Since the split into random and descriptive IDs, the section on game seeds has

[sgt/puzzles] / puzzles.but

diff --git a/puzzles.but b/puzzles.but
index 17bf476..9635e20 100644 (file)
--- a/puzzles.but
+++ b/puzzles.but
@@ -90,18 +90,18 @@ menu}\q{Edit} menus instead.)
 
 \dd Starts a new game, with a random initial state.
 
 
 \dd Starts a new game, with a random initial state.
 

-\dt \ii\e{Restart game} (\q{R})
+\dt \ii\e{Restart game}

 
 

-\dd Resets the current game to its initial state. Undo is lost.
+\dd Resets the current game to its initial state. (This can be undone.)

 
 \dt \ii\e{Undo} (\q{U}, Ctrl+\q{Z}, Ctrl+\q{_})
 
 \dd Undoes a single move. (You can undo moves back to the start of the
 
 \dt \ii\e{Undo} (\q{U}, Ctrl+\q{Z}, Ctrl+\q{_})
 
 \dd Undoes a single move. (You can undo moves back to the start of the

-game.)
+session.)

 
 

-\dt \ii\e{Redo} (Ctrl+\q{R})
+\dt \ii\e{Redo} (\q{R}, Ctrl+\q{R})

 
 

-\dd Redoes a previous undone move.
+\dd Redoes a previously undone move.

 
 \dt \ii\e{Copy}
 
 
 \dt \ii\e{Copy}
 


@@ -286,12 +286,14 @@ missing. See \k{common-id} for more details on this.)
 \i\cw{NETGAME.EXE} to avoid clashing with Windows's own \cw{NET.EXE}.)
 
 I originally saw this in the form of a Flash game called \i{FreeNet}
 \i\cw{NETGAME.EXE} to avoid clashing with Windows's own \cw{NET.EXE}.)
 
 I originally saw this in the form of a Flash game called \i{FreeNet}

-\k{FreeNet}, written by Pavils Jurjans. The computer prepares a
+\k{FreeNet}, written by Pavils Jurjans; there are several other
+implementations under the name \i{NetWalk}. The computer prepares a

 network by connecting up the centres of squares in a grid, and then
 shuffles the network by rotating every tile randomly. Your job is to
 rotate it all back into place. The successful solution will be an
 network by connecting up the centres of squares in a grid, and then
 shuffles the network by rotating every tile randomly. Your job is to
 rotate it all back into place. The successful solution will be an

-entirely connected network, with no closed loops. \#{Is it also true
-that a correct solution will not contain any cycles?} As a visual aid,
+entirely connected network, with no closed loops. \#{The latter
+clause means that there are no closed paths within the network.
+Could this be clearer? "No closed paths"?} As a visual aid,

 all tiles which are connected to the one in the middle are
 highlighted. 
 
 all tiles which are connected to the one in the middle are
 highlighted. 
 


@@ -318,6 +320,21 @@ controls are:
 also unlock it again, but while it's locked you can't accidentally
 turn it.
 
 also unlock it again, but while it's locked you can't accidentally
 turn it.
 

+The following controls are not necessary to complete the game, but may
+be useful:
+
+\dt \e{Shift grid}: Shift + arrow keys
+
+\dd On grids that wrap, you can move the origin of the grid, so that
+tiles that were on opposite sides of the grid can be seen together.
+
+\dt \e{Move centre}: Ctrl + arrow keys
+
+\dd You can change which tile is used as the source of highlighting.
+(It doesn't ultimately matter which tile this is, as every tile will
+be connected to every other tile in a correct solution, but it may be
+helpful in the intermediate stages of solving the puzzle.)
+

 \dt \e{Jumble tiles}: \q{J} key
 
 \dd This key turns all tiles that are not locked to random
 \dt \e{Jumble tiles}: \q{J} key
 
 \dd This key turns all tiles that are not locked to random


@@ -361,6 +378,15 @@ from the original Net window.
 
 }
 
 
 }
 

+\dt \e{Ensure unique solution}
+
+\dd Normally, Net will make sure that the puzzles it presents have
+only one solution. Puzzles with ambiguous sections can be more
+difficult and more subtle, so if you like you can turn off this
+feature and risk having ambiguous puzzles. (Also, finding \e{all}
+the possible solutions can be an additional challenge for an
+advanced player.)
+

 \C{cube} \i{Cube}
 
 \cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.cube}
 \C{cube} \i{Cube}
 
 \cfg{winhelp-topic}{games.cube}


@@ -578,13 +604,13 @@ numbered square, and (b) the area of each rectangle is equal to the
 number written in its numbered square.
 
 Credit for this game goes to the Japanese puzzle magazine \i{Nikoli}
 number written in its numbered square.
 
 Credit for this game goes to the Japanese puzzle magazine \i{Nikoli}

-\k{nikoli-rect}; I've also seen a Palm implementation at \i{Puzzle Palace}
-\k{puzzle-palace-rect}. Unlike Puzzle Palace's implementation, my version
-automatically generates random grids of any size you like. The quality
-of puzzle design is therefore not quite as good as hand-crafted
-puzzles would be (in particular, a unique solution cannot be
-guaranteed), but on the plus side you get an inexhaustible supply of
-puzzles tailored to your own specification.
+\k{nikoli-rect}; I've also seen a Palm implementation at \i{Puzzle
+Palace} \k{puzzle-palace-rect}. Unlike Puzzle Palace's
+implementation, my version automatically generates random grids of
+any size you like. The quality of puzzle design is therefore not
+quite as good as hand-crafted puzzles would be, but on the plus side
+you get an inexhaustible supply of puzzles tailored to your own
+specification.

 
 \B{nikoli-rect} \W{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/7/index_text-e.htm}\cw{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/7/index_text-e.htm}
 
 
 \B{nikoli-rect} \W{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/7/index_text-e.htm}\cw{http://www.nikoli.co.jp/puzzles/7/index_text-e.htm}
 


@@ -604,15 +630,23 @@ When a rectangle of the correct size is completed, it will be shaded.
 
 \H{rectangles-params} \I{parameters, for Rectangles}Rectangles parameters
 
 
 \H{rectangles-params} \I{parameters, for Rectangles}Rectangles parameters
 

-The \q{Custom...} option on the \q{Type} menu offers you \e{Width}
-and \e{Height} parameters, which are self-explanatory.
+These parameters are available from the \q{Custom...} option on the
+\q{Type} menu.
+
+\dt \e{Width}, \e{Height}
+
+\dd Size of grid, in squares.

 
 

-\q{Expansion factor} is a mechanism for changing the type of grids
-generated by the program. Some people prefer a grid containing a few
-large rectangles to one containing many small ones. So you can ask
+\dt \e{Expansion factor}
+
+\dd This is a mechanism for changing the type of grids generated by
+the program. Some people prefer a grid containing a few large
+rectangles to one containing many small ones. So you can ask

 Rectangles to essentially generate a \e{smaller} grid than the size
 you specified, and then to expand it by adding rows and columns.
 
 Rectangles to essentially generate a \e{smaller} grid than the size
 you specified, and then to expand it by adding rows and columns.
 

+\lcont{
+

 The default expansion factor of zero means that Rectangles will
 simply generate a grid of the size you ask for, and do nothing
 further. If you set an expansion factor of (say) 0.5, it means that
 The default expansion factor of zero means that Rectangles will
 simply generate a grid of the size you ask for, and do nothing
 further. If you set an expansion factor of (say) 0.5, it means that


@@ -627,6 +661,17 @@ and more intuitive playing style. If you set it \e{too} high,
 though, the game simply cannot generate more than a few rectangles
 to cover the entire grid, and the game becomes trivial.
 
 though, the game simply cannot generate more than a few rectangles
 to cover the entire grid, and the game becomes trivial.
 

+}
+
+\dt \e{Ensure unique solution}
+
+\dd Normally, Rectangles will make sure that the puzzles it presents
+have only one solution. Puzzles with ambiguous sections can be more
+difficult and more subtle, so if you like you can turn off this
+feature and risk having ambiguous puzzles. Also, finding \e{all} the
+possible solutions can be an additional challenge for an advanced
+player. Turning off this option can also speed up puzzle generation.
+

 
 \C{netslide} \i{Netslide}
 
 
 \C{netslide} \i{Netslide}
 


@@ -730,6 +775,23 @@ type a digit or letter on the keyboard to fill that square. If you
 make a mistake, click the mouse in the incorrect square and press
 Space to clear it again (or use the Undo feature).
 
 make a mistake, click the mouse in the incorrect square and press
 Space to clear it again (or use the Undo feature).
 

+If you \e{right}-click in a square and then type a number, that
+number will be entered in the square as a \q{pencil mark}. You can
+have pencil marks for multiple numbers in the same square.
+
+The game pays no attention to pencil marks, so exactly what you use
+them for is up to you: you can use them as reminders that a
+particular square needs to be re-examined once you know more about a
+particular number, or you can use them as lists of the possible
+numbers in a given square, or anything else you feel like.
+
+To erase a single pencil mark, right-click in the square and type
+the same number again.
+
+All pencil marks in a square are erased when you left-click and type
+a number, or when you left-click and press space. Right-clicking and
+pressing space will also erase pencil marks.
+

 (All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
 
 \H{solo-parameters} \I{parameters, for Solo}Solo parameters
 (All the actions described in \k{common-actions} are also available.)
 
 \H{solo-parameters} \I{parameters, for Solo}Solo parameters