debmohanty - 2011-01-24 10:15 AM

Is there a problem that you face with current submission format?

debmohanty - 2011-01-25 5:47 AM

Thanks for your points Rakesh, but my question to Rohan is different.

In most other competitions, the rows / columns are marked by arrows in pdf. However, we don't do that at LMI for valid reasons.
Because of this, marking 10 cells on the grid throughout just increases the chance of making errors
Also, I would definitely think that entering 2 rows / columns is definitely less time taking.

Rohan Rao - 2011-01-25 9:12 AM

I dont usually solve online (in view of WSC-style of solving on paper), unless they are 6x6 or really easy 9x9 puzzles. Some players (who play online) and at Techfest asked me a question like 'Why cant sudoku submissions be same as puzzle submissions?'. To be truthful, I didn't have any convincing answer.

In online submissions:
1. In a test like 'Prime Exotica', a player can easily skip a marked cell (by mistake), especially during the dying minutes of the test.
2. Due to the images, there 'might' be a problem for those with low internet speed or technically expired computers (I had this problem in early 2010 in mock tests due to a slow connection. I dont know how it is now).
3. Entering a row/column in one line is definitely quicker and easier for offline solvers.
4. For searching a sudoku in random order, it takes a few seconds due to scrolling (which has considerably reduced due to tabs) whereas it would almost certainly be easier with smaller gaps.
5. Why cant you have an optional answer submission system?

P.S. Above points have been asked to me, I'm just putting it forward.

Personally for me, if I were given a choice, I would choose to submit answers in one line (like in puzzles).

Rohan Rao - 2011-01-25 9:12 AM

I dont usually solve online (in view of WSC-style of solving on paper), unless they are 6x6 or really easy 9x9 puzzles. Some players (who play online) and at Techfest asked me a question like 'Why cant sudoku submissions be same as puzzle submissions?'. To be truthful, I didn't have any convincing answer.

In online submissions:
1. In a test like 'Prime Exotica', a player can easily skip a marked cell (by mistake), especially during the dying minutes of the test.
2. Due to the images, there 'might' be a problem for those with low internet speed or technically expired computers (I had this problem in early 2010 in mock tests due to a slow connection. I dont know how it is now).
3. Entering a row/column in one line is definitely quicker and easier for offline solvers.
4. For searching a sudoku in random order, it takes a few seconds due to scrolling (which has considerably reduced due to tabs) whereas it would almost certainly be easier with smaller gaps.
5. Why cant you have an optional answer submission system?

P.S. Above points have been asked to me, I'm just putting it forward.

Personally for me, if I were given a choice, I would choose to submit answers in one line (like in puzzles).

Rohan Rao - 2011-01-25 11:02 AM

I have always encouraged the 'showing of answer cells' as late as possible. Just like you mentioned, it is unique at LMI and I dont suggest to change it.

1 possible solution is to enable an 'Answer Page' for offline solvers after some time. This page will mention the row/column to be entered in one line. The drawback is that the pdf will not have marked arrows, so it is error-prone. But it is still an idea.

debmohanty - 2011-01-25 11:18 AM

One of my earliest thoughts (after reading this post - http://motris.livejournal.com/120480.html) :
Everything remains as is.
Add two text boxes below each grid.
Paper players can enter the solution in the text boxes.
Does that help? It still does not solve the problem 2 and 4 you mentioned.

Again - just one possible idea. Other ideas most welcome.

Administrator - 2011-01-31 9:26 AM

We are adding a text box per grid in the next Sudoku test.

Here is a screenshot

neerajmehrotra - 2011-01-31 10:18 PM

Thanx Deb....this is really wonderful...........