Numerical Fill-In Generator

How to Play

How do I work Fill-In puzzles?

Using the starting number given in red and checked in the listing, the goal is to complete the puzzle by placing all of the numbers from the various lists in the User Grid. If the option of Do Not Show First Number is selected from the Main Menu, the starting number will not be shown in red.  The primary way to fill the number into the User Grid is to click with the mouse using the AutoFill feature.  Numbers can also be entered with the standard keyboard number keys or the numeric keypad (if Num Lock is on.)  The program will check the keyboard input and will allow only number keys, arrow keys, Tab, Delete, BackSpace, and the F1 function key to be used.

Erasing a number in the grid is done by either pressing the backspace key or typing another number in the same grid square. Only one digit can occupy a grid square at one time.

As for working the puzzles, the puzzle difficulty is based on the puzzle type's size (small, normal, or large), on the puzzle type's grid design (H, Shield, Crazy Eights, etc.), and on the random numbers created by the program. The Small Puzzle "H" is considered the easiest of the puzzles. The hardest puzzle is left to the solver to decide.

To begin working the puzzle, check the starting number. The starting number will be in the same location every time for the particular puzzle template. This location has been chosen to ensure some difficulty while keeping the puzzle solvable.

This puzzle has a starting number of 84. Note that the box corresponding to 84 in the 2 Digits: category is checked. It is possible to deselect this box, but that would not be advantageous. Also, when working a puzzle, if the correct digit is typed over a digit given by the starting number, the digit will be red. If an incorrect digit is typed over a digit given by the starting number, then the digit will become black, showing that the digit is not correct. This is illustrated in the picture below.

Looking at the starting number of 84, the digit 4 begins a 10-digit number. Looking in the 10 Digits: listing, the only number that begins with 4 is 4216082151. Since the digit 4 was given by the starting number, it can be trusted that the 10-digit number going down is 4216082151. Check the number off in the list.  This number is then placed into the program buffer as shown in the menu.  Click on the starting square where 4216082151 will be placed, which is the 4 from the 84.  The square's background color will change from white to blue.

Finish the process by clicking on a square below the square with the 4 to tell the program that the number 4216082151 shall be filled downwards.  The program will place the number in the corresponding squares.

It should be noted that the AutoFill feature can also fill numbers across by selecting a square to the right of starting square.  Clicking on a square above (which could not be done in this example) or to the left of the starting square or clicking on the starting square a second time will cancel the AutoFill feature.  The number will be retained in the program's memory until it is filled in the puzzle or another number's checkbox is checked.  For a more detailed account of the AutoFill feature, see the article AutoFill Instructions.

The digit 8 begins another 10-digit number. Again looking in the 10 Digits: listing shows that there are three numbers beginning with 8. Since there is a question about the number to filled in, the number cannot be entered into the User Grid.  Checking the digits of the number 4216082151, it can be seen that only the number 52 in the 2 Digits: category would fit across in the squares that end with the first 2 in 4216082151.   Thus it would be checked off in the list and filled in the grid across starting with the square below the 8 in the upper-left corner.

Iit is now clear that the 10-digit number 8588572138 is the number going down to the left of 4216082151.

This process of checking the grid and the number lists is repeated until the grid is filled. If the numbers are checked off as they are entered into the grid, remaining numbers can be deduced more easily. If a number's grid placement cannot be determined immediately, search the grid for other numbers to be filled in. The number's grid placement may not be determined until other numbers have been filled in. In some cases only one or two digits can be filled in at a time, making the puzzle difficulty that much greater.  When filling in one number at a time, the AutoFill feature is still active.  Cancel the AutoFill feature if the square's background becomes blue by selecting the same square or a square to its left or above.  It is then possible to fill in the squares using the number keys or keypad and the arrow keys.

When the user grid is filled correctly, the puzzle is complete. Choosing the Show Solution / User Grid from the Edit menu will show the puzzle solution to check one's work. If the two grids are identical, then the puzzle has been solved. Depending on the numbers selected there may be a second solution in rare cases. These are not shown by the program, and it is up to the solver to give the alternate solution if available.