Sudoku by Yager (SBY)    

Your source for the exciting new PC-based Sudoku Puzzle program. Read on and see why this modestly-priced program (JUST $24.97) is simply not in the same league as those other Internet programs.

15 features that make the SBY program the one to own!

There are lots of great features in the Sudoku by Yager program with the ones listed above being the most unique and useful. Any one of these is unlikely to be found in competing programs and each one, standing alone, justifies the modest purchase price of only $24.97.

To appreciate what we are saying, visualize the typical Sudoku program that is available on the Internet. It will offer a traditional 9 X 9 matrix, a random-puzzle generator and, during the solving process, perhaps a few hints on the allowable digit cell options and whether or not a submitted solution cell digit is correct. And yes, it will probably be visually attractive.

But in fact, when puzzles are presented in this simplistic fashion, the solver must normally jot down the puzzle and still have a pencil and eraser handy in order to assist in the solving of intermediate to difficult puzzles. These programs are not a whole lot better than just solving a puzzle from the morning paper or purchasing a Sudoku pocket book.

But that limitation is just the tip of the iceberg!

Once you have reviewed the features of the Sudoku by Yager (SBY) program in detail you will come to appreciate just how limited the competing programs really are. Our goal is to create an electronic environment that actually makes the puzzle solving process easier, more enjoyable and conducive to improving a player's skill level.

Before discussing the 15 features of the SBY program in more detail, let's set the scene by taking a look at the screen that appears when the program is first launched. This is where all the exciting features of the SBY program can be easily accessed with just one or two clicks of your mouse, and this is where the puzzle-solving exercise takes place.

When you purchase the actual program, you will notice that as soon as it is launched, there will be a puzzle displayed and all ready for solving -- just like other guys -- but that is where the similarity ends!

Recent Postings from the Sudoku Tips Blog

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3. Benjamin Franklin and Numbers
4. Numbers Shaping Our Lives





Overview - The Opening Screen

A typical opening screen appears below. Notice that the puzzle-solving grid dominates the screen with handy mouse-driven command keys just to the right of the grid. The sample screen shows the command buttons that are alive when the user wants to enter a digit into the active yellow cell in the top, left corner of the grid. This is done by using the handy mouse-driven 9-digit numeric pad to the right of the solving grid. Notice that in this sample screen, the permitted digit options for the active yellow cell are displayed in the mini-grid at the top. This is the sort of thing that other PC programs do, but, as you will soon see, that was simply not good enough for us.



The program automatically makes other command buttons active after a cell value has been entered (note that original numbers are displayed in black with the solution digits displayed in blue). Thus, it is impossible to click on the wrong command button at the wrong time.



 

And here's a closer look at just how easy it is to navigate the program and to invoke the wide variety of features that you will soon be reading about. With the control panel that is displayed to the right, it is simple to understand the function of each command key. If you're not sure of the purpose of a particular command button simply click the right mouse button to display a useful help message.  Note that you will be able to: clear a cell enter cell values one-by-one into the Options Grid explained below Mark an OG cell value as being eliminated Clear all answers and start over Populate the entire Options Grid Clear the Options Grid Save a position in memory or in the linked database Restore an earlier positon Optionally peek at a variety of hints that will help in the puzzle solving exercise Print a puzzle

 

And now, here are more details about the 15 exciting features that are offered by the Sudoku by Yager program.

 

Feature 1 - Preserving the Culture of Sudoku

Before embarking on the creation of the Sudoku by Yager (SBY) program, the designer took a close look at how these interesting puzzles were being used out there in the real world. Here's a few of his observations:

• The solving of Sudoku puzzles appears to be a popular pastime when people are traveling or waiting for something to begin - as in the waiting room in airports, bus stations or train stations and inside airplanes, subways, buses or in parks, while waiting for a concert to begin, etc. -- the list goes on
• Players with a lot of time on their hands like to get into the routine of solving the Sudoku game in the morning paper. Those players with less spare time are content to solve one or two puzzles on the weekend.
• Sudoku puzzles are often a popular way to start the day when on holidays (or any day for that matter) while the rest of the family is sound asleep. Hey, mind exercises are just as important as physical exercises like jogging or aggressive walking.
• Book stores are packed with all kinds of Sudoku pocket books. Most include many puzzles and some hints on how to become an accomplished solver of Sudoku puzzles. Somebody must be buying these books.
• When embarking on a lengthy trip or holiday, some of the more organized Sudoku enthusiasts will actually create their own supply of puzzles by using a word processing program like Word. They will then print these self-made puzzles that have been copied from a favorite source like the local newspaper. Or, they may use a blank pre-printed grid to enter and solve puzzles they find on their travels.
• When someone finds a particularly interesting Sudoku puzzle, the solver often likes to share it with friends or relatives or have a friendly competition to see who can solve it most quickly.

So, with all this in mind, the designer has taken the liberty to define these (and similar) tendencies as the "Culture of Sudoku". Of course everybody is different so the Culture of Sudoku for one person may be quite different from someone else's definition. But you get the idea. We want the SBY program to be a lot more than a computer-based puzzle solving tool like all the other programs on the Internet.

With the SBY program you don't have to compromise your established Sudoku-solving routine. The program includes features that enhance, rather than hinder, this routine. Keep this in mind as you review the various specific features that follow. In addition, here are a few specific examples of how the SBY program will work for you.

• Is this you? Are you committed to solving every puzzle from your favorite source, but every once in a while you get busy and therefore carefully "save" the printed puzzle for future play? Why not change your routine just a bit and set aside 30 seconds or so to enter the puzzle into the linked SBY database. Thus, you'll be saving an electronic version of the puzzle instead of a paper version.
• Are you like the designer of the SBY program and want to continue solving Sudoku puzzles away from your computer? Use the SBY program to enter puzzles from your favorite source or use the hundreds of puzzles that come with the program. You can then print them out for play at a time and location that works for you. You'll never need to buy another Sudoku pocket book.
• Are you fed up with solving those tiny puzzles on flimsy paper in the local newspaper? Use the "man-sized" sheets on heavier stock paper that can be created by using the SBY program.
• The printed Sudoku grid can be designed to include a blank or completed Options Grid that is described in the next section. Avoid the frustration of entering (and erasing) all those little pencil marks into a grid that was never designed to accommodate anything more than a single digit. Pencil marks are a reality for solving intermediate and complex puzzles, so why not address this issue head on!
• Are you looking for a fast and easy way to pass an interesting Sudoku puzzle to a friend or relative? The SBY program has the answer.
• Are you tired of those wishy-washy "easy-intermediate-difficult" ratings that are so common these days? The SBY includes an innovative and precise "degree-of- difficulty" rating system. And the program will tell you right up front if there is just one solution and whether you will have to use guessing to solve a puzzle.

Keep these examples in mind and try to come up with some that we may have missed. By doing this, you will better appreciate the value of the specific features that will be described below. In the end, you will come to realize that the SBY program has been designed to work in harmony with YOUR definition of the Culture of Sudoku.

 

Feature 2 - Options Grid

The SBY program introduces the Options Grid as part of the solving process. By reading books on how to solve intermediate and complex Sudoku puzzles, you will discover that they all support the pencil and eraser industries by recommending that you jot down the possible solution digits for many cells and erase digits through the process of elimination.

Just knowing the options for a single cell in isolation is of little value. What is needed is a sophisticated worksheet sheet where options for all cells can be viewed at the same time. This feature is fully supported, but don't be concerned; the classic view is never far away. With the simple click of your mouse, you will be able to instantly toggle between the useful, but congested, Options Grid view and the clean, uncluttered classic view.

The classic Sudoku view is the default that is seen on the main screen of the SBY program.



But suppose you have a tough puzzle to solve and the classic view just doesn't do the job. What you really need is to see the digits that are eligible to be placed in each of the empty cells. You need the SBY view that includes the Option Grid.

To invoke the Options Grid (OG) view that appears below, simply click the "Switch to OG View" button as shown to the right and, in just an instant, you'll have a tool that will make your pencil and eraser obsolete. Note that this frame also reminds you of the 3 simple steps needed to solve a puzzle.



Perhaps you would like to view some real-life examples of just how useful the options grid can be and also improve your skills at solving Sudoku puzzles while you're at it. If so, check out our Insider Secrets from the Testing Department page.

 

Feature 3 - Print Useful Grid Worksheets

Your Sudoku puzzle-solving routine can be enhanced by taking a few seconds to enter a published puzzle into the program and then printing a man-sized worksheet with or without an embedded Options Grid (OG). The OG can be left blank or filled in - it's your call. You are no longer restricted to solving a puzzle on flimsy paper that is often too small to work with. In fact, you can even print a number of blank worksheets on which puzzles can be manually entered from an unexpected source. Have you noticed that Sudoku puzzles seem to pop up everywhere?

You can also print a partially completed puzzle and finish it on the train or bus on the way to work. Or, if you are taking an extended trip, you can use the program to print several new puzzles with varying degrees of difficulty from the supporting database (discussed below). Random puzzles can also be generated and printed by the program.

Imagine the puzzle below on a full-sized sheet of 8.5" X 11" paper and on heavier-than-normal paper stock.



To supplement a selection of printed puzzles from your linked database to be discussed in the next point, you can even print out a solution sheet containing up to 16 puzzles -- just like you see at the end of a Sudoku pocket book. Check out the sample graphic that appears just below. Why would you ever but another Sudoku pocket book with this level of functionality at your finger tips?



 

Feature 4 - Linked Database

The SBY program includes an associated database . Remember that we talked earlier about the "Culture of Sudoku"? Well, you can now maintain your own database of puzzles from your favorite newspaper. If you generally enjoy doing puzzles every morning but don't always have the time to do them as you find them, you can put one or more aside (electronically) to be dealt with when time permits.

Also, the database comes preloaded with hundreds of our favorite puzzles that can be instantly retrieved. You can classify each puzzle as to whether it is a favorite, how long it took to solve, the original source, the degree-of-difficulty rating, notes about interesting or unusual aspects of the puzzle, etc.

By the way, this feature of saving puzzles also lets you save a partially completed puzzle so that it can be finished at a later time. You will never have to buy another Sudoku puzzle book. Print your own full-sized matrix sheets that include new puzzles found in the linked database. And finally, at the end of the day, you will be able to retrieve a puzzle from the database using a variety of selection criteria - criteria that suits your mood at that time.

If you find a puzzle particularly interesting you can add it to your personal database for subsequent play by using the puzzle-saving screen shown below.



 

 

Feature 5 - Multiple Sources of Puzzles

The SBY program supports multiple sources of Sudoku puzzles to solve - five to be precise. These sources serve as a prelude to other features and are listed below:

1. Enter a puzzle from an external source like a newspaper, pocket book, magazine, etc. (see Feature 1 about preserving the Culture of Sudoku).
2. Import a puzzle from a text file (more on this in Feature 6).
3. Have the program create a random puzzle .
4. Retrieve a random puzzle from a supporting database (this is one of the many benefits of our linked database discussed in Feature 4).
5. The last option is fun and unique - you can actually create your own puzzle from scratch using our software. Pass it to your friends and they will be surprised (and impressed) that the puzzle is your own personal creation.

Selecting a particular source takes just one click of your mouse as shown on the graphic below. If you choose the first option of ENTERing a puzzle from an external source, then the blank grid (also shown below) can be used.





Notice that a few values have already been entered into the grid and that the cell just to the right of the 4 is ready to receive the entry of yet another digit. This action is accommodated by ckicking on the handy numeric number pad shown just below.



 

Feature 6 - Export and Import Puzzles

You can easily pass a favorite puzzle to your friends (and/or receive it from them) . The program will create a simple and easily understood text file that describes a puzzle. This file can be printed using Windows Notepad or imported directly into the SBY program. The program will tell you how long it takes you to solve a puzzle. Pass a puzzle to friends and see if they can beat your time. Or, perhaps you have simply come across a particularly interesting puzzle and want to share it with others.

The two screens below can be used to create a text file for exporting and importing a text file created by someone else. The text file itself is a simple format that can be easily read by Windows Notepad. You can appreciate the simplicity of the text file by viewing its displayed contents in the center of the screen with the corresponding grid on the left (when exporting) and on the right (when importing).





 

Feature 7 - Precise Difficulty Rating System

Are you tired of those vague "degree-of-difficulty" ratings that use phrases such as "easy", "intermediate", "difficult" and "super difficult"? The creators of the SBY program believe that their customers deserve a more meaningful rating system. Accordingly, we have developed an innovative and precise rating system based on pure math.

The system generates specific values from 1 (easiest) to 13 (most difficult). We refer to the formula as the YDD Index (for Yager Degree of Difficulty ). It is based on several factors such as the number of starting cells and, more importantly, the number of times sophisticated solving techniques must be used to complete the puzzle.

To obtain a puzzle rating you simply click on the "Evaluate" button. You'll be surprised how often a puzzle that is rated as difficult by some sources ends up getting a low rating when based on our analysis and, alternatively but less frequently, how often "easy" puzzles get a mid-range rating using the YDD Index. Could it be that other puzzle providers don't really put their hearts and souls (and God-given brains) into their rating processes?

Once you've entered or imported a puzzle, it is simply a matter of clicking the "Evaluate" button shown on the right:

Thereafter, the "Evaluate" screen as shown below will appear and the SBY program will analyze the characteristics of the applicable puzzle. The blue puzzle on the right, for example, is rated at 9 (of 13). Note that you can choose to either see or not see the final solution. Hey, we don't want to give you any hints just in case your next step (as is often the case) involves solving the puzzle that you just entered.



 

Feature 8 - Define the Puzzle: "Guessing" and "Single-Solution" Situations

While we were creating our evaluation module discussed in Feature 7, we also added a feature whereby the program will display if guesses are needed to solve a puzzle . Most people prefer to solve puzzles that require pure logic but, in fact, guessing is required from time to time in some puzzles. And guessing doesn't necessarily make a puzzle difficult - just frustrating. However, if the player knows that guessing is needed before starting, solving the puzzle becomes more interesting since it keeps the player on his/her toes while advancing to the "guess position". By the way, none of the puzzles in the SBY supporting database require guessing. Check out Feature 9 below to see how we can help the user cope with "guess" situations.

The evaluation module also determines if multiple solutions are possible. The program will not allow you to attempt to solve a puzzle that doesn't have a single unique solution.

Let's take a closer look at the information given to us by our ground-breaking Evaluation module. As seen from the sample display, we know that the selected puzzle has just one solution. It does not require guessing, has 26 starting cells and is rated as being "a bit difficult " (9) in the Yager Degree of Difficulty (YDD) Index range that extends from 1 to 13.



 

 

Feature 9 - Saving and Retrieving a Position

Have you ever noticed that, in the process of solving a tough Sudoku puzzle, you reach a point where you feel certain you're in good shape in the solving process but are not sure how to proceed? This may, or may not, be a "guess" situation as described in the preceding feature. In any event, the SBY program once again comes to your rescue. You can save a position and later, if necessary, return to that position if things do not go well.

Actually, there is a second reason why you may wish to save a position. It could be that you have run out of time and want to shut down your computer with the intention of coninuing play on an unfinished puzzle at a later time.

In the sample screen below, we can see how both of these situations can be accommodated by the SBY program. The first requires a temporary save in the computer's MEMORY and the latter calls for a more permannent save on the the computer's HARD DISK (using the linked database).



The saving-and-restoration process is easily invoked by clicking one of the main screen buttons shown below:



To help you decide the right time to save a position, you can also optionally configure the program to tell you if you're on the right track. This feature informs you of the number of incorrect cell entries that have been made. Your goal is to always have zero incorrect cell values. If you want to bail out of the puzzle and understand where you went awry, you can even display the final solution. The applicable screens that facilitate these Help features appear below.

Notice in the first sample graphic, you see a GREEN display (that is GOOD) and in the next one you see a RED display (that is BAD).



 





 

 

Feature 10 - Configurable Options

In Feature 9, the word "optionally" was used in our discussion about enabling help options. That word served to highlight the powerful program configuration options that are included as part of the program. You can define a number of program characteristics that include:

• Working grid frame and background colors
• Preferred quick-start approach
• Preferred degree-of- difficulty rating
• Preferred Windows folder where imported and exported puzzle text files will reside
• Puzzle-solving assistance options that you wish to invoke (or inhibit), including the display of incorrect cell values and the display of the final solution
• A really useful puzzle-sovling aid can be optionally selected -- you can choose to have incorrect answers highlighted, but if correct, automatic eliminations in the Options Grid will be made

The sample screen below shows the approach used by the SBY program to support a wide range of configurable options.



 

 

Feature 11 - Help Is Never Far Away

The SBY program is loaded with features but is still easy to use . This is partly because of the embedded help messages. In today's high-tech age, users are reticent to read a printed manual. With the SBY program, that is not necessary. You can right-click on every command button to view an instant explanation of what that button is all about.

In addition, there are many small "?" buttons displayed at strategic locations on every screen. Each one can be clicked to display a detailed help message that describes the purpose of an entire screen or an options frame.

We just mentioned that some users avoid manuals like the plague. But that doesn't mean that the software does not include a detailed manual - it certainly does and it covers every aspect of the many program features. It includes sample screens and explanatory supporting text along with useful hints and tips.

You will also be encouraged to email us if you're stuck or if you want to see a new feature added to the program. (Is that possible???). Most users hate those automatic email responses that promise (but never deliver) fast email turnaround. We treat our customers the way we ourselves would like to be treated and respond to all emails in a timely manner. 

The displays that follow are typical of what is seen when one of the many "?" buttons is clicked or when the right mouse button is clicked on a command key.





 

 

Feature 12 - Sudoku Tutorials  

The SBY program includes some simple tutorials on how to solve Sudoku puzzles. Future releases will expand this feature so that the program can be used as a full training guide on how to solve Sudoku puzzles. The tutorial approach is truly innovative. The idea is to work through a real puzzle, while viewing notes on the left and the solving grid on the right.

The sample screen display below shows an actual puzzle on the right with accompanying solve notes on the left.



 

 

Feature 13 - PC-based Versus Internet

The SBY program has been developed to accommodate and satisfy our customers - it is a PC-based program and not a web-based program. This means that your desktop or laptop can be used without an Internet connection and your personal supply of puzzles is always handy and not sitting on some remote server that may or may not be accessible.

Finally, there is something to do on those long airplane or train trips or during your free time when on vacation with your trusty laptop. And don't bother with that usual visit to the bookstore where you used to purchase a book of puzzles. Your laptop contains all the puzzles you'll ever need.

 

Feature 14 - Let the Program do the Dirty Work

Let's make a return visit to Feature 2 - the Options Grid. This feature has special significance for the designer of this program. It was quickly noticed that the absence of an Options Grid is the biggest weakness in software offered by other vendors.

All the other features listed above were identified by consulting with Sudoku enthusiasts to determine what additional features would be really useful. It's a bit "old school" to actually listen to the users, but the end result bears out its importance.

Let's get back to the Options Grid. As you get better at solving Sudoku puzzles, you will come to realize that filling in the Options Grid is a mindless and tedious exercise. However it is essential that accurate values be determined in order to establish an effective springboard for the detailed analysis that follows. For all but the simplest puzzles, this part of the solving process is absolutely mandatory.

For the designer, it was discovered that when doing tough puzzles on paper, the real fun begins just after the Options Grid had been determined and jotted down. So, once you feel comfortable that you are perfectly capable of filling in an Options Grid manually, why not let the SBY program do that dirty work so that you can quickly get to the fun part. It won't be long before you start viewing the full Options Grid and quickly become astute at seeing the big picture and at solving these fascinating puzzles in record time.

There are 2 OG population options. (1) You can populate the entire Options Grid by simply clicking the "Populate the OG" button that appears on the main screen and which is shown below or (2) you can populate a single active cell by clicking on the "Populate Cell OG" button. . The program even keeps track of how many times this useful tool is invoked. And, of course, you may get to point where you want to "Clear the OG" and work with it in a manual mode. It's all up to you!



 

Feature 15 - The Development Team

Yes, we know - talking about the creators of this program is not really a feature. But it's nice to know that the program was not put together by a bunch of weekend hackers. A total of seven professionals participated in the creation, marketing and support of the program. Check out the qualifications below:

• All seven participants have at minimum an undergraduate university degree.
• Three of them already have or soon will have PhDs , two of which required an understanding of advanced mathematical modeling .
• Three have professional certifications in their chosen fields.
• The primary developer and designer has over 35 years experience in the management, design, construction, documentation, implementation and support of sophisticated computer software products.
• Every one of the seven participants is addicted to Sudoku .
• All seven participants have a family name of Yager - not surprisingly, this meant that naming the product became a no-brainer.



 

Let's return for a moment to Brian Yager, the primary developer. Brian has one other passion in life. When he's not writing code or solving Sudoku puzzles, you'll find him on the golf course. With this in mind, he has created an award-winning program called CaddieMasterPro. This program is used to track a player's handicap and performance statistics. You can check out his site by going to www.CaddieMaster.com or by clicking on the logo on the right. You may not be interested in golf, but seeing his program just might give you a warm and fuzzy feeling that this guy knows how to put together a useful piece of software.

Do We Have Your Attention, But You Still Want to Learn More?

We feel that the sample screens and supporting text on this page give you a pretty good idea what the Sudoku By Yager program is all about. But just in case you want to REALLY understand the full capabilities of this powerful program, we invite you to download the full supporting User Manual. This 124-page (and growing!) PDF document describes every feature in the program and includes samples of every screen. This may be the most valuable function of the User Manual because the help messages embedded right in the program are so powerful and so accessible.

But there's more! The manual also includes an extensive Appendix that takes you through the solving of a number of puzzles of varying degree of difficulty. These case studies will help you master the solving of these interesting puzzles. The case studies will also demonstrate the value of the Options Grid that is such an important part of the SBY program. This Appendix alone is worth the purchase price, but the entire manual is yours at ABSOLUTELY NO COST.

Click on Download User Manual or on the option of the same name at the bottom of this screen to get your FREE SBY User Manual.

And we don't stop there!!!  You have a FULL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. The guarantee is in place for the first 7 days after the purchase has been made. If the program does not meet your expectations, tell us why and we'll happily refund your money. (We'll also address your concern so that nobody else ever has the same complaint.)