                   SOLUTION OF SLIDING-PIECE PUZZLES

                              Release 2.0

                           Balmoral Software


                                Contents

                       1. Introduction
                       2. Installing the Program
                       3. Running the Program
                       4. Tutorial
                       5. Alternate Keys
                       6. Technical Support
                       7. Disclaimer
                       8. Registering the Program


1. Introduction  =======================================================

If you've ever gotten stuck solving a sliding-piece puzzle, then the
SLIDING program is for you.  It provides solutions for de-scrambling
rectangular numeric puzzle layouts, and runs under DOS or a Command
Prompt on any PC (requires ANSI.SYS to be loaded).  All layouts assume
numbered pieces of equal size with a single like-sized space.

Release 2.0 of the SLIDING program is available as shareware.  The
unregistered SLIDING program will solve any 3 x 3 puzzle layout, but the
registered version provides solutions for any rectangular layout
containing 2 - 5 rows or columns (16 different layout arrangements).


2. Installing the Program  =============================================

To install the SLIDING program, simply create a folder (C:\SLIDING
suggested), change to it, and execute the self-extracting zip file
SLIDEINS.EXE.  From a Command Prompt under Windows, typical installation
commands are

	MD \SLIDING
	CD \SLIDING
	A:\SLIDINS

if you are installing from a floppy.  Since the SLIDING program is a
stand-alone executable, no modification to the Windows registry or INI
files is needed.

The SLIDING program requires ANSI.SYS to be loaded.  This is usually
accomplished by means of a DEVICE= line in CONFIG.SYS; for example,

	DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS

under Windows 95, or

	DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS

under DOS (Windows 3.x).  These lines can be added to your CONFIG.SYS
file using any text editor such as Notepad or Edit.  If you need to
change your system setup, be sure to reboot afterwards so that the ANSI
driver is loaded.  ANSI.SYS is a device driver that allows the use of
"escape sequences" to control cursor movement on the screen under DOS
or a Windows Command Prompt.  For more information on the ANSI device
driver, consult your operating system documentation.

For more convenient usage under Windows, you can define an icon with the
properties

	Command Line: C:\SLIDING\SLIDING.EXE
	Icon: C:\SLIDING\SLIDING.ICO


3. Running the Program  ================================================

To run the program, start up a Command Prompt from Windows, set your
default directory to the location in which you unzipped the SLIDING
files (C:\SLIDING suggested), and simply type in SLIDING.  Or, if you've
created an icon or shortcut under Windows, you can just click on the
SLIDING icon.

Once puzzle dimensions are specified, the SLIDING program displays a
puzzle grid and INPUT MODE is started.  First, the keyboard arrow keys
are used to move a cursor around the puzzle grid and identify where the
open space should be when the puzzle has been solved.  Next, the puzzle
grid is refreshed, the arrow keys are again used to move a cursor
around the puzzle grid, and the PgUp and PgDn keys are used to change
puzzle piece values to correspond to the scrambled puzzle you are
trying to solve.  

Press the keyboard Enter key to terminate the input mode.  Before the
actual solution sequence is started, the puzzle arrangement you
specified is checked for missing pieces and parity errors.  In sliding-
piece puzzles of this type, a "parity law" states that some starting
configurations are impossible to solve, and the SLIDING program applies
a parity test to identify these unsolvable arrangements.  For example,
it's impossible to switch only two pieces, leaving all the other pieces
unchanged.  Of course, if you have made no errors in specifying piece
positions and they correspond to an actual puzzle, then no parity error
should occur.

In SOLUTION MODE, the keyboard Enter key may be used to progress
through the solution sequence.  At each step, the puzzle grid cursor
indicates the piece you should move into the empty space.  

If your particular puzzle contains an image rather than numbers, it
helps to visualize the finished image and make a numbered list of each
piece and its description.  In this case, the solution procedure can
best be followed by referring to the relative grid position of the
piece to be moved.


4. Tutorial  ===========================================================

In this section, we'll run through a sample puzzle solution.  Start up
the SLIDING program, specifying a 3-row, 3-column puzzle if prompted.
The following INPUT MODE display will be shown:

 SLIDING PIECE PUZZLE SOLUTION  
 Position of Space in Ending Configuration
Ŀ                   Release 2.0
                     
                                         Copyright
                                         (c) 1997
Ĵ                    Balmoral
                                         Software
                                        All Rights
                                         Reserved
Ĵ
               ͻ 
                                    INPUT MODE
               ͼ 
                 Use arrow keys to move cursor

                                          Press [Enter] to define ending space

Press the keyboard up arrow key once to define the ending space as the
middle row of the right-hand column (for example).  After the double-
walled cursor moves up, press the keyboard [Enter] key.  The next INPUT
MODE display will then be shown:

 SLIDING PIECE PUZZLE SOLUTION  
 Starting Configuration                                   Ending Configuration
Ŀ                   Release 2.0   Ŀ
 ͻ                                                 1  2  3 
  1     2      3                       Copyright    Ĵ
 ͼ                                   (c) 1997      4  5    
Ĵ                    Balmoral     Ĵ
                                         Software      6  7  8 
   4      5      6                      All Rights    
                                         Reserved
Ĵ
                     
   7      8                           INPUT MODE
                     
                 Use arrow keys to move cursor
                                          Use [PgUp] and [PgDn] to change value
                                          Press [Enter] to begin solving

The smaller grid at upper right indicates the final, solved puzzle
configuration that is the goal of the solution procedure.  The larger
grid at left will next be used to identify to the SLIDING program the
current jumbled-up state of the puzzle.  As before, you can use the
keyboard arrow keys to move the double-walled cursor around the puzzle
grid.  The keyboard [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys can be used to alter the
numeric value currently shown on the jumbled-up puzzle in the position
indicated by the cursor.  For this tutorial, press the keys

	[PgUp] [->] [PgUp] [->] [PgDn] [PgDn]

to change the top row of the puzzle to  2  3  1.  We'll assume the empty
space in the puzzle is at the lower right.  This will provide a simple
but solvable puzzle jumbling for the SLIDING program to rearrange:

 SLIDING PIECE PUZZLE SOLUTION  
 Starting Configuration                                   Ending Configuration
Ŀ                   Release 2.0   Ŀ
               ͻ                                   1  2  3 
   2      3     1                      Copyright    Ĵ
               ͼ                     (c) 1997      4  5    
Ĵ                    Balmoral     Ĵ
                                         Software      6  7  8 
   4      5      6                      All Rights    
                                         Reserved
Ĵ
                     
   7      8                           INPUT MODE
                     
                 Use arrow keys to move cursor
                                          Use [PgUp] and [PgDn] to change value
                                          Press [Enter] to begin solving

Press the keyboard [Enter] key to start solving the puzzle.  The SLIDING
program computes the number of moves required, then displays the moves
one at a time, updating the large grid at left at each move so you can
check your progress against your actual puzzle.  In this example, 39
moves are required for a complete solution.  The first one involves
moving the piece marked 8 at lower center into the space immediately to
its right:

 SLIDING PIECE PUZZLE SOLUTION  
  Current Configuration                                   Ending Configuration
Ŀ                   Release 2.0   Ŀ
                                                       1  2  3 
   2      3      1                       Copyright    Ĵ
                                         (c) 1997      4  5    
Ĵ                    Balmoral     Ĵ
                                         Software      6  7  8 
   4      5      6                      All Rights    
                                         Reserved
Ĵ
        ͻ        
   7     8                          SOLUTION MODE
        ͼ        

                                          Press [Enter] for next move

                                          Press [Esc] to quit

                                             ͻ
                                               Move 1 of 39              
                                             ͼ

Continue pressing [Enter] to step through the individual moves.  Midway
through the solution sequence, the piece marked 1 has been moved into
its final position and other pieces are converging on their desired
positions.  The twentieth move again involves moving the piece marked 8:

 SLIDING PIECE PUZZLE SOLUTION  
  Current Configuration                                   Ending Configuration
Ŀ                   Release 2.0   Ŀ
                                                       1  2  3 
   1      5      2                       Copyright    Ĵ
                                         (c) 1997      4  5    
Ĵ                    Balmoral     Ĵ
                                         Software      6  7  8 
   4      3      6                      All Rights    
                                         Reserved
Ĵ
               ͻ 
   7            8                   SOLUTION MODE
               ͼ 

                                          Press [Enter] for next move

                                          Press [Esc] to quit

                                             ͻ
                                               Move 20 of 39             
                                             ͼ

When all 39 moves have been made, the puzzle is solved:

 SLIDING PIECE PUZZLE SOLUTION  
  Current Configuration                                   Ending Configuration
Ŀ                   Release 2.0   Ŀ
                                                       1  2  3 
   1      2      3                       Copyright    Ĵ
                                         (c) 1997      4  5    
Ĵ                    Balmoral     Ĵ
                                         Software      6  7  8 
   4      5                             All Rights    
                                         Reserved
Ĵ
                     
   6      7      8                    SOLUTION MODE
                     

                                          Press [Enter] for next move

                                          Press [Esc] to quit

                                             ͻ
                                               PUZZLE SOLVED!            
                                             ͼ

5. Alternate Keys  =====================================================

On laptop or nonstandard keyboards, alternate keys may be used for the
SLIDING program controls:

	Standard Key     Alternate Key

	PgUp                   +
	PgDn                   -
	Up arrow               U
	Down arrow             D
	Left arrow             L
	Right arrow            R


6. Technical Support  ==================================================

Technical support for the SLIDING program is available via e-mail from
Balmoral Software at balmond@deltanet.com or via snail mail from

			Balmoral Software
			P.O. Box 524
			Yorba Linda, CA  92885-0524

Balmoral Software is located on the World Wide Web at
http://users.deltanet.com/users/balmond/


7. Disclaimer  =========================================================

The SLIDING software program from Balmoral Software (the "Software") is
provided "as is" and "with all faults."  Balmoral Software makes no
representations or warranties of any kind concerning the quality, safety
or suitability of the Software, either express or implied, including
without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness
for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.  Neither Balmoral
Software nor anyone else who has been involved in the creation,
production, or delivery of this Software shall be liable for any
indirect, consequential, or incidental damages arising out of the use
or inability to use such Software even if Balmoral Software has been
advised of the possibility of such damages or claims.  In no event
shall Balmoral Software's liability for any such damages ever exceed
the price paid for the license to use the Software, regardless of the
form of the claim.  The person using the Software bears all risk as to
the quality and performance of the Software.


8. Registering the Program  ============================================

The registered version of the SLIDING program provides solutions for any
rectangular sliding-piece puzzle layout containing up to 5 rows and/or
columns.  To register, enclose a copy of the following form with a check
for $20.00 (U.S. funds only) payable to Balmoral Software and send to:

			Balmoral Software
			P.O. Box 524
			Yorba Linda, CA  92885-0524

The fastest way to get your registered version of the SLIDING program is
by electronic upload, so please include your e-mail address.  If you
don't specify an e-mail address, a 3.5-inch floppy will be mailed out.


  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
  *                    SPECIAL DISCOUNT                             *
  *                                                                 *
  *   If your registration is received before the end of December   *
  *   1997, the registration fee is only $15.00 (U.S. funds only).  *
  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *


Copyright (c) 1997 Balmoral Software.  All Rights Reserved.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           REGISTRATION FORM
                          SLIDING Release 2.0

Name: __________________________________________________________________


E-mail address: ________________________________________________________
  (preferred)

     or

Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________

                 _______________________________________________________

                 _______________________________________________________

                 _______________________________________________________


Where did you hear
about the SLIDING program?  ____________________________________________

                            ____________________________________________


Enclose with a check (U.S. funds only) for $20.00 ($15.00 through 1997)
payable to Balmoral Software and remit to:

			Balmoral Software
			P.O. Box 524
			Yorba Linda, CA  92885-0524


Copyright (c) 1997 Balmoral Software.  All Rights Reserved.
