Sudoky

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Sudoky - Help Guide

Getting Started

Welcome to Sudoky! The goal is to fill the 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 subgrids contain all of the digits from 1 to 9.

Main Controls (Above the Grid)

• Difficulty Selector: Choose your desired difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert, or Custom).
  • Standard difficulties determine how many numbers are pre-filled. A new puzzle of the selected difficulty will be generated when you click the '+' icon.
  • Custom: Allows you to enter your own puzzle. The grid will be empty for you to fill. Instructions appear below the grid.
• New Puzzle / Reset (+ Icon):
  • Single Click: Generates a brand new Sudoku puzzle based on the selected difficulty (unless in Custom mode, where it might clear the board for new custom entry if not yet started).
  • Double Click: Resets the current puzzle to its initial state, clearing all your entries but keeping the original clues. If it's a custom-inputted puzzle that has been started, it resets to your entered numbers.
• Start Solving Button (Only in Custom mode): After entering your numbers for a custom puzzle, click this button to lock them in, validate the puzzle, and begin solving.
• Solve (🔍 Icon): (Disabled during Custom mode until puzzle is started)
  • Hold Down: Temporarily reveals the complete solution for the current puzzle. Release the mouse button to hide it and revert to your progress.
  • Double Click: Fills in the entire solution for the current puzzle permanently. The timer will pause.
• Timer (MM:SS Display):
  • Shows the time elapsed on the current puzzle. (Remains 00:00 during Custom mode until puzzle is started).
  • Single Click: Starts the timer if it's at 00:00, or pauses/resumes the timer if it's already running. A paused timer will have a distinct background.
  • Double Click: Resets the timer to 00:00 and stops it.
• Settings (⚙️ Icon): Opens the main settings panel where you can customize game features.

Footer Icons

The icons in the footer provide quick access to several features:

• Display Settings (🌙/☀️ + Slider): Toggles dark mode and adjusts overall page brightness.
• Print (🖨️ Icon): Opens your browser's print dialog to print the current Sudoku grid.
• Save (💾 Icon): Saves your current game progress as a JSON file.
• Load (📤 Icon): Loads a previously saved Sudoku JSON file.
• Help (❓ Icon): Opens this help guide.

Interacting with the Grid

• Selecting a Cell: Click or tap on an empty cell to select it. If "Selected Cell Follows Mouse" is enabled in settings, the cell under the mouse cursor is automatically selected.
• Entering Numbers (Normal & Custom Input): Type 1-9. Mouse Wheel / Arrow Keys (Up/Down) in selected cell also cycle numbers. (Arrow keys will cycle values directly if cell is selected).
• Clearing a Cell (Normal & Custom Input): 0 or Delete Key. Right-Click also clears.
• Navigation: Arrow Keys or Tab (if "Selected Cell Follows Mouse" is disabled, and cell is not editable for arrow key value cycling).
• Deselecting a Cell: Press Escape (Esc) or click outside.
• Hovering/Clicking (Track numbers mode): Shows a 3x3 mini-grid in the cell for marking/unmarking numbers. Double-click a number in this mini-grid to enter it into the cell. Double-click an empty editable cell to activate its tracking grid.
• Hovering (Show Available Numbers mode): Shows a mini-grid of legally placeable numbers. Double-click an editable cell to activate its candidate popup (shows current number if any).
• Hovering (Highlight Same Numbers mode): Highlights all other cells with the same number.
• Mobile: Single Tap (Empty Cell): Opens a 3x3 number grid to select a value. This grid includes:
  • Pencil (✏️) Icon: Toggles pencil mode on for the current entry. When active, tapping a number adds/removes a "pencil mark" instead of entering the number directly.
  • Peek (👁️) Icon: Temporarily reveals the correct number for the selected cell on the main board.
  • Clear Button: Clears the number and all pencil marks from the cell.
• Mobile: Double Tap (Editable Cell): Clears the number from the cell.

Mobile Mode (Desktop Emulation)

When enabled in the Settings panel on a desktop computer, this mode changes how you interact with the grid to mimic the experience on a mobile phone or tablet:

• Single Click (Empty Cell): Instead of selecting the cell for keyboard input, a single click will open the 3x3 number grid, just like a tap on a mobile device.
• Double Click (Editable Cell): Clears the number from the cell.
• This mode is designed for users who prefer the tap-style input method even when using a mouse. Standard keyboard navigation and input are disabled in this mode.

Game Settings (⚙️ Panel Options)

• Show Control Buttons: Toggles visibility of main controls.
• Highlight incorrect numbers: Highlights user entries that don't match the solution.
• Missing numbers for hint display: Threshold for row/column hint popups.
• Enable Hints (10th row/col): Shows hint row/column and "Used" numbers grid. (Default: OFF)
• Show Available Numbers (on cell hover): Shows valid numbers on hover if "Track numbers mode" is OFF.
• Track numbers mode (pencil marks): Enables manual tracking.
  • Low/High Opacity: Adjusts opacity of tracked numbers.
  • Keep tracking grids visible: Makes tracking grids "sticky" on selected cells.
• Highlight Same Numbers: Highlights identical numbers on hover.
  • Highlight Color: Choose the color for this highlight.
• Show Row/Column Guides: Highlights the entire row and column of the currently selected cell.
• Selected Cell Follows Mouse: If checked, the main selected cell will follow the mouse cursor. Keyboard navigation for cell selection will be disabled.
• Emulate Mobile Mode: Simulates mobile tap-based controls on a desktop computer.
• Game Help & Controls Guide Button: Opens this help guide.

Keyboard Shortcuts (Summary)

(Behavior might differ slightly during the Custom Input phase vs. normal solving. Arrow key navigation is disabled if "Selected Cell Follows Mouse" or "Emulate Mobile Mode" is active.)

• Selected Cell (Blue Highlight):
  • Arrow Keys (Up/Down): Cycle through numbers (1-9) in editable cells. (Up increases, Down decreases). Otherwise, navigate (if "Selected Cell Follows Mouse" is OFF).
  • Arrow Keys (Left/Right), Tab: Navigate (if "Selected Cell Follows Mouse" is OFF).
  • Enter, Space: Activate input mode (purple).
  • 1-9: Enter number.
  • 0, Delete: Clear cell.
  • Backspace: Undo/Clear.
  • Escape: Deselect.
• Input Mode (Purple Number): (Cell is selected and ready for direct number change)
  • Arrow Up/Down, Mouse Wheel: Cycle through numbers (using defined cycle order).
  • Left Click on the cell: Increments the current number (cycles 1-9).
  • 1-9 Keys: Directly enter/overwrite the number.
  • Enter Key: Confirm the entered number and exit input mode.
  • Escape Key: Cancel input, revert to original value (if any), and deselect cell.
  • Arrow Left/Right, Tab Key: Confirm number and navigate to the next/previous cell (if "Selected Cell Follows Mouse" is OFF).
  • Backspace Key: Undo last input or clear the cell.