Sudoku Solver - Overclock.net

C-bro · 05-20-07

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.

lavieinjuste · 05-20-07

I tried it out. It is really nice. Is there any way it can get rid of the temporary files that it creates after you close the program? Just for a cleaner folder around the .exe when you are done.

I am gonna hold on to this one if that is alright with you. I have been using this msdos version of a solver, and it takes forever to enter the numbers.

C-bro · 05-20-07

Man, I can't believe I left those stupid text file things in there. I'll eliminate them in the next few minutes and post an executable jar as well. Thanks for checking it out.

lavieinjuste · 05-20-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-bro

Man, I can't believe I left those stupid text file things in there. I'll eliminate them in the next few minutes and post an executable jar as well. Thanks for checking it out.

Oh I didn't know what the files were, but when I extracted it and then closed the program, WinRAR said that there were files that were created in the directory...

and de nada..

C-bro · 05-20-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavieinjuste

Oh I didn't know what the files were, but when I extracted it and then closed the program, WinRAR said that there were files that were created in the directory...

and de nada..

Interesting. What were the files called? Originally I had an output.txt being generated to check my toString() method. I eliminated that, and I just tried running my exe from the zip file and nothing got created. Also, does the file get generated during execution, then disappear, or does it stay around?

Niko-Time · 05-20-07

If you could make a osx version that would be top notch

C-bro · 05-20-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Niko-Time

If you could make a osx version that would be top notch

Well it's to my understanding that Java is portable, in the sense that the classes are the same for every system, and it's up to your runtime environment to interpret the code for OSX. If you have a command prompt type thing in OSX, you should be able to use the included jar file by going:

java -jar sudoku.jar