx|xxx|xxx xxx|xxx|xxx ----------- xxx|xxx|xxx xxx|xxx|xxx xxx|xxx|xxx ----------- xxx|xxx|xxx xxx|xxx|xxx xxx|xxx|xxx Format 4 x x x | x x x | x x x x x x | x x x | x x x x x x | x x x | x x x -------+-------+------ x x x | x x x | x x x x x x | x x x | x x x x x x | x x x | x x x -------+-------+------ x x x | x x x | x x x x x x | x x x | x x x x x x | x x x | x x x Format 5
*-----------* |xxx|xxx|xxx| |xxx|xxx|xxx| |xxx|xxx|xxx| |---+---+---| |xxx|xxx|xxx| |xxx|xxx|xxx| |xxx|xxx|xxx| |---+---+---| |xxx|xxx|xxx| |xxx|xxx|xxx| |xxx|xxx|xxx| *-----------* Format 6 3, 3 +------+------+------+ |*6 . 1| . 4 9|*5 2*8| | 2 .*9| . .*8|*1*6 4| | 5*4 .|*1 6*2| 7*3 9| +------+------+------+ | .*1 .|*8 . 3| . 7 .| | 8 . .| . . .| . . 1| | . 6 .| 7 .*1| . . .| +------+------+------+ | 7 . 4| . 1 .| . . 3| | 1 . .| . . .| . . 5| | . 9 .| 2 8 .| 4*1*7| +------+------+------+ Format 7 (example file) 7 3 1569 26 1589 4 269 12589 16 8 1259 1569 7 159 235 4 12359 136 2569 4 1569 26 1589 2358 2679 123589 1367 24569 7 145689 24 58 258 269 1239 1346 2456 125 14568 9 3 2578 267 12 1467 249 29 3 1 6 27 8 29 5 1 8 7 3 2 6 5 4 9 459 59 459 8 7 1 3 6 2 3 6 2 5 4 9 1 7 8 Format 8.1 for clues and candidates (example file) 7 3 1569 26 1589 4 269 12589 16 8 1259 1569 7 159 235 4 12359 136 2569 4 1569 26 1589 2358 2679 123589 1367 24569 7 145689 24 58 258 269 1239 1346 2456 125 14568 9 3 2578 267 12 1467 249 29 3 1 6 27 8 29 5 1 8 7 3 2 6 5 4 9 459 59 459 8 7 1 3 6 2 3 6 2 5 4 9 1 7 8 Format 8.2 for clues and candidates (example file) ------------------ -------------- ------------------ |7 3 1569 | 26 1589 4 | 269 12589 16 | |8 1259 1569 | 7 159 235 | 4 12359 136 | |2569 4 1569 | 26 1589 2358 | 2679 123589 1367 | ------------------ -------------- ------------------ |24569 7 145689 | 24 58 258 | 269 1239 1346 | |2456 125 14568 | 9 3 2578 | 267 12 1467 | |249 29 3 | 1 6 27 | 8 29 5 | ----------------- -------------- ------------------ |1 8 7 | 3 2 6 | 5 4 9 | |459 59 459 | 8 7 1 | 3 6 2 | |3 6 2 | 5 4 9 | 1 7 8 | ------------------ -------------- ------------------ Format 8.3 for clues and candidates (example file)
Using the "Save puzzle" options in the File menu partially completed puzzles can be saved to files. Using suboption "Without candidates" they will be saved using Format 1 with 0 marking unknowns. Using "With candidates" they will be saved using format 8.2.
