The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[Ruud]

I have created a new variation, which requires a whole new set of solving techniques.

Here is your first HaniDoku puzzle:



There are lines in 3 directions, =, \\ and //. Each line must contain a set of unique consecutive digits. For lines of length 9, digits 1-9 are mandatory, but there are also shorter lines of size 5,6,7, and 8. These lines can contain different sets, as long as they are consecutive. This fact can be used when you solve the puzzle.

A new HaniCue program has been developed and I launched a new website to support it, www.hanidoku.com.

The following string can be pasted in HaniCue:

HQV1G0000040000760000030082950000000000000000000000300058003700000

This program is the only software available that can make, solve and help you to play this variant. It has a step solver and has markup and digit filters. Many copy and paste options have been added. Sumocue players will recognize the easy handling.

A low bandwidth version of the above puzzle can also be made with the program:

Code: Select all

         / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
        | . | . | . | . | . |
       / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
      | 4 | . | . | . | . | 7 |
     / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
    | 6 | . | . | . | . | . | 3 |
   / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
  | . | . | 8 | 2 | 9 | 5 | . | . |
 / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
 \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
  | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
   \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
    | . | . | . | 3 | . | . | . |
     \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
      | 5 | 8 | . | . | 3 | 7 |
       \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
        | . | . | . | . | . |
         \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /

You can download the program from the new website.

If you want an introduction to HaniDoku and see another sample, follow this link to a topic on another forum.

Ruud

[udosuk]

Patterns like this remind me of the famous "Magic Hexagon" which is unique:

Code: Select all

     / \ / \ / \
    | 3 | . | . |
   / \ / \ / \ / \
  | . | . | . | . |
 / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
| . | . | . | 6 | . |
 \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
  | . | . | . | . |
   \ / \ / \ / \ /
    | . | . | . |
     \ / \ / \ /

Fill in the numbers 1..19 to this hexagon so each line will sum to the same total.

[Ruud]

Hi Udosuk.

If you like variations with only a few clues, try this HaniDoku:

Code: Select all

         / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
        | . | . | . | . | . |
       / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
      | . | . | . | . | . | 7 |
     / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
    | 4 | . | . | . | . | . | . |
   / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
  | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
 / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
| . | . | . | 5 | 6 | . | . | . | . |
 \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
  | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
   \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
    | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
     \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
      | . | . | . | . | . | . |
       \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /
        | . | . | . | . | . |
         \ / \ / \ / \ / \ /

It has only 4 clues and a unique solution:
8476563524747983565631247872856913454712368639847547325686547

But I have not found a logical path to solve it, yet.

For easier HaniDokus, you can also check out my daily hanidoku.

Ruud

[Lardarse]

1 bug: It doesn't respond to te numpad keys, even with numlock on.

Other than that, it looks very interesting...

[nj3h]

Looking forward to getting into you new program.

A few questions.

Under SOLVER, what is the difference between Random Solution and Solve?

I presume all puzzles have unique solutions?

Is there an undo function?

How do you enter pencil marks?

Thanks for helping me get started.

Regards,
nj3h

[Ruud]

Hi nj3h,

Random Solution generates a random hanidoku grid. That is of no use for you yet, but will be, once I'm finished implementing hanidoku killer mode. My SumoCue program also has such a design mode function.

Every HaniDoku puzzle has a unique solution. A brute force backtracking solver verifies it.

Unfortunately, there is no Undo function yet, but there will be soon.

You enter pencilmarks by activating the Markup tool (press M). Use the checkboxes at the bottom of the window, or use alt+number to toggle a pencilmark.

cheers,
Ruud

[nj3h]

Ruud,

For some reason, the Save menu option is grayed out. I cannot save the game, using the Save command. I can copy/paste to a text file. Perhaps the Save menu item will be activated later.

I notice that when I hit the M key, then auto pencl marks work just fine. Is there a way to manually enter pencil mark? Perhaps a way to bring up the pencil marks number check box in the lower right corner, without auto pencil marks turned on, to allow manual entry could be an option.

Also, once I place an entry into a cell, how do I delete it? The delete key (or any other key I could find) doesn't clear the cell.

Regards,
George

[nj3h]

Hi Ruud,

A couple more thoughts added 9 Jul:

In the random create menu choice, the choices are easy and hard. Do these correspond to gentle and moderate from your daily puzzles? Will other difficulty levels be available in the future?

When a puzzle doesn't have a solution, the solver doesn't post a message saying that. Recommend you do that at some point in the future. Also, stepping through the solution should have a message when the puzzle reaches a point that it cannot be solved.

More on the save issue: I noticed if I enter a puzzle (new), then the save menu item is available. I think it ought to be available for puzzles that are randomly generated as well.

I think this is a great puzzle variant and am enjoying it very much. Thanks for making it available.


Regards,
George

[Ruud]

George,

Thanks for your suggestions. The program does need some rework.

I have precious little time early this week, but I will take a closer look at your suggestions later, when I have time to work on a new version.

Maybe it's better to use my support forum for such questions. Wayne does not like other software being supported through his forums, and I do agree.

cheers,
Ruud.