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PostPosted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:23 am 
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Do any of you know the "trick" to import a puzzle consisting of ONLY candidates (no givens at all) into SudokuSolver? Is there a special format the candidates have to be in (i.e. dividers, etc.)? Is it different for multi-grid puzzles? I have a flower sudoku consisting of only candidates that I'm trying to import, and I keep getting a "Bad Candidate Import String" message. I've tried both opening a file and copy-pasting the candidates, and neither work.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:10 pm 
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enxio27 wrote:
Do any of you know the "trick" to import a puzzle consisting of ONLY candidates (no givens at all) into SudokuSolver? Is there a special format the candidates have to be in (i.e. dividers, etc.)? ..... I keep getting a "Bad Import String Length" message. .
Hi enxio27
I get that message too but just kept going and sometimes it worked anyway. Do you want to post the string here and someone may be able to see if there is a problem?

Have you tried using "Load" radio button just above the "Save" and "Close" buttons? Worked for me on the code string on the bottom (after putting it into a text file).

You might have to click "Extended" then select the "Puzzle type" before pressing load in order for Flower to work.


Code:
.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.
| 3456789   3456789   123456789 | 123456789 456789    456789    | 12345678  12345678  12345678  |
| 3456789   1234567   1234567   | 1234      456789    456789    | 3456789   3456789   12345678  |
| 123456789 1234567   23456789  | 1234      123456789 123456789 | 123456789 3456789   12345678  |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123456789 1234567   23456789  | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 23456789  | 123567    89        123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123567    | 89        12346789  123456789 | 1245      1245      123456789 |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123456789 456789    123456789 | 12346789  3456789   3456789   | 3456789   123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 456789    456789    | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 456789    |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 1234567   1234567   | 1234567   456789    456789    |
'-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------'
Can't paste this string into SS, have to save to a text file first.
Cheers
Ed


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:01 am 
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Ed wrote:
I get that message too but just kept going and sometimes it worked anyway.

It imported in spite of the error message? Not working here.

Quote:
Do you want to post the string here and someone may be able to see if there is a problem?

Here it is (as I mentioned previously, this is a Flower puzzle):

Code:
12489 123678 13489 23569 135689 123569 2349 23479 3479 346 3578 3478 24569 145689 125679 2389 23579 135789 1248 127 1478 23459 134589 12359 469 45679 4579 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789
23678 23478 24 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 12367 23467 279 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 2678 2367 2579 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 1456789 145679 456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 1289 123469 1234689 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 156789 12345679 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 145679 45679 1245679 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 34579 345789 24579 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 145679 45679 1245679 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789
123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 14579 12456789 1249 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 34578 346 23457 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 1349 12345679 134579 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 24679 23679 3679 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 4589 1359 13589 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 2456789 25679 56789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 3 35 468 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 139 13579 179 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 2468 2468 468
123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123456789 123469 14679 1234679 2589 235689 3569 45 1 4 145689 145689 145689 125789 12345689 134569 89 36 2368 1245689 1456789 12456789 158 34568 13456 478 16 468


Quote:
Have you tried using "Load" radio button just above the "Save" and "Close" buttons? You might have to click "Extended" then select the "Puzzle type" before pressing load in order for Flower to work.

That gives a similar error, and setting the correct puzzle type doesn't seem to help.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:43 am 
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Nah, doesn't work for me either. But I put each grid in separately and it seems to work, however, SS can't solve it. Can't see how to export the candidates/definition from SS. Would be worth trying in JSudoku (if it can do Flower) to make sure the puzzle the SS has come up with is valid. Have attached the SS file if you're interested.

Have you tried emailing Richard?


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Flower2.ssv [46.13 KiB]
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:15 am 
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Hi Ed

The program only really works Grid by Grid for Candidate import - so you have dnoe the right thing.

Create the Flower puzzle - completely empty. Go to Solve mode. Go to first grid, copy the first set of candidates and Paste Candidates. Then move to second grid, copy the second set of candidates, and Paste (ignore the warning) . . . and so on.

I get the same puzzle that you posted in the SSV and, no, SS can't solve it. A few thoughts/possibilities
1) It is a valid puzzle and SS can't solve it (even with extended guesses)
2) It isn't a solvable puzzle (Although Validate says it is, and if I make a couple of guesses myself, I can work it through to at least one solution)
3) I'm somehow importing the candidates into the wrong grids

These are what the 4 starting points look like after I import - is that right?
Code:
.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.
| 12489     123678    13489     | 23569     135689    123569    | 2349      23479     3479      |
| 346       3578      3478      | 24569     145689    125679    | 2389      23579     135789    |
| 1248      127       1478      | 23459     134589    12359     | 469       45679     4579      |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
'-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------'

.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.
| 23678     23478     24        | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 12367     23467     279       | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 2678      2367      2579      | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 1456789   145679    456789    | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 1289      123469    1234689   | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 156789    12345679  123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 145679    45679     1245679   | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 34579     345789    24579     | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 145679    45679     1245679   | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
'-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------'

.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 14579     12456789  1249      |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 34578     346       23457     |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 1349      12345679  134579    |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 24679     23679     3679      |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 4589      1359      13589     |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 2456789   25679     56789     |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 3         35        468       |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 139       13579     179       |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 2468      2468      468       |
'-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------'

.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------.
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
| 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 | 123456789 123456789 123456789 |
:-------------------------------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------:
| 123469    14679     1234679   | 2589      235689    3569      | 45        1         4         |
| 145689    145689    145689    | 125789    12345689  134569    | 89        36        2368      |
| 1245689   1456789   12456789  | 158       34568     13456     | 478       16        468       |
'-------------------------------.-------------------------------.-------------------------------'


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 2:53 pm 
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Richard:

Thanks for this. I was able to use your steps above to import the candidates, but I had to save after each grid, or it would wipe out the previous grid.

I should have mentioned that the Flower puzzle is part of a larger puzzle here:

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=140

I noted an annoying behavior that I hope you can fix. If I mis-copy a candidate string and receive a ""Bad Candidate Import String"" error, it blanks out all of the pencil marks and completely disables navigation from one grid to the next. The "undo" feature is not available, so I have to start over with a "New" puzzle and go through the steps again to define the puzzle (extended, flower, switch to solve).


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 3:16 pm 
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Ed wrote:
Nah, doesn't work for me either. But I put each grid in separately and it seems to work, however, SS can't solve it. Can't see how to export the candidates/definition from SS. Would be worth trying in JSudoku (if it can do Flower) to make sure the puzzle the SS has come up with is valid. Have attached the SS file if you're interested.

Have you tried emailing Richard?


Thanks, Ed! Actually, I manually entered the candidates into JSudoku, only to discover that there doesn't seem to be a way to print individual grids. I then exported the candidates from JSudoku, but then had difficulty with importing them into SudokuSolver.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 6:58 pm 
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enxio27 wrote:
Actually, I manually entered the candidates into JSudoku,
So hopefully this means its a valid puzzle and SS just can't solve it. Good luck yourself then! SS uses some pretty serious T&E. Perhaps the other puzzles Princess Amy made provide extra clues. I didn't look enough to understand it all.

Richard, I got the same candidates as you.

I don't switch to solve mode, just "Paste Candidates" in the original set up screen then save at the end.

Cheers
Ed


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:15 pm 
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enxio27 wrote:
I should have mentioned that the Flower puzzle is part of a larger puzzle here.

OK - presumably those satellite puzzles will provide the additional constraints to inform the central Flower puzzle - avoiding the guesswork

enxio27 wrote:
I noted an annoying behavior that I hope you can fix. If I mis-copy a candidate string and receive a ""Bad Candidate Import String"" error, it blanks out all of the pencil marks and completely disables navigation from one grid to the next. The "undo" feature is not available, so I have to start over with a "New" puzzle and go through the steps again to define the puzzle (extended, flower, switch to solve).

I'll try to take a look at it. I need to get back to have a look at the code - everything's moved on a few versions and I've had to upgrade developer tools etc. I've put a new version on the website just to try to get it compatible to Windows 10 and the new .NET framework - fixing a smal cosmetic issue along the way.


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 6:46 pm 
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Hi Richard
A problem with the new version on your website: the "Options" menu is unusable! I use Windows 7. Lots of it is missing. Have attached a screenshot. Can't save any changes and if you tick any boxes (the few you can see) it won't use them after you close the window. This is with V3.6.3 Actually, I just noticed that the "About" menu is also cut off.

I had to switch to my old computer (with the old version of SS) to be able to tick all the solvers to try and solve that Flower.

Cheers
Ed


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