Using the Zudoku Program Using the Zudoku ProgramIf any Starting numbers or Solved numbers you enter conflict, the program will highlight the conflicting cells with a red border. Also, Group lights will change from green to red to indicate a conflict within a column, row, or box.
If you set a small number to Possible, but that same number is a Solved or Starting number in the same column, row, or box, then the cell you just changed has an error highlight. This only happens when the current cell is changed, and does not affect the Group lights.
While entering Solved numbers, you will find that somewhere else in the same column, row, or box that number was previously marked as Possible. Of course it is no longer Possible, but it is not flagged right away so that you have time to make obvious corrections after your solution without being annoyed by error warnings. If you want to see all of these conflicts right away, select "Menu/View/Test and Show Errors".
If you have solved every cell of the puzzle and all group lights are green, then you are done!
If you are stuck, the computer can give you hints on what to do next. Menu/Hint has the same list of strategies as Menu/Solve. The difference is that the solve menu immediately makes all changes possible with that strategy, while the Hint menu finds where the next change could be made. At that point it displays a hint message describing the strategy and changes it would make. The user can choose how to proceed:
Hints can be a great learning tool. Select a specific strategy under Hints to get great examples of how they are applied. Of course, not all strategies apply to every puzzle.
Note that before selecting a Hint for more advanced strategies, you must first "Mark Conflicts as Impossible". This is done with Menu/Solve/ Mark Conflicts as Impossible.