I've been working on this off and on for the past little while, and I'm finally pretty well complete. I have released my final version in the zip file below.
The package includes an executable jar, a Windows executable file, and a sample puzzle that can be opened with the solver.
Features:- NEW! The solver can now be used on 9x9, 16x16, and 25x25 puzzles.
- NEW! Users can navigate from cell to cell using the arrow keys.
- NEW! Invalid puzzles are now recognized and the user is notified.
- Users can save puzzles to file and open them at a later date (see below for formatting)
- Users can display the possible values for every cell rather than solving the puzzle.
- The original puzzle can be recalled after solving.
- ANY puzzle is solved as long as a valid solution exists (even if you don't fill in any squares).
File Format:
If you want to prepare a sudoku puzzle in notepad, instead of entering in the GUI cells. Just make a text file and put each value on a new line. Be sure to save the file as either a .txt or a .sudoku. By default, the "Save..." function appends the .sudoku extension. If there is an unknown, just leave the line blank. In other words, for the puzzle:
1 _ 5 | 2 3 4 | _ 7 8
.........
The file would look like:
1
5
2
3
4
7
8
...
Non-Windows Users:
For those who are unable or unwilling to use the provided .exe file, the program can be run from the command line using:
java -jar sudoku.jar
Known Issues:- Switching between different sized puzzles with the "Possible Values" tab open will result in undesirable appearance. NOTE: This has been addressed and corrected and will be available at the next file update.
- The solver does NOT operate with letters, only numbers for all puzzles.
- Solving a 25x25 puzzle can take a long time.
Thanks for your time and interest.