penpa-editor

Universal pencil puzzle editor capable of drawing many different kinds of pencil puzzles. You can also solve problems in the software.

You can save images and text in the form of URLs that can be loaded in a browser.

If the message “Invalid address” is displayed on a supported browser, try clearing the cache.

Depending on the browser you can update the page without using the cache with Ctrl + R, Ctrl + F5, Shift + F5, etc.

Referencing and citing content

You can now cite this in your research and publications using:

Sample Preview of the possibilities of this tool

Compatible browsers

• Google Chrome
• Safari
• Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

Shortcut keys

• Ctrl + z: Undo
• Ctrl + y: Redo
• Ctrl + d: Clone
• Ctrl + i: To copy the previous number/alphabet/symbol from Number mode with PANEL: ON
• Ctrl + space: Delete numbers and symbols at the same time
• Shift + space: Enter a space (Works in "Number" Mode => "L", "M", "S" and Long" SubMode options only)
• F2: Problem mode
• F3: Solution mode
• F4: Hide/Show Timer
• TAB/ENTER: checkout the TAB section below in "Current functions". Tab settings are now retained in the shared URL.
• ?: To display keyboard shortcuts. You may need to press SHIFT + "/?" to access "?" in some keyboards.
• In Sudoku Mode
  • Z : Normal Submode
  • X : Corner Submode
  • C : Centre Submode
  • V : Shading (Surface Mode)
  • SHIFT : For Temporary Corner Submode
  • SHIFT + DEL : Deletes only corner pencil marks from the selected cells
  • CTRL - For Temporary Centre Submode / Selecting Multiple Cells/ Deselecting selected cells
  • CTRL + DEL : Deletes only centre pencil marks from the selected cells
  • DEL : To delete all the contents of the cell
  • SPACEBAR : To delete only the selected submode contents. (E.g. If the cell contains both centre and corner pencil marks, and if the current submode selection is "Corner submode", the pressing Spacebar would delete only the corner pencil marks)
  • Drag the mouse pressing left click / drag your finger holding down on Mobile or Ipad for multiple cell selection
  • Border: ON - will allow you to write digits on the edges
• In Surface Mode
  • Use number keys to quickly switch between styles. For styles 11 and 12, press 1 and the second digit in quick succession.

Tips

• Numbers: Back Space can be entered on the panel "1" tab and half-width space can be entered on the "A" tab.
• Number -> Arrow: Enter an arrow in the direction you dragged the square.
• Symbol: Input with the numeric keys 1-9,0. When the panel is turned on, a list of symbols that can be entered is displayed, and it corresponds to 1, 2, ... from the upper left. To use the panel place the cursor on the panel symbol and click the board. Erase with two clicks.
• Some symbols such as symbol> figure> cross are onoff input formats. Click the panel to enter directly. Special example: Digital (frame) with the same key. If you press it twice, only the frame will be displayed.
• Special: Delete by clicking the first square of the entered symbol.
• Special: The tip position can be returned to the front by returning to the path that was used during input.
• V: Visibility Button. Users can now choose if they dont want the solution visible in the "Problem" mode. Default is "ON". In "Solution" mode everything will be visible.
• Draw on Edges: Turning on this button will allow users to place the objects (shapes, numbers) on the edges/corners of the grid.
• Panel: Turning on this button will popup a panel box useful for Number/Sudoku/Shape Modes.
• Constraints (Beta): This feature is to aid puzzle constructors to find certain elements quickly for well known puzzle types. It is currently supported for square grid type. [Note - I will frequently add new types and expand the support to other grid types but if you have a certain genre in mind, you can send a request to penpaplus@gmail.com or contact via other options available through "Help" information button on the top right]

Current functions

Board types

• Square
  • Rows: Row size, Number of rows in your puzzle
  • Columns: Column size, Number of columns in your puzzle
  • White Space:
    • Over: Number of empty rows from the top. They are removed from the Row Size.
    • Under: Number of empty rows from the bottom. They are removed from the Row Size.
    • Left: Number of empty columns from the left. They are removed from the Column Size.
    • Right: Number of empty columns from the right. They are removed from the Column Size.
  • Example: If you want grid size of 9x9 and 3 empty rows and columns on either side. Then you need to set Rows - 15, Columns - 15, Over - 3, Under - 3, Left - 3, Right -3
• Sudoku
  • Diagonal \
  • Diagonal /
  • Outside clues (For extra row and column around the Sudoku)
  • Outside clues (top/left)
  • Sizes 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, 9x9 (default)
• Hexagon
  • Side
  • White Space: Side (Note - White space is subtracted from the Side Size)
• Triangle
  • Side
  • White Space: Border
• Pyramid
  • Side
  • White Space: Border
• Cube
  • Side
• Kakuro
  • Rows
  • Columns
• Tetrakis Square
  • Side
• Truncated Square
  • Side
• Snub Square
  • Side
• Cairo Pentagonal
  • Side
• Rhombitrihexagonal
  • Side
• Deltoidal Trihexagonal
  • Side

Modes

Surface

• Fill cells. Select a color by style. (Nurikabe, Iceburn, Shakashaka etc.)
• In Dark grey mode only, click twice to get a green square.
• Light grey is used when hiding grey letters and symbols.
• Irrespective of any Style selected, Right click to enter the green square. This feature is to provide a quick access to secondary color (default is green). For more options on the secondary color, go to Settings -> Surface Second Color.

Line

• Normal: A line connecting the center of the square to the horizontal and vertical. (Masyu, Hashi, Palindrome Sudoku, etc.)
• Diagonal: A line connecting the centers of two diagonally adjacent squares. (Zigzag etc.)
• Free: A line that connects arbitrary squares. (Night tour etc.)
• Middle: A line connecting the center of the square and the center of the side.
• Helper (x): An auxiliary cross mark placed on the side.
• Select the color and thickness of the line by style.

Edge

• Normal: A line that connects two horizontal or vertical vertices of a square. (Heyawake, Slitherlink etc.)
• Diagonal line: A line connecting two diagonal vertices of a square. (Diagonal Sudoku etc.)
• Free line: A line that connects the vertices of any square. (Sharp and blunt loop etc.)
• Helper (x): An auxiliary cross mark placed on the side.
• Erase: Delete the border of the board.
• Select the color and thickness of the line by style.

Wall

• A vertical or horizontal line drawn inside the square. (Slalom etc.)
• Select the color and thickness of the line by style.

Number

• Normal: Enter numbers, alphabets, and some symbol characters from the keyboard. Some other special symbols are allowed through Panel: ON mode. It also allows custom symbols in the "text" tab (checkout next section for more details)
• L, M, S: Large, medium or small size numbers.
• Candidates: Candidate numbers for Latin Square such as Sudoku. Compatible with 1-9. onoff input.
• Corners: Small characters at the four corners. (Kakuro, Hairyrin etc.)
• Sides: Small characters at the middle of the four sides. (Compass etc.)
• Tapa/Quad: Characters for Tapa. Up to 4 characters. For Sudoku grids it can be used for Quadruple clues (To activate - set the style to any with background circle, draw on edges: ON, and place the clue on the corners of the grid)
• Arrow: Characters with arrows. Click and hold the mouse and move in the direction of the arrow to draw the arrow. (Yajilin, Castle Wall etc.)
• Long: Long sentence. It is possible to create a list such as seekers.
• Killer: Small characters at the top left corner. (Killer Sudou)
• White, black and red circles have a circle on the back of the numbers.
• White BG: Draw a white circle behind the numbers. Useful when you can't see the numbers because they are hidden behind the lines.
• When the BORDER input is turned on, the character is placed on the side/vertex.

Any Unicode Symbol

• Select "Number" mode.
• Then select "Long" or "L" or "M" submode. (Preferrable is Long submode, although it should also work in some other Number submodes (i.e. corner, side, arrow, S)).
• Panel: ON.
• Select "Text" tab in the Panel.
• One can copy unicode symbol (supports most (not all) of them although rendering might be different based on browser) from the websites https://unicode-table.com/en/ or https://www.alt-codes.net/ and paste in the textbox available. (You can click on the symbol/shape in the website, it will allow copying). Based on experience, unicode from https://charbase.com/block has a better chance of getting rendered on different devices as compared to other unicode websites.
• Then click "Insert".
• One can also type in the sentence of words and "Insert".
• Clear button to clear the text area.

Shape

• Numerous symbols. You can browse the symbols that can be entered by opening the panel. Figures such as 〇 and □, inequality signs, digital numbers, and other symbols unique to puzzles.
• Depending on the style, you can select whether to place the figure on the front side or the back side of the line.
• When the BORDER input is turned ON, the character is placed on the side/vertex.

Special

• A special symbol that spans multiple squares. (Arrow Sudoku, Thermo Sudoku, moving arrows, square area)
• Click the first cell you entered to erase it.
• Polygon: The vertices are selected in the order in which they are clicked. Click the last clicked vertex or the first clicked vertex again to end selection.

Cage

• A line that surrounds multiple squares. (Killer Sudoku etc.)
• Killer submode - Automatic drawing of cages. Click and drag to draw the cage. Click on any cell inside the cage to delete it. Overlapping of cages is not allowed using this automatic mode. You may want to use the Free submode to do that.
• Free submode - Complete control over to the user to draw the cages.
• There are 4 styles: black dotted line, black solid line, grey dotted line, and grey solid line.
• Available in square and regular hexagon.

Box

• Click to remove or add the square that draws the frame of the board. Useful for irregular board shapes.

Tab

• This is tab selector button.
• User can now select which modes/sub-modes they wan't to rotate when pressing TAB/Enter key.
  • There is search option available.
  • Search is case-insensitive.
• Then you can either press Tab or Enter (closer to the numpad) to rotate between the selected modes.
• SHIFT + Tab, SHIFT + Enter will rotate between the selected modes in the backward direction.
• To clear all selections - Click twice on Select All (It changes to Clear ALL on first click).
• Enable PenpaLite: Turning on this button will remove all the non-preferred modes from the display thereby simplfiying the display. The preferred modes are determined through tab setting. Select your preferrable modes under "Tab/↵" and then turn "ON" PenpaLite.

Move

• You can move numbers and symbols by dragging. Originally, you cannot move to a square with a number or sign.
• All can be set to move both numbers and symbols, or either numbers or symbols.

Composite

• Ability to use multiple input methods simultaneously.
• Paint:
  • Black / dot: Left 1 click - Black Square, Left 2 click - dot, Right 1 click - dot, Right 2 click - Black Square, Click and drag for multiple squares or dots
  • Yin - Yang: Left 1 click - white circle, Left 2 click - black circle, Right 1 click - black circle, Right 2 click - white circle, Click and drag for multiple squares or dots
  • Shakashaka: Pull the triangle to input, left click for dot
• Loop:
  • Line x: Line and auxiliary x (Castle wall) - Right Click for cross and Left Click for Line. Right click and drag for multiple crosses in one go.
  • Line OX: Left 1 click - circle, Left click and drag - Line, Left 2 click - X, Right 1 click - X, Right 2 click - Circle.
  • Line x<>: This is useful for directed loop puzzles. Left click and drag for the loop. Right click on edges for auxiliary marks (x, <, >). Right click and drag for multiple cross in one go. Right click on the center of the cell and drag to place a directed arrow on the edge.
  • Edge x: Edge and auxiliary cross marks (x) on edges. Right click for x. Right click and drag for multiple crosses in one go.
  • Edge IO: Edge, auxiliary x, and inside/outside painted yellow and green. ("Surface Second Color" preference can be used to change green.) (Slitherlink, Cave) - Right Click for cross and Left Click for Line
  • Yajilin: Left mouse click - Black square, Left mouse click drag - green line, Right click - dot in center, cross (x) on edges
  • Hashi: Draw the line again to make a double line
  • RassiSilai: Left mouse click - grey circle, Left mouse click drag - green line, Right click - Yellow square
• Area / Field:
  • Edge/Aux line: An auxiliary line that represents the connection between the edge and the square
• Object:
  • Battleships: Left click will rotate between circle, square, dot and water. Drag in a direction for that directional ship segment. Right click and drag - multiple water. Once you have a single dot, you can left click and drag to multiple cells. Once you have a water, you can left click and drag to multiple cells as well.
  • Star Battle: Left click - star, Right click - X, Right click and drag - Multiple X's, Right click on edges or corners for green dot.
  • Tent: A tent and a point, an auxiliary x on the side, and a line that connects the tent and a tree - Right click for cross and left click for tent and a point, drag for the line.
  • Magnets: +, - and black square
  • Minesweeper: Left click - mine, Right click - X, Right click and drag - Multiple X's, Right click on edges or corners for green dot.
  • Akari: Left mouse click - Light bulb, Left mouse click drag - dotted black line, Right click - dot in center, cross (x) on edges
  • Arrows: Left click drag to draw an arrow in one of the eight directions in a square.
  • DoubleMines: Left click once - 1 mine, Left click twice - 2 mines, Right click - X, Right click and drag - Multiple X's, Right click on edges or corners for green dot.
• Number logic:
  • Numerical flick: Input the numerical flick. 123456789 from top left to bottom right.
  • Alphabet flick: Enter the alphabet by flick. ABCDEFGH- from top left to bottom right. Enter '-' in the lower right corner.

Sudoku

• This mode is for Sudoku Solving (It can be used for Creating as well but "Number" mode offers more flexibility for creations. Please checkout "Number" section for more details)
• You can select multiple cells at the same time.
  • Drag the mouse on the cells by holding Left Click
  • Drag the finger on mobile/ipad
  • You can also use keyboard Arrow Keys to move around
  • CTRL key to do multiple selection of cells (Useful if you need to select distinct/far apart cells)
• Shortcuts to switch between sub-modes
  • Z : Normal Submode - Normal sized numbers
  • X : Corner Submode - Small digits placed on corners or sides of the cell
  • C : Centre Submode - Small digits placed in the centre of the cell
  • V : Shading (Surface Mode) - For coloring the cells (12 color choices)
  • SHIFT : For Temporary Corner Submode
  • SHIFT + DEL : Deletes only corner pencil marks from the selected cells
  • CTRL - For Temporary Centre Submode / Selecting Multiple Cells/ Deselecting selected cells
  • CTRL + DEL : Deletes only centre pencil marks from the selected cells
  • DEL : To delete all the contents of the cell
  • SPACEBAR : To delete only the selected submode contents. (E.g. If the cell contains both centre and corner pencil marks, and if the current submode selection is "Corner submode", the pressing Spacebar would delete only the corner pencil marks)
• Draw on Edges: ON
  • IF Draw on Edges is ON then you can write digits on the edges of the cells.
• 6 Color choices for User Solving
  • Answer check only looks for Green/Blue/Red color if enabled
• Normal, Corner and Centre submodes are also available as part of Tab Selector. Please checkout "Tab selector" section for more details.

Grid Options

• You can change the border of the board from the "New grid / Update" menu.
• Display Size: To change the cell size of the grid.
• Gridlines: The grid lines can be solid or dotted or none.
• Gridpoints: Display vertex points on the grid.
• Outside frame: Whether to draw a line around the board
• White space: Used when placing numbers outside the grid on the board. (Sandwich puzzle etc.)
• "New grid" button resets the board. The "Update display" button does not reset the board (i.e. it will keep all the puzzle elements you have entered so far), but updates only display size and frame type.
• Example --> If you want a completely blank grid then set GridLines to None, Gridpoints to No, and Outside frame to No and click on "Update display".

Transform

• You can rotate and flip the board or remove and add columns or rows from the "Rotate / Move / Add / Remove" menu. Square and pyramid rotate 90°. Regular hexagon and regular triangle rotate 30° on the board surface.
• Adjust the margin of the board with the "Move board to center" and "Fit window to board" buttons.
• After creating the grid, if you want to add additional rows and columns without resetting the board then you can these buttons:
  • Note: This feature only works on Square grid type. Before removing a row/column ensure they are empty and contains no elements.
  • Top +: Adds a row on the top of the grid
  • Top -: Removes a row from the top of the grid
  • Bottom +: Adds a row in the bottom of the grid
  • Bottom -: Removes a row from the bottom of the grid
  • Left +: Adds a column to the left of the grid
  • Left -: Removes a column from the left of the grid
  • Right +: Adds a column to the right of the grid
  • Right -: Removes a column from the right of the grid

Save image (Screenshot button)

• Settings:

1. White Border: Setting "No" will remove the extra white space around the grid.
2. Image quality: The higher the quality, the better the image quality, but the larger the image size.
3. File Type: Supported image types: PNG, JPG, SVG
4. Title & Author: To include this information in the image, select Yes.
5. Rules: To include this information in the image, select Yes.
6. File name: Specify the image file name.

• Options:

1. Open in new window: Opens the image in a new TAB
2. Download: .png/.jpg/.svg image will be downloaded
3. Cancel: Close the window

Share

• Title - Describe the Puzzle Type (e.g. Classic Sudoku, Arrow Sudoku)

• Author - Puzzle creator's name

• Rules - Enter rules here

• Genre/Tags - Select specific tags that suit your puzzle. These tags will be used for smart answer checking features. The smart checking supports following tags (Under development):

1. Classic Sudoku (9x9) [Square Grid]
2. Consecutive Sudoku [Square Grid]
3. Nonconsecutive Sudoku [Square Grid]
4. Consecutive Pairs Sudoku [Square Grid]
5. Star Battle [Square Grid]
6. TomTom [Square Grid]
7. Arrow/Thermo/Even/Odd/Killer (Only Classic Check, 9x9) [Square Grid]
8. Latin Square [Hex Grid]

• Source - If you are not the author of the puzzle, specify the source URL

• Save Undo/Redo (History) - If you checkmark this option, then your action history will be saved in the URL. This is effective only while using "URL for editing" button. Other options will automatically ignore history. Note: Saving history might make URL too big depending on your usage.

• Automatically Shorten with TinyURL - If you checkmark this option, the generated share link will be a shortened link.

• Editing URL

1. Complete creating puzzle in Edit mode "Problem".
2. If you need to save your puzzle creation progress and come back later to edit then click on this button.
3. Then you can copy the URL generated or use URL_short button to shorten the generated URL. Look at the Options section below for more detailed description.

• Solving URL

1. Complete creating puzzle in Edit mode "Problem".
2. If you want to share your puzzle for others to solve then click on this button.
3. Then you can copy the URL generated or use URL_short button to shorten the generated URL. Look at the Options section below for more detailed description.

• Clone URL

1. This is to access the URL as text for the copy/duplicating the puzzle. This is a alternative to the CLONE button.
2. If you need to save your puzzle creation/solving progress and come back later to edit/solve then click on this button.
3. Then you can copy the URL generated or use URL_short button to shorten the generated URL. Look at the Options section below for more detailed description.

• URL with Answer Check / Advanced Options

1. Complete creating puzzle in Edit mode "Problem".
2. Select Edit mode "Solution" and complete the solution. The solution must be entered using certain shape or color which Penpa+ will detect. Check the following image for guidance:
3. If you want to share your puzzle for others to solve with the ability to verify the solution then click on "URL with answer check / Extra options" button. A new window will appear.
   1. Please note that the solution will check only for a certain elements with a certain color and style.
   2. The new window that appeared will show you all the possibilities. Select the relevant options. There are two choices:
      1. "All constraints" column - Solution will check for all the selected elements.
      2. "Any of the constraints" column - Solution will check if at least any one of the selected elements is completed.
      3. If no option is selected, then it will check for all the elements.
   3. You should enter the solution in Step 2 using one of the accepted color and style as shown in the window.
4. Custom Message: Default answer validation message is "Congratulations". User can provide a custom congratulatory message in this textbox.
5. Click on "Generate URL with answer check".
6. Then you can copy the URL generated.
7. You can verify if the solution check is enabled if "Solution Button" is green colored in Solver mode and a text "Automatic answer checking is enabled" is displayed.

• Contest-Mode URL

1. This is almost like URL for solving with following exceptions:
   1. No Undo/Redo feature.
   2. No I/O Sudoku Option.
   3. No Share Option.
   4. Some additional display information to help the solver.
2. Useful for online contests (e.g. Logic Masters India - Puzzle Ramayan and Sudoku Mahabharat contests)

• Options

1. Copy: copies the URL to the clipboard
2. Download: downloads a .txt file with the url
3. Open: opens a new TAB with the same url
4. Shorten:
   1. First create an URL using one of the four methods described above.
   2. Click on "Shorten" (It will open a new TAB with TinyURL Website, URL is automatically copied to your clipboard).
   3. Paste the URL (CTRL + V on windows).
   4. Click "Shorten" Note - User can use their own URL shortening services too, default is TinyURL.
5. Close: Close the window

• URL with answer check / Advanced options (puzzle_output_file -> GMPuzzle output:)

1. This allows user to generate a text file output that follows the submission formatting rules for GMPuzzles (https://tinyurl.com/GMPuzzlesFormatting).
2. It currently supports (this list is frequently updated):
   • Sudoku
     • classicsudoku (cs)
     • thermosudoku (ts)
       • Special -> Thermo
     • arrowsudoku (as)
       • Special -> Sudoku Arrow
     • evenoddsudoku (eos)
       • [Panel: ON] Use Shape mode -> Shape/Circle submode (1st option in the dropdown) and Shape/Square submode (2nd option in the dropdown)
     • consecutivepairssudoku (cps)
       • [Panel: ON] Use Shape mode -> Shape/Circle submode -> XS size (1st option in the dropdown). Set BORDER: ON to put circles on edges.
     • tightfitsudoku (tfs)
       • (Panel: ON) For Slash/Split: Use Shape Mode -> Shape Submode -> "〇△◻x" from dropdown list -> 6th Shape in the Panel
       • For numbers: Use "Corner" submode (6th option) to enter in top left or bottom right corner of the split cell, Normal submode for numbers in the cells without split
     • killersudoku (ks)
       • Given digits: Use Number -> Normal or Sudoku -> Normal in Problem mode
       • Cages: Use Cage -> Killer in Problem mode
       • Cage Clues: Use Number -> Killer in Problem mode
       • Solution digits: Use Number -> Normal or Sudoku -> Normal in Solution mode
       • [Alert] Cage definitions might need manual correction in the output file for puzzles with more than 26 cages
   • Number Placement
     • tomtom (tt)
       • Use +, -, x, / from keyboard for mathematical operator
       • For numbers: Number mode -> "Corner" submode (6th option)
     • skyscrapers (ss)
       • Ensure 1 white row/column on top/botton and left/right - e.g. If your puzzle is 7x7 size, then set the Rows = 9, Columns = 9, White Space: Over = 1, Under = 1, Left = 1, Right = 1 in the New Grid settings
     • kakuro
       • (Panel: ON) For Slash/Split: Use Shape Mode -> Special 1 Submode -> "kakuro" from dropdown list -> 1st and 2nd Shape in the Panel
       • For numbers: Use "Corner" submode (6th option) and "W" style (white) to enter in top right or bottom left corner of the split cell, Normal submode for numbers in the cells without split (Green or Blue color)
     • doublekakuro (dk)
       • (Panel: ON) For Slash/Split: Use Shape Mode -> Special 1 Submode -> "kakuro" from dropdown list -> 1st and 2nd Shape in the Panel
       • For numbers: Use "Corner" submode (6th option) and "W" style (white) to enter in top right or bottom left corner of the split cell, Normal submode for numbers in the cells without split (Green or Blue color)
       • For 2x2 regions: Use Surface mode and shade the upper-left corner of a 2x2 region with grey color and remaining 3 cells with green color.
       • Solution: Use Number mode --> Normal submode. Fill in all the white and grey shaded cells with appropriate numbers and ignore the green shaded cells. This is similar to as it's described in the document. They grey shaded cell contains the number that belongs to corresponding 2x2 region.
   • Object Placement
     • Statue Park (sp)
       • [Panel: ON] Use Shape mode -> Shape/Circle submode
     • minesweeper (ms)
       • Use 1 to represent mine in the Solution
     • doubleminesweeper (dms)
       • Use 1 and 2 to represent mines in the Solution
     • starbattle (sb)
       • specify number of stars after puzzle type [e.g starbattle2 or starbattle3]
       • use grey shading in solution mode for stars, it is assumed rows=columns as per GMPuzzles formatting
     • battleships (bs)
       • ensure 1 white row/column on bottom and right - e.g. If your puzzle is 10x10 size, then set the Rows = 11, Columns = 11, White Space: Over = 0, Under = 1, Left = 0, Right = 1 in the New Grid settings
       • For numbers: use Normal submode
       • (Panel: ON) For Shapes: use Shape Mode -> Specal 1 submode -> Battleship from dropdown list
       • Unfortunately there is no good way to ask the fleet from user, this output will come with standard fleet, you need to manually modify the [# of types of ships] and [fleet description] if your puzzle has a different set
   • Shading Puzzles
     • kurotto
       • Use Number mode -> White circle Style
       • for empty circle - just place white circle with any digit and then press backspace to remove the digit
     • kuromasu (Use Number mode -> White circle Style)
     • tapa (Number mode -> Tapa submode)
     • nurikabe
     • nanro
     • lits
     • crossthestreams (cts)
       • ensure enough white row/column on top and left - e.g. If your puzzle is 10x10 size and has 4 rows of clues above and 3 columns of clues in the left, then set the Rows = 14, Columns = 13, White Space: Over = 4, Under = 0, Left = 3, Right = 0 in the New Grid settings
       • enter clues using Number mode -> Normal submode (use the multiplication character on digit 8 from the keyboard for star)
       • use grey shading in solution (Surface mode)
   • Region Division Puzzles
     • fillomino
     • pentominous
     • cave
       • Solution shaded in any shades of grey.
     • snakepit
       • Use Number mode -> White circle Style
       • for empty circle - just place white circle with any digit and then press backspace to remove the digit
     • araf (Use Number mode -> White circle Style, green edge in solution mode for regions)
     • spiralgalaxies (sg)
       • (Panel: ON) use 2nd or 8th or 9th position circles for Black, White and Grey circle respectively in the Shape -> Shape -> Circle
       • (Border: ON) for placing circles on edges and corners
       • green edge in solution mode for regions
   • Loop/ Path Puzzles
     • balanceloop
       • Use Number mode -> White circle style / Black circle style
       • for empty circle, just place white / Black circle with any digit and then press backspace to remove the digit
     • masyu (Use Shape mode -> Shape/Circle submode [Panel: ON])
     • tapalikeloop
     • slitherlink
     • yajilin
       • (Panel: ON) For square - Shape mode -> Shape submode -> Square (from dropdown list - XL size will occupy entire cell), use grey square (9th shape in the panel)
       • For Number and Arrow: use Number mode -> Arrow submode (drag the mouse in the cell for the arrow, type in the number from keyboard or select from panel)
     • doubleyajilin
       • (Panel: ON) For square - Shape mode -> Shape submode -> Square (from dropdown list - XL size will occupy entire cell), use grey square (9th shape in the panel)
       • For Number and Arrow: use Number mode -> Arrow submode (drag the mouse in the cell for the arrow, type in the number from keyboard or select from panel)
     • castlewall
       • (Panel: ON) For square - Shape mode -> Shape submode -> Square (from dropdown list - XL size will occupy entire cell), use black and white square respectively (2nd and 8th shape in the panel)
       • For Number and Arrow: use Number mode -> Arrow submode (drag the mouse in the cell for the arrow, type in the number from keyboard or select from panel)
       • Use white color style for arrow and clue on black square
3. How to use it?
   1. Create a Puzzle in "Edit: Problem" mode using the guide provided in Step 2.
   2. Select "Solution Mode" and fill in the solution (Grey shading, Green numbering, Green loop, Green edge).
   3. click on Share -> URL with answer check / Extra options -> puzzle_output_file.
   4. In the "Header" area, type the puzzle type you are creating.
   5. click on "GMPuzzle output" button.
   6. Specify your required filename and click "Download" button.
      • Template: [Constructor Initials]-[SubmissionID]-[Genre]-[ShortTitle].txt
      • Example: SG-012-kurottu-pairs.txt

Clone

• Opens the puzzle in new link in new tab. Its like making a copy/duplicate of the Puzzle.

I/O Sudoku

• This function is to allow the flexibility of Importing and Exporting a Sudoku. It supports Import and Export to https://www.sudokuwiki.org/sudoku.htm solver.
  • Import Sudoku
    • Type the input string in the text area which contains digits (0-9) where 0 or (.) is used for an empty cell. No spaces in the string. The number of digits entered should be a perfect square. Basically (1,4,9,16,25,36,49,64,81) is allowed. That is grid size of 1x1 to 9x9.
    • If its default sudoku grid created from the New Grid options then Penpa automatically knows the position of the Sudoku grid.
    • User can also select a square portion of the grid and import the digits. User needs to specify the location of the first cell in terms of Row and Column. Then specify the Sudoku gridsize (Size:). Default is 9x9.
  • Export Sudoku
    • If its default sudoku grid created from the New Grid options then Penpa automatically knows the position of the Sudoku grid.
    • User can also select a square portion of the grid and export the digits. User needs to specify the location of the first cell in terms of Row and Column. Then specify the Sudoku gridsize (Size:). Default is 9x9.
    • Pressing Export button also automatically copies the output string to the clipboard.
  • Options
    • Ignore Pencil Marks - Sometimes we want to export the Sudoku grid in the middle of the solve. Checkmark this option and then export to ignore the Corner and Centre digits used while solving.
    • Ignore Whitespace for Import - Some softwares generate row wise sudoku information. Such outputs which has space in between digits can now be directly imported using this option.
    • Skip Import Non-Square Check - If one needs to import only some digits and not entire Sudoku.

Load

• This function has multiple purposes. Mainly, it is a solution for "URL too long Error".
• If the puzzle is too big and contains a lot of elements, it generates a big URL and the size is limited by the internet. In order to address this issue, one can use this Load button option to copy the big URL and click "Load URL" button.
• Basically, one can share the "Long URL" and ask the user to copy paste in the "Load" button and load the puzzle locally into Penpa.
• Secondly, it can also be used to import https://puzz.link/db/ puzzles. Those with a ✔️ the right of the name are supported while those marked with a ❌ are not (yet).

Aho-ni-Narikire ✔️ ; Akari (Light up) ✔️ ; Amibo ❌ ; Angle Loop ❌ ; Aqre ✔️ ; Aquarium ❌ ; Araf ✔️ ; Arukone ❌ ; Ayeheya (Ekawayeh) ✔️ ; Balance Loop ✔️ ; Barns ❌ ; Border Block ❌ ; Bosanowa (Bossanova) ❌ ; Box ❌ ; Castle Wall ✔️ ; Cave (Corral/Bag) ✔️ ; Chocona ❌ ; Cojun ✔️ ; Combi Block ❌ ; Compass ✔️ ; Country Road ✔️ ; Creek ❌ ; Detour ✔️ ; Doppelblock ❌ ; Dosun-Fuwari ❌ ; Double Back ✔️ ; Double Choco ✔️ ; Easy as ABC ✔️ ; Factors (Rooms of Factors) ✔️ ; Fillmat ✔️ ; Fillomino ✔️ ; Firefly (Hotaru Beam) ✔️ ; FiveCells ❌ ; FourCells ❌ ; Geradeweg ✔️ ; Goats and Wolves ❌ ; Goishi ❌ ; Haisu ✔️ ; Hakoiri-masashi ❌ ; Hanare-gumi ✔️ ; Hashiwokakero (Hashi/Bridges) ✔️ ; Hebi-Ichigo (Snakes) ✔️ ; Heteromino ❌ ; Heyawake ✔️ ; Hitori ✔️ ; Icebarn ❌ ; Icelom ❌ ; Icelom 2 ❌ ; Ichimaga ✔️ ; Ichimaga, Crossing ✔️ ; Ichimaga, Magnetic ✔️ ; International Borders ❌ ; Juosan ✔️ ; KaitoRamma ❌ ; KaitoRamma, New ❌ ; Kakuro ✔️ ; Kakuru ❌ ; Kazunori Room ❌ ; Kin-Kon-Kan ❌ ; Kouchoku ❌ ; Kropki ✔️ ; Kurochute ✔️ ; Kurodoko ✔️ ; Kurotto ✔️ ; Kusabi ❌ ; L-route ❌ ; LITS ✔️ ; Look-Air ✔️ ; Loop Special ❌ ; Makaro ❌ ; Masyu (Mashu/Pearl) ✔️ ; Maxi Loop ✔️ ; Meandering Numbers ✔️ ; Mejilink ❌ ; Midloop ✔️ ; Minarism ❌ ; Minesweeper ✔️ ; Mochikoro ✔️ ; Mochinyoro ✔️ ; Moon or Sun ✔️ ; Nagareru-Loop ❌ ; Nagenawa ✔️ ; Nanro ✔️ ; NIKOJI ❌ ; Nondango ❌ ; Nonogram ✔️ ; Norinori ✔️ ; Numberlink ✔️ ; Nuri-Maze ✔️ ; Nuribou ✔️ ; Nurikabe ✔️ ; Nurimisaki ✔️ ; Onsen-meguri ✔️ ; Paintarea ✔️ ; Pencils ✔️ ; Pipelink ❌ ; Pipelink Returns ❌ ; Putteria ✔️ ; Reflect Link ❌ ; Regional Yajilin ✔️ ; Renban (Renban-Madoguchi) ✔️ ; Ring-ring ✔️ ; Ripple Effect (Hakyukoka) ✔️ ; Roma ❌ ; Sashigane ❌ ; School Trip (Shugaku) ❌ ; Scrin ✔️ ; Shakashaka ✔️ ; Shikaku ✔️ ; Shimaguni (Islands) ✔️ ; Shirokuro-link ❌ ; Simple Loop ✔️ ; Skyscrapers (Buildings) ✔️ ; Slalom (Suraromu) ❌ ; Slant (Gokigen) ✔️ ; Slitherlink ✔️ ; Snake ✔️ ; Star Battle ✔️ ; Stostone ✔️ ; Sudoku ✔️ ; Sukoro ✔️ ; Sukoro-room ✔️ ; Symmetry Area ✔️ ; Tapa ✔️ ; Tapa-Like Loop ✔️ ; Tasquare ✔️ ; Tatamibari ❌ ; Tatebo-Yokobo ✔️ ; Tentaisho (Spiral Galaxies) ✔️ ; Tents ✔️ ; Territory (Nawabari) ✔️ ; Tilepaint ❌ ; Toichika ❌ ; Toichika 2 ✔️ ; Tri-place ❌ ; Uso-one ✔️ ; Uso-tatami ✔️ ; View ✔️ ; Wagiri ❌ ; Yajilin ✔️ ; Yajisan-Kazusan ✔️ ; Yajitatami ❌ ; Yin-Yang ✔️ ; Yosenabe ❌ ;

• It can also import puzzles from https://pzprxs.vercel.app/, a fork of puzz.link with different puzzle variants.

Building Walk ❌ ; Canal View ✔️ ; Chained Block ✔️ ; Choco Banana ✔️ ; Crossstitch ❌ ; Dotchi Loop ✔️ ; Lohkous ❌ ; One Room One Door ✔️ ; Ovotovata ❌ ; Rassi Silai ✔️ ; Tonttiraja ✔️ ; Voxas ❌ ;

• These variants are currently impossible because of the grid or the controls.

Army Ants ❌ ; Bonsan ❌ ; Curve Data ❌ ; Herugolf ❌ ; Heya-Bon ❌ ; Rectangle-Slider ❌ ; Return Home ❌ ; Satogaeri ❌ ; Tawamurenga ❌ ; Wall Logic ❌ ;

Settings

App Display

• Display Theme: It currently offers only two options (light and dark).
• Display Layout: It currently offers three options.
  • Flex Tools Left
  • Flex Tools Right
  • Streaming Layout (beta version)
• Timer: User can prefer to hide the entire timer area by selecting "hide" option.

Puzzle Display

• Sudoku PencilMarks: User preference for "Center" pencil mark size in "Sudoku" mode.
  • Dynamic - Upto 5 digits its larger size and then it becomes small.
  • Large - All digits are large.
  • Small - All digits are small.
• Sudoku Normal: User preference for "Normal" digits in "Sudoku" mode.
  • Centered - All digits are centered to the cell.
  • Bottom - All digits are shifted downward and close to the bottom of the cell. (Useful to avoid overlap with Killer clues)
• Starbattle Dots: User preference for Right Click dots in Star battle composite mode.
  • High Range - Default.
  • Low Range - User needs to click much closer to corners and edges for dots.
  • Disable - Completely disable the dot feature and only have Star/Cross.
• Surface Second Color: In Surface Mode, by default right click uses green color for any selected choice of primary color. Using this setting user can choose their own choice of right click (secondary) color. This also affects Composite Edge IO.

Tools

• Custom Colors: To enable custom colors.
• Floating Panel: Turning on this button will visually display the options to the user while using Number or Shape modes.
• Quick Panel Button: To hide the Panel Button Option from the display area.

Export

• Auto-Shorten Links: Turning on this button will shorten the Share URL links automatically.

Input Options

• Mouse Middle Button: Shortcut to switch between Problem/Solution mode while in "setter mode". To activate, select YES.
• Reload Protection: Reload Button. Users can now choose if they want the webpage to ask for confirmation for reloading or closing the page. This is to avoid accidental closing of tab or refreshing. Default is "OFF".
• Conflict Detection: It is upcoming feature. Some of the puzzle genres have smart checking ability. Default is ON. User can turn it OFF for the ongoing puzzle or for all the future puzzles.
• Sudoku Z/Y & XCV Keys: User can turn off Sudoku Shortcut Keys. Useful in puzzles involving alphabets.

Saving/Storage

Note - Settings are saved locally for the best user experience.

• Saved Settings: Clear cookies -> To reset the settings.
• Local Storage: Default is ON. It stores the local progress of the solution in the solver mode. User can clear the storage of ongoing puzzle using "Clear this puzzle" button or entire storage using "clear all" button.

Stop Watch

• start - starts the timer. Lowest precision is 1/10th of a second.
• pause - pauses the timer. click on start again to continue.
• stop - stops the timer. click on start again to restart the timer. click on reset to set the timer back to 00:00.
• reset - resets the timer to 00:00.
• hide/show - hide/show the timer.

LICENSE

Released under MIT license. Check https://github.com/swaroopg92/penpa-edit/blob/master/LICENSE.