Publish your own SUDOKU puzzles on the WWW.

CROSSWORD EXPRESS
Copyright © 1995-2007 AUS-PC-SOFT

Publish your own interactive SUDOKU puzzles on the Internet.

Registered owners of Crossword Express can publish their own Sudoku Puzzles interactively on the Internet using the Crossword Express Sudoku Applet. With the release of Version 7.7 of the Crossword Express program, this has become a very simple process which makes use of an Export as Applet function within the program.
The steps involved in preparing a puzzle for publication on the Internet are as follows:-
- Make sure that the copy of Crossword Express you are using is at version 7.7 or later. If this doesn't apply in your case then please complete a free upgrade of your installation by visiting:-
  - www.crauswords.com/windows.html for Windows users.
  - www.crauswords.com/applemac.html for Macintosh users.
- Start the Crossword Express program, and select Other Puzzles/Sudoku from the program's menu bar.
- Use the Select Dictionary button to select the dictionary which you know was used to construct the puzzle which you want to implement as an applet.
- Use the Old button to select the puzzle you require.
- Click the Export as Applet button to complete the process.
When you have completed these steps, you will find that inside your Crossword Express folder, there is a sub-folder called java, and inside this folder there is a total of three files as follows:-
- A single .cwe file. This is the file which contains the actual puzzle which you have selected for interactive publication.
- The file sudoku.class This is the Java program file which creates the interactive environment in which the puzzle will operate.
- The file puzzle.html This is the file which starts the interactive process. Double clicking on the icon of this file will start your web browser with your puzzle displayed and ready for interactive operation in a test environment.
All that is now required to publish the puzzle on the Internet is to upload the three files onto your web server, and to provide a link from one of your existsing web pages to the puzzle.html file. If the exported puzzle performs correctly when operated locally on your hard drive, but fails to do so after loading onto your web server, it will probably be caused by one of the factors discussed in Frequently asked Questions.
You should find the puzzle perfectly acceptable exactly as it is exported by Crossword Express. You can however make changes to the appearance and behaviour of the applet using a system of param statements located within the puzzle.html file. There is a very comprehensive selection of params the use of which is explained in the following. Simply click on any param name in the following index for a complete description of that param and how to use it.

INDEX OF SUDOKU APPLET PARAMETERS.
/applet applet assist assistidle assistover assistdown assistloc assiststate average bgcolor buttoncolor buttonfontsz buttontext casesensitive	choiceloc code correctn encoding errcell errletter errorloc errors focuscell focusletter font graphicpanel graphloc gridline	height help helpidle helpover helpdown helpheader helploc helpn helpok helpokidle helpokover helpokdown helpokloc hints	include infocolor infotext1 infotext2 keysound msgfontsz mybanner peek peekloc puzcell puzzleloc puzzlen puzzlepanel rewardgraphic	rewardmsg rewardsound style symbolloc symbols thickline titlefont titlefontsize titleloc titlen titlepanel titletext time timedisploc	timelabloc tmcolor tmlabel tmlabeltext tmtext undo undoidle undoover undodown undoloc warning width

<applet code="sudoku.class" width=700  height=385>

This line begins the applet HTML tag which is responsible for loading and running the applet.
The width and height values may be changed if you want a bigger or smaller puzzle in your web page. Depending on the values you select, you may need to rearrange the locations of the components of the Applet, using the various loc parameters.

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<h1>WARNING!</h1>
You must use a Java enabled browser to solve these puzzles.
<hr>

These three lines provide a brief announcement for the benefit of people who are using a browser which is not able to process Applets. Feel free to change the wording of this message but please do not remove it.

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<param name="encoding"      value="Cp037">

The characters used by this Java applet are stored according to the standard international character set called Unicode. When characters are being read from the .sud puzzle file, they must be translated into Unicode from whatever encoding was in use when the puzzle was constructed. If you are confident that the only people who will be solving your puzzles will be using a computer whose default language is the same as your own, then you can safely omit this parameter. Otherwise, you can select the value for this parameter from the following list:-
Cp037 USA, Canada, Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Australia
Cp285 IBM United Kingdom, Ireland
Cp1250 Windows Eastern European
Cp1251 Windows Cyrillic
Cp1252 Windows Latin-1
Cp1253 Windows Greek
Cp1254 Windows Turkish
Cp1255 Windows Hebrew
Cp1256 Windows Arabic
This is only a partial list, and many more codes are available. If you believe you need something which is not on this list, please contact support@crauswords.com with details of your requirements.

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<param name="include"       value="false">

Any, or most of the params contained within the <applet> tag may be placed instead into a file called sudoku.ini which is uploaded into the server folder that also contains the sudoku.class file. This parameter tells the applet whether or not it should attempt to load the sudoku.ini file. Normally, you can choose not to use the include parameter at all, because the Applet will attempt to read sudoku.ini by default. However, some web servers generate an error message if an attempt is made to read a file which doesn't exist, so if you are not using the sudoku.ini file, it is a good idea to use this parameter, and to set its value to false. Naturally, the include parameter must be placed in the <applet> tag rather than in the sudoku.ini file.

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<param name="casesensitive" value="true">

Under default conditions, the applet will convert input characters to upper case. If you would like to over-ride this behaviour and always have the character displayed exactly as input by the user, you can do so by setting the value equal to "true".

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<param name="bgcolor"       value="E9EDDE">

The "bgcolor" parameter may be set to any color which contrasts nicely with the background color of your web page. You can even use the same color as your web page if you like, in which case the elements of the puzzle display will appear to be floating in your web page content. If you make full use of the loc parameters you can arrange for the entire Applet to be covered with the components of the puzzle, so that the background color won't even be seen at all.

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<param name="buttoncolor"   value="00C0C0">

You are able to control the color of the buttons by setting the value of the "buttoncolor" parameter. The buttons will be drawn in a 3D style but you may need to experiment with this, as the 3D effect is more pronounced on some colors than on others.

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<param name="buttontext"    value="000000">

You can control the color of the text displayed on the buttons by means of the "buttontext" parameter.

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<param name="titlepanel"    value="D0E0C0">
<param name="titletext"     value="C04000">

Use these parameters to control the color of the panel on which the puzzle title is displayed, and the color of the text.

<param name="titlefont"     value="Monospaced">

The "titlefont" parameter allows you to specify the font which will be used to display the puzzle title in the title panel. There are three choices available to you, viz. "Serif", "SansSerif" and "Monospaced". (Note that the upper case letters in this parameter are required).

<param name="titlefontsize" value="40">

Use this parameter to specify the size of the font to be used for the puzzle title. If the puzzle title will not fit into the space you have allowed for it, a smaller font will be substituted.

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<param name="puzcell"       value="FFFFFF">
<param name="gridline"      value="0000FF">
<param name="thickline"     value="0000FF">
<param name="hints"         value="808080">

Use these color definitions to control the color of the puzzle cells, the normal grid lines, the thick grid lines and the candidate Symbols.

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<param name="symbols"       value="Symbols ::">

The location of the list of Symbols used in the puzzle is specified by the symbolloc parameter, while the symbols parameter provides a descriptive tag which is placed in front of the list of Symbols before they are displayed.

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<param name="peek"          value="Peek">

The peek parameter is used to set the text attached to the Peek button, and the location of this button is set by the peekloc parameter.

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<param name="errors"          value="Show Errors">

The errors parameter is used to set the text attached to the Show Errors button, and the location of this button is set by the errorloc parameter.

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<param name="assist"        value="Assist">
<param name="assistidle"    value="assistidle.gif">
<param name="assistover"    value="assistover.gif">
<param name="assistdown"    value="assistdown.gif">

The assist parameter is used to set the text attached to the Assist button, and the location of this button is set by the assistloc parameter.

As an alternative to having the applet draw the button you can prepare a set of three graphic files (.gif or .jpg) which the applet will use to represent the button when it is in each of the states, idle, mouse-over and down. The assistidle, assistover and assistdown parameters are used to inform the applet of the names of these files.

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<param name="assiststate"     value="true"

The applet can operate in an Assist mode in which guide characters are drawn inside each of the vacant cells to inform the solver which characters might possibly be inserted into those cells. The Assist button toggles this operation on and off. The assiststate parameter determines the initial state of this mode. Setting assiststate to true will start the applet with Assist mode on; setting it to false will start the applet with Assist mode off.

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<param name="undo"        value="Undo">
<param name="undoidle"    value="undoidle.gif">
<param name="undoover"    value="undoover.gif">
<param name="undodown"    value="undodown.gif">

The undo parameter is used to set the text attached to the Undo button, and the location of this button is set by the undoloc parameter. The undo button removes user input from the puzzle, one operation at a time. Naturally, it does this in the reverse order of it being entered.

As an alternative to having the applet draw the button you can prepare a set of three graphic files (.gif or .jpg) which the applet will use to represent the button when it is in each of the states, idle, mouse-over and down. The undoidle, undoover and undodown parameters are used to inform the applet of the names of these files.

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<param name="graphicpanel"  value="E9EDDE">

Use this parameter to control the color of the panel on which the graphic banner is displayed.

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<param name="puzzlepanel"   value="E9EDDE">

Using these parameters you can control the color of the panel on which the Sudoku puzzle is drawn.

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<param name="infocolor"     value="E9EDDE">
<param name="infotext1"     value="C00000">
<param name="infotext2"     value="0000C0">

The infocolor parameter controls the background color of the Help window, and the windows which appear when a complete solution has been entered for the puzzle.
The infotext1 and infotext2 parameters control the colors of the opening lines of the Help and Puzzle Complete windows.

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<param name="focuscell"     value="FF0000">
<param name="focusletter"   value="FFFF00">

The background color of the focus cell, and the color of the text in the focus cell can be controlled by these two parameters.

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<param name="errcell"       value="C0C0C0">
<param name="errletter"     value="FF0000">

When the Show Errors button is clicked all cells in the puzzle which have the incorrect character inserted will be highlighted. The two parameters above allow you to control the foreground and background colors of the error highlight.

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<param name="tmcolor"       value="C0C0C0">
<param name="tmtext"        value="00A000">
<param name="tmlabel"       value="FFC000">
<param name="tmlabeltext"   value="A00000">

Use these parameters to control the color of the panel on which the elapsed time is displayed, the color of the text of that display, the color of the label panel associated with it, and the color of the text on the label panel.

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<param name="font"          value="Serif">
<param name="style"         value="plain">

The "font" parameter allows you to specify the font which will be used when solving the puzzle. There are three choices available to you, viz. "Serif", "SansSerif" and "Monospaced". (Note that the upper case letters in this parameter are required). You can also control the style of the font by setting the "style" parameter to one of the four values "plain", "bold", "italic" or "bolditalic".

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<param name="buttonfontsz"  value="35">
<param name="msgfontsz"     value="21">

The size of the fonts used in displaying the text used in the applet can be controlled by means of these two parameters. To derive the number to use for "value", imagine the applet being sliced into 1,000 horizontal strips. The number you use represents the number of horizontal strips spanned by a character of the font. If you omit these parameters, the applet will select a default size for the font which will be satisfactory in the majority of cases.

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<param name="help"          value="Help">
<param name="helpidle"      value="helpidle.gif">
<param name="helpover"      value="helpover.gif">
<param name="helpdown"      value="helpdown.gif">

<param name="helpok"        value="OK">
<param name="helpokidle"    value="helpokidle.gif">
<param name="helpokover"    value="helpokover.gif">
<param name="helpokdown"    value="helpokdown.gif">

These parameters set the text on the Help and OK buttons used in the Applet.

As an alternative to having the applet draw these buttons you can prepare sets of three graphic files (.gif or .jpg) which the applet will use to represent the buttons when they are in each of the states, idle, mouse-over and down. The helpidle, helpover, helpdown, helpokidle, helpokover and helpokdown, parameters are used to inform the applet of the names of these files.

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<param name="time"          value="Time">

This is the parameter which contains the text which is displayed adjacent to the elapsed time display on the Applet. Return to Index

<param name="keysound"      value="typekey.au">

If you include this parameter, the sound associated with the .au file will be played each time a character is typed into the puzzle.

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<param name="mybanner"     value="mybanner.gif">

The "mybanner" parameter provides you with an opportunity to customise the Applet by including your own banner in the display. Set value equal to the name of your .gif or .jpg file. The .gif or .jpg file containing your banner must be loaded onto your web server in the same directory as your .class file.

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<param name="average"       value="true">

If the mybanner graphic (or any other graphic you may elect to use in the applet) does not exactly fit the target space, a simple scaling process is automatically used to make it fit. This may result in a jagged appearance for objects within the image. Using an "average" parameter set to true will force an averaging process to be used during scaling, and the jagged effects will be removed. Be aware that this will substantially slow down the operation of the applet each time a graphic is displayed for the first time. It is a much better idea to create your graphic images to fit exactly into the available spaces.

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<param name="title1"        value="A SUDOKU puzzle with a hidden message.">
<param name="puzzle1"       value="demo.sud">

For each puzzle which you want the applet to handle, you should include two param statements. The numeral added to "title" and "puzzle" must start at one and increase by one (no gaps please) for each new puzzle. You can include as few as one puzzle, or as many as you like. The values associated with the "title" params are the names of the puzzles as they appear in the drop down list above the puzzle and in the puzzle title banner, while the values associated with the "puzzle" params are the actual names of the puzzle files.

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<param name="helpheader"    value="How to use this program.">
<param name="help1"         value="Any characters you type will be placed into the puzzle">
<param name="help2"         value="at the red 'focus' cell. The focus cell can be moved">
<param name="help3"         value="around the puzzle by pointing and clicking with the">
<param name="help4"         value="mouse, or by means of the arrow keys.">
<param name="help5"         value="-">
<param name="help6"         value="The symbols used in these puzzles may be numbers or">
<param name="help7"         value="letters. The actual symbols used are shown in a panel">
<param name="help8"         value="near the top of the screen. Clicking the Assist button">
<param name="help9"         value="will give you a list of symbols which are potential">
<param name="help10"        value="candidates for the current focus cell.">
<param name="help11"        value="-">
<param name="help12"        value="A number of other puzzles are available for you to">
<param name="help13"        value="solve. Choose the one you want by means of the">
<param name="help14"        value="selection box immediately above the puzzle.">

This set of parameters allows the Help information to be translated into any language you wish. Please observe the following rules when making changes here:

You can use as many lines of Help as you wish, provided that they will fit into the target space. Numbering MUST start from 1 and continue upward without any omissions.
Limit the length of each line of text to fit in the space available on the Applet.
Any line which contains only a single printable character (other than a space) will print as a blank line. Use this fact to break your Help text into paragraphs.

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<param name="correct1"      value="CONGRATULATIONS!">
<param name="correct2"      value="Your solution is correct.">
<param name="correct3"      value="Why not select another puzzle">
<param name="correct4"      value="from the choice box above?">

This is where you can control the text which is presented to a successful solver of a puzzle. Once again, please follow the same rules which applied in the case of Help.

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<param name="rewardgraphic" value="reward.jpg">
<param name="rewardsound"   value="reward.au">
<param name="rewardmsg" value="Well done!">

As an alternative to displaying a simple text message to a successful solver, you can instead use the rewardgraphic parameter to specify the name of a .jpg graphic file which will be displayed to the solver. Optional additions to this display are the inclusion of a .au sound file using the rewardsound parameter and a brief text message using the rewardmsg parameter.

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A note on setting Applet component locations.
The size and location of all of the major components of the Applet may be controlled by the webmaster using the parameters referred to in this section. The value which sets the size and location of a given component consists of a string of four three digit numbers separated by one or more spaces. These four numbers represent the "top", "left", "bottom" and "right" coordinates of the component. To derive the values of these numbers, imagine the area of the Applet being divided into 1,000 vertical columns (numbered 000 to 999) and 1,000 horizontal rows (also numbered 000 to 999). The components of the Applet are superimposed on this coordinate system and the required numbers can easily be calculated.

<param name="titleloc"      value="000 000 060 999">
<param name="assistloc"     value="170 260 220 410">
<param name="symbolloc"     value="120 000 170 860">
<param name="peekloc"       value="000 240 065 360">
<param name="errorloc"      value="000 360 065 520">
<param name="helploc"       value="120 860 170 999">
<param name="helpokloc"     value="870 440 920 560">
<param name="timelabloc"    value="170 000 220 130">
<param name="timedisploc"   value="170 130 220 260">
<param name="graphloc"      value="208 000 447 000">
<param name="choiceloc"     value="060 000 120 999">
<param name="puzzleloc"     value="220 000 999 999">
<param name="undoloc"       value="170 860 220 999">

You may wish to omit some of these components. This can be achieved by setting the value to "000 000 000 000".

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</applet>

This line terminates the applet HTML tag.

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Good luck with your interactive Sudoku puzzles. If you would like to enhance your web site even further, why not investigate the other great Crossword Express applets. They will all become available to you at no extra charge when you register the Pro version of Crossword Express. Find out all you need to know about Registering Crossword Express and about the great benefits you will receive when you do.

How to Register Crossword Express.
Register on-Line using PayPal.
Return to the Crossword Express Home Page.