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Controls and keyboard shortcuts
The function of the headerbar controls are described in tooltips that appear when you hover the mouse over them and should be self-explanatory (if not, please file a issue report).
From left to right the headerbar controls are:
The current puzzle is saved to a temporary file along with the current position and move hi story if in the middle of solving. When the app is re-opened, you should be able to continue where you left off.
The puzzle re-opens in the state in which it was saved.
If previously saved or loaded from a file, saves the current state to the same file, overwriting the previous version. If a new puzzle a location to save is requested.
A location to save is always requested.
If in design mode, the puzzle grid is cleared to empty. If in solving mode, the working grid is cleared to unknown. In both cases, the move history is erased.
Goes back in history - reverts the changes to the most recently altered cell.
Goes forward in history - reverts the changes made by the most recent undo.
In solving mode, goes back in history (if necessary) until a state is reached where there are no errors in the working grid. Note that this may entail undoing some correct cells. Inactive in setting mode.
The app attempts to solve the current puzzle from the clues and if successful gives a notification of the level of difficulty. The working grid displays the final position reached (including indeterminate cells if there is more than one ambiguity).
There are three mode buttons. From left to right they are:
- "SETTING" (Keyboard shortcut -
Ctrl-1) - "SOLVING" (Keyboard shortcut -
Ctrl-2) - "GENERATING" (Keyboard shortcut to be implemented)
When "SETTING" is selected, the grid shows the solution to the puzzle. Drawing on the grid changes the clues accordingly. Cells are either filled (black) or empty (white).
When "SOLVING" is selected, the grid shows the current working position. Drawing on the grid does not change the clues. Cells may be unknown (grey) as well as filled (blue) or empty (yellow).
When "GENERATING" is selected, the grid is cleared and the app attempts to generate a puzzle with the size and difficulty selected in the options. This may take some time for large grids with high difficulty level. The header bar displays a "Generating" label, a spinner and a cancel button. Pressing the cancel button stops generating and returns to a cleared grid in the previous mode. If generation succeeds, the app entered "SOLVING MODE".
Clicking the options button displays a popup of the user adjustable parameters. Currently, these are:
- Difficulty. The relative difficulty of the generated puzzles can be selected from this drop-down list. This takes effect when the "GENERATING" mode is entered.
- Board size. The number of rows and columns may be changed using the sliders. This takes effect when the popup closes without cancelling.
- Title. This gives a title to the current puzzle and is saved in the puzzle file.
To apply any changes press "Enter" or just click outside the popup. To cancel any changes press "Escape".
- Mouse: Scroll up and down while holding
Ctrldown. - Keyboard:
Ctrl-minusmakes cells smaller,Ctrl-plusorCtrl-equalmakes cells larger.
- Mouse: Hover pointer over cell.
- Keyboard: Use arrow keys.
- Mouse: Primary click.
- Keyboard:
F.
- Mouse: Secondary click.
- Keyboard:
E.
- Mouse: Double click or Middle click.
- Keyboard:
X.
- Mouse: Press and hold the required button. Move the pointer over the cells to be painted. Release button to end painting.
- Keyboard: Press and hold the required key. Use the arrow keys to move cursor over cells to be painted. Release key to end painting.
- Mouse: Hover pointer over the clue. A tooltip displays indicating the initial degrees of freedom for that clue calculated (for a row) from:
DF = RowSize - BlockTotal - NumberOfBlocks + 1.