Isanaki Sudoku 2.6 is Released ....

NewUrbanBlues

Hello

Isanaki Sudoku 2.6, a multilingual freeware that combines a board generator, a powerful solver and a user-friendly helper, is now released.

Amongst the new features is the possibility to print pages with mutitples boards (2, 4, 6 or 12) with solutions pages (6 or 12 boards per page)

Another new feature is the possibility to generate boards using command-lines parameters. All parameters are explained here ... http://www.tgmdev.be/command_line_parameters.php

* Languages:
- English, French, Spanish and Dutch

* Features
- Support for 9*9 and 16*16 boards
- Support for Sudoku and Wordoku
- Improved support for Wordoku Boards

- Board saving and retrieval from Isanaki binary file
- Board Import: manually, from Isanaki binary file, text files (.txt .msk .sdk .sol .spf and .ss) and clipboard
- Board Export: to text files and clipboard
- Automatic update of the pencil marks
- Data Entry by keyboard and mouse
- Fading Cells display from Start Colour to End Colour (6 differents fading styles)
- Support for Menu Accelerators
- Copy of Current Board to ClipBoard (Accelerator CTRL+C)
- 256-level of Undo-Redo
- Page Setup for Board print
- Print Board with preview
- Candidates Highlight
- Delete erroneous numbers with Delete key
- Highlight of erroneous cells
- Full colours customization
- Resizeable Window
- Keep track of Windows Size and Position from last session
- Zoom support 50% to 400%
- Blocks Separator and Grid around Board
- Smarter Self-Check for Application Updates (Once every month instead of at every session)

* Generator
- 6 levels of difficulty: from very easy to fiendish
- Generation of puzzle with Unique solution
- Generation of symmetric or non-symmetric boards
- Improved support for 16*16 boards with high difficulty level
- Custom Board generation: solving technique to use, occurrence number, difficulty level
- Improved Board Generation Speed
- Possibility to use command-line parameters to automate boards generation

- Very Fast generator

* Solver
- Brute-force algorithm or logical deduction solver
- Customizable Solving Techniques Hierarchy
- Log file of the techniques used for solving
- Very fast solver
- Addition of RemotePairs and XY-Chains
- Correction of a Weakness in Naked Triple (reported by Tarek)
- Optional use of brute force technique
- Batch processing of multiple boards with log of results and solving statistics

* Helper
- Disallow invalid entry
- Easy data entry (right-click on cell)
- Support for Multiple Cells Selection
- Display Hint graphically so that you see the logic behind the hint
- Hint Data displayed on Left Panel
- Switch at any time from Sudoku to Wordoku and vice-versa
- Addition of Shortcuts for Candidate Hightlight : mouse click on Candidate buttons while pressing the Alt Key

* Printer
- Print Boards with Settings different than Screen Settings
- Smart Display of Candidates in Paper Printouts (Candidates are located in the half top of the cells, instead of being in the center)

- Header and Footer Customization (for Single Board Printouts)
- Print Multiple Boards per Pages: 2, 4, 6 or 12 boards per page

- Print Solution Boards: 6 or 12 boards per page

Read all features and download application at the author Web Site:
http://www.tgmdev.be/free_sudoku_generator_solver_isanaki.php

Thierry

Pat · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

hi NewUrbanBlues,

why do you start a new Topic
on the same subject?

Isanaki

edit

NewUrbanBlues · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:39 am Post subject:

Hello Pat

Well, it's the new release, so not exactly the same subject ... I guess I should removed the release number from the topic name to keep the same topic again and again ... Very Happy

Besides some bugs removal, I made this version somewhat easier to use (on request of a user) and graphically more attractive ...

Here is one screenshot of the new release ..

http://www.tgmdev.be/free_sudoku_generator_solver_isanaki_screenshot1.htm

I look forward to hearing comments ...
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tarek · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

Hi NewUrbanBlues,

I like your software ....

The highlight for me is the bulk generation of puzzles with custom difficulty.

One thing that could be imptroved is to make the solving techniques heirarchy customizable. This would allow players to tailor youe solver/generator to their solving style. (This good advice is for everybody developing such a software)

Good work

tarek

NewUrbanBlues · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject:

Hello Tarek

Thanks for your positive appreciation of Isanaki. This helps me going further ...

I test your proposal with Isanaki using a poorly known feature of Isanaki: batch board processing .
Please note first that I found a bug in this feature and corrected it in the new version 2.3 .... You can download it at the site www.tgmdev.be

I test the resolution of 100 difficult boards using the current solving logic of Isanaki. I then slightly modified the software so that the logic is just reversed: the most complex techniques first ...

Here are the results .....

As you can see, impact is quite tremendous .... I'll implement your request as soon as I'll finish version 2.4 !!!!

Thanks for using Isanaki ...

Thierry

NewUrbanBlues · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

Using Isanaki 2.3, you can setup the way the boards are printed ....

Besides the different colours already available in the board display options, you can also setup the header and the footer .....

Using this menu ...

you'll be able to add board name, date, time and board level on either header or footer of the page ....

Comments are welcome ...

Pat · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:29 pm Post subject:

NewUrbanBlues · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

Hello Pat

Ooops .. I reply somehow but I don't known where it lands ....

Anyway, I was lead to mistake by some Web readings .. You're right .. Givens and clues are two words for the same things ....

How do you call the numbers that are added while solving the puzzle ?

Thanks for your comments ...

Thierry

NewUrbanBlues · Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: What About Quest

Hello

Browsing the Web for Sudoku terminology, I did not find a word for the empty cels at the start of the game. Ok for clues (or givens) but nothing for the numbers added while solving. Sudocue calls them Big Numbers (in oppositiion to small numbers, ie the pencil marks)...

So what about calling them Quest ?

Glad to hear your comments about this .....

Thierry

NewUrbanBlues · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:09 am Post subject:

Hello

I wish you all a Happy New Year 2009 !!!! May this year be full of peace, happiness and ... sudoku.

Thierry

NewUrbanBlues

Hello

Starting in release 2.4, Isanaki Sudoku performs a self-check at startup to verify the version of the local copy versus the version available at the TGMDev Web Site.

This check is made automatically while Isanaki Sudoku is displaying the splashscreen.

You can also check yourself by selecting the menu 'Help | Check for Isanaki Update' and verifying the result on screen

So you'll be warn immediately to jump to the Web Site if a new Version is available !!!

Although this is not recommended, this feature can be disabled....

campamax · Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:46 am Post subject: Isanaki hangs on update check

Hi all, I am new here.

I discovered just today the existence of a new Isanaki version, and I found a bug.

At present I am behind a proxy server, and Isanaki hangs a lot of time during startup, since - I suppose - it automatically tries to connect to the internet but does not manage to.
So, wanting to disable the automatic check, I launched the update via menu... ant it hung for VERY long!! (I had the time to come here to the forum, register, write this message: it is a matter of minutes!) Only after this I could remove the automatic check.

I would then suggest to either:
- disable the check until it is automatically checked, or
- provide a popup for the internet settings just before trying to connect, or
- check for the MS Internet Explorer connection settings.

Anyway, great work! This is the solver I prefer to use since it allows hints when you hung - the only solver I found with this capability.

The only suggestion I may have: have you ever tried "Sudoku for dummies"? It has a nice interface, allowing to use the right mouse button to switch between "pen" and "pencil" mode: with the 'pen' you write numbers, while with the 'pencil' you write/add/remove candidates. This would make the interface a bit more intuitive to use with the mouse in my opinion. Would it be a lot of work to allow the selection of the interface mode to use? I suggest this just because the candidate removal in you interface is in my opinion a bit clumsy: if I have to remove some candidates from a full row, for example, I have to click on every cewl for each candidate, click on the 'remove' panel, and then click on the candidate to remove: definitely a lot of clicks! So, every idea to shortcut this procedure shuold be appreciated.

Thanks for your solver: very, very worth to use!
___
MaX

P.S.
I REALLY appreciate it can also be run under Linux via Wine: good shot!

NewUrbanBlues

Hello Max

Thanks for your positive appreciation of Isanaki Sudoku ... despite the bug you described.

When I tested this feature on different computers, I never notice such delay when the computers were not connected to Internet. I must admit however that I'm unable to test every possible network layout.

Anyway, after reading your message, I rush on my PC and work directly to correct the problem. Now, the delay is very short when not connected. .. at least in my hands ...

The new release 2.4a will be available today, ready for download (around 23 O'clock, belgian time)

I'll be back soon with a proposal for your request .... Thanks again !!!

Thierry

campamax

Hello Thierry, thas a lot for your QUICK feedback!!
I have just downloaded the latest release, but I am currently at home on my Linux box, so I'll check tomorrow on my Windows machine and give you a feedback.

About the interface, I just experimented SudokuSusser and SimpleSudoku, and both give something close to what I mean. Susser is the version I preferred among those two (even if it is a bit too heavy and coloured for my personal taste...), but it lacks puzzle generation and fails (yes, that one too!) to connect to the internet through a proxy (untested feature that actually did not work for me), so Isanaky keeps holdin my interest high.

Continue your very good work and be proud of it!

Kind regards from Italy

campamax

Hello Thierry.

Ver. 2.4a starts immediately with no delay; if you try to force the upgrade trough the menu then it hangs again for long.
Anyway, it is now much better to have a freshly download software that starts immediately instead of hanging indefinitely!

Thanks again.

Bye
___
MaX