Sudoku16x16Explainer

Sudoku16x16Explainer is my modifications to SudokuExplainer to solve 16x16 sudokus.

Puzzle Format

• The GUI displays solved cells and candidates using numbers 1-16.
• Load/Save and Copy/Paste use A-P for the numbers 1-16 - The other formats: 0-9A-F, 1-9A-G, 1-16 are supported via 'Options', select the format BEFORE Load/Save and Copy/Paste operations.
• Candidate input via keyboard is through keys A-P/a-p for the numbers 1-16, and keys 1-9 for numbers 1-9 - it is a better experience to select candidates using the mouse (left-click to set a candidate, right-click to remove a candidate).

A puzzle converter to the A-P format used by Sudoku16Explainer is here.

Usage - GUI

java.exe -jar Sudoku16Explainer.jar

Usage - serate

java.exe -Xrs -Xmx1g -cp Sudoku16Explainer.jar diuf.sudoku.test.serate --input=puzzle(s).txt --output=output.txt

Usage - hints, pencilmarks

java.exe -Xrs -Xmx1g -cp Sudoku16Explainer.jar diuf.sudoku.test.hints --input=puzzle(s).txt

java.exe -Xrs -Xmx1g -cp Sudoku16Explainer.jar diuf.sudoku.test.hints --input=puzzle(s).txt 1>output.txt
java.exe -Xrs -Xmx1g -cp Sudoku16Explainer.jar diuf.sudoku.test.hints --input=puzzle(s).txt 1>output.txt 2>nul

STDOUT output (long hints) should (always) be redirected to a file.
STDERR output (short hints) is for debug, it shows progress on screen, if not needed redirect this to a file or to nul.

Usage - analyze (Tester)

java.exe -Xrs -Xmx1g -cp Sudoku16Explainer.jar diuf.sudoku.test.Tester puzzles.txt puzzles.log

Usage - manual

java.exe -cp Sudoku16Explainer.jar diuf.sudoku.test.serate -m

Testing

The program is functional, and it had limited testing. The first two puzzles it was tested with (and solved) are below:

This puzzle was posted by monstersudoku here:

.F..G..O.P.M.A..
L..ACE...B.DF.O.
.O...N.BF.......
..JP..M...C..EBI
.AC.PDO..JH...E.
GMEN......B.OC..
...F....LI..HNP.
P.....N.D.K....J
A....O.M.L.....P
.CNM..HD....I...
..PD.I......CHLK
.I...CK..DPN.BJ.
NKL..M...O..BJ..
.......CI.M...N.
.J.OI.F...LKP..G
..M.O.L.H..J..C. ED=2.3/1.2/1.2

Analyzing Sudoku #1
145 Hidden Single
3 Direct Pointing
4 Direct Hidden Pair
2 Naked Single
Hardest technique: Naked Single
Difficulty: 2.3

This is monstersudoku's puzzle modified by m_b_metcalf from here:

.E..F..N.O.L.P..
K..PBD...A.CE.N.
.....M.AE.......
..IO..L...B..D.H
.PB.OCN..IG...D.
FLDM........NB..
...E....KH..GMO.
......M.C.J....I
P....N.L.K.....O
.BML..GC....H...
..OC.H......BGKJ
.H...BJ...OM.AI.
MJK......N..AI..
.......BH.L...M.
.I..H......JO..F
..L...K.G.....B. ED=9.2/1.2/1.2

Analyzing Sudoku #1
152 Hidden Single
2 Direct Pointing
5 Direct Hidden Pair
1 Naked Single
1 Direct Hidden Triplet
22 Pointing
7 Claiming
2 Naked Pair
1 X-Wing
2 Hidden Pair
1 Naked Triplet
2 Hidden Triplet
1 Jellyfish
4 Turbot Fish
18 Forcing Chain
1 Bidirectional Cycle
3 Region Forcing Chains
6 Dynamic Region Forcing Chains
5 Dynamic Cell Forcing Chains
1 Dynamic Contradiction Forcing Chains
1 Dynamic Double Forcing Chains
Hardest technique: Dynamic Region Forcing Chains
Difficulty: 9.2

Sudoku16Explainer can serate:

• tarek's 206 tough puzzles¹ from here (range: ED=3.0/1.2/1.2 - ED=9.7/1.2/1.2)
• tarek-first20 puzzles from here (range: ED=2.6/1.2/1.2 - ED=9.4/1.2/1.2)

(Non-) Issues

• Sudoku16Explainer can take a long time to solve the hardest 16x16 sudokus - be patient ...

• Sudoku16Explainer can generate a puzzle, the Difficulty level is set to Diabolical² at Maximum difficulty and cannot be changed ... - it takes some time to generate a puzzle ... - be patient ...

This is an example puzzle generated by Sudoku16Explainer:

....GF......M...
.D.F.L.A.O..KGI.
.CK.H.JE.M.P.F..
BN.PIDK.G...H.J.
..F.J.LKM..HDP.B
.......O....G.LN
.PI...HG.L.AFC..
...ND....CFO.HE.
.BG.EAP....IN...
..NDK.I.OB...AP.
PM.I....C.......
O.JEL..HFP.N.D..
.F.G...J.KHLE.CA
..H.A.E.PF.C.MN.
.OMB..D.E.G.P.F.
...K......OM.... ED=7.4/1.2/1.2

Analyzing Sudoku #1
131 Hidden Single
3 Direct Hidden Pair
6 Naked Single
1 Direct Hidden Triplet
12 Pointing
5 Claiming
2 Naked Pair
5 Hidden Pair
2 Naked Triplet
2 Swordfish
2 Hidden Triplet
1 XY-Wing
2 Direct Hidden Quad
1 Naked Quintuplet
1 Naked Sextuplet
1 Turbot Fish
1 Bidirectional Cycle
15 Forcing Chain
Hardest technique: Forcing Chain
Difficulty: 7.4

¹ tarek's 206 tough puzzles are in file test4.1g from here, use convert16x16.exe to convert to A-P format!

² Sudoku16Explainer has generated puzzles ranging from ED=2.0/1.2/1.2 to ED=10.3/1.2/1.2.

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