Excel Power Sudoku

Introduction: A: Created in Excel 2003. Not tested on previous versions. B: Since

the Scribd site can't handle Excel Template (.Xlt) files, the first thing to do is to copy or rename this file with a .XLT extension (Excel Power Soduko.XLT). Then you can proceed.

B: Assuming this is your first Excel Template download: 1) Make sure your protection software (i.e. Norton, MacAfee, etc.) is either turned off, or configured to accept macros from third parties. Check the documentation for that software. 2) If Excel gives you a security message about macros, go to Tools-Options-"Security" Tab and click the "Macro Security" button. Then set the level to either medium or low. 3) Find your Microsoft Office Template Folder. Look 1st under C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates. If they are not there, open "Windows Explorer" from the "Accessories" category of the "Programs" menu. Then search for files whose names are *.xlt. This should tell you where you must save the template for it to appear correctly when you want to start a "New" Sudoku game. C: You will be entering the starting numbers into 81 large squares surrounded on each side by little squares. I call these little squares memory squares and I use them to keep track of pairs and possibilities. You can get your starting numbers from online, magazines, books, of even your local newspaper. Double check the numbers! A mistake here will probably make the puzzle unsolvable. Chapter 1 - Set-up. A: This template was created for use on a monitor running at 1680 x 1050. It is best displayed full screen with Excel zoom set at 38-40%. Other screen resolutions may require adjusting the zoom, %, and the row and column widths. Play around with it until you can see the entire game board. Just be careful not to mess up either the cell references or cell formats. Change either one and you will need to edit the macros and maybe the formulas. B: The features of this template depend on Formulas and Macros. Be sure your Excel is set to run third party macros. C: Although the template has editing protection turned on, there is no password. It is protected just to prevent accidental changes. Feel free to change whatever you wish. If you unprotect the template or a puzzle, be sure the box that allows users to "Format cells" is checked when you again turn protection on. D: The saving of the completed puzzle requires the following folder configuration. I suggest a folder under your default Excel folder (named anything you like) where you will save your Sudoku games. The IMPORTANT THING is that under the game folder is one named "Completed_Sudoku". This is where the solved puzzles will be saved. As you solve your puzzles and save them you will build up a library of puzzles and their solutions. Chapter 2 - Making a Game A: Enter the starting numbers in the big squares. Click the "Set-Up" button. The starting numbers will turn dark green. The numbers you enter to solve the puzzle with be black. This difference allows the "Clear" routine to keep the original numbers and erase all the rest of the entries whenever you want to start over. B: If you see "#Value" at the top, don't be concerned. When you save the puzzle the saved file Name will appear here. C: Save the puzzle before starting to work it. The "base" filename you use will appear at the top of the puzzle without path or extension. Chapter 3 - Working Sudoku A: You are now ready to go. Remember you have up to 15 "Undo" steps to use, although some commands (such as "Save") resets "Undo" to 0. If all else fails, use the "Clear" button to return to the beginning and start over. (Tip: When you think your stuck, copy the "Sudoku" worksheet to a new name. Then, if things don't work out you can return to the exact point on the other worksheet and try something else.)

B: Use the little squares to keep track of possibilities and pairs in any manner you see fit. C: As you work the puzzle, the numbers in the "tan" squares around the outside and to the right will keep track of the totals in each row, column, and block, as well as the times each digit is used. The sum of each row, column, and block should be 45 when you are done. The background will change to "light green" as each total reaches 45. The total of the rows and columns will be 810, and each digit will be used 9 times. Chapter 4 - Finishing A: Either click the "Clear" button to start over, or click the "Done" button. The "Done" button will check the total of the rows and columns. If not 810, you will be prompted to find your error(s). The next prompt asks for your opinion of the difficulty level, followed by an automatic save of a copy of the finished puzzle in the "Completed_Sudoku" folder (See Set-up D: above) as filename_done. Next comes the opportunity to restore the puzzle to it's original starting state, and to resave it in it's original folder. B: If the "Completed_Sudoku" folder is not found in the current folder, you are prompted to either let Excel create it or return you to the finished puzzle without any saving being done. If you know the completed folder exists under a different folder; go to "File", "Open" and find the parent folder of "Completed_Sudoku", click it, then use the "Cancel" button at the bottom to exit the window without selecting a file. Now try the "Done" button again. Chapter 5 - Hints and Tips A: If you don't already have your own approach, try working on each block of 9 in turn filling in numbers as you find them and recording pairs of numbers when they are the only possibilities for 2 squares within the block. When there are only 2 possibilities for a given pair of squares in a block, row, or column, all other numbers must go elsewhere in that block, row, or column. B: Repeat step "A" with the each row, then each column. C: Don't record every possibility for a square, unless you have totally exhausted all other approaches. It can get really confusing. D: When you are down to mostly pairs in the blocks, rows, and columns, you might have to pick what looks like a pivotal pair. At this point go ahead and enter all the possibilities in the little squares. Then, choose one of a pair, change the background color "fill" of that LITTLE square. Now follow where it leads, changing background colors as you go. You may have to backup and restart more than once, but you should eventually reach a solution. E: If you loose a puzzle but still have the "_done" copy, open the "_done" copy from the "Completed_Sudoku" folder like any other Excel file. Click the "Clear" button then use "SaveAs" from the "File" menu to save it to your game folder with a new name, Now your ready to go again.

Enter the starting numbers then click "Set-Up." Set_Up Save

Clear

Done Template 8/4/09

0

0

#VALUE!

0

0

0

0

UE!

0

0

0

0

1 2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3 4 5 6

0

7 8 9

0

### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ###

0

0

0

0

0

0