From: Adam Shelly <adam.shelly@...>
Date: 2005-08-26T08:10:23+09:00
Subject: Re: [SUMMARY] Sodoku Solver (#43)

On 8/25/05, Simon Kr�ger <SimonKroeger@gmx.de> wrote:
> i have another version for you:
> 
> def parse_board(file)
>    @@boxcols= (s = file.read).scan(/[+-]+/).size() -1
>    boardlist = s.scan(/[0-9A-Za-z_]/).map{|c| c.hex}
>    return boardlist, Math.sqrt(boardlist.size).to_i
> end
> 
> assuming that boxcols is the number of boxes in horizontal or
> vertical direction, boardlist is one array (e.g. with 81 cells
> for a 9x9 board) and the second return parameter is the number
> of columns or rows. right?
> 
almost.
boxcols counted the +'s in the horizontal direction (columns), yours
counts vertical (rows).
The difference is important in solving
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| 1 _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ |
| _ 2 | 1 _ | _ _ | _ _ |
| _ _ | 3 _ | _ _ | _ _ |
| _ _ | _ 4 | _ _ | _ _ |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| _ _ | _ _ | 5 _ | _ _ |
| _ _ | _ _ | _ 6 | _ _ |
| _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | 7 _ |
| _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ 8 |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+
vs
+---------+---------+
| 1 _ _ _ | _ _ _ _ |
| _ 2 _ _ | _ _ _ _ |
+---------+---------+
| _ 1 3 _ | _ _ _ _ |
| _ _ _ 4 | _ _ _ _ |
+---------+---------+
| _ _ _ _ | 5 _ _ _ |
| _ _ _ _ | _ 6 _ _ |
+---------+---------+
| _ _ _ _ | _ _ 7 _ |
| _ _ _ _ | _ _ _ 8 |
+---------+---------+

My code handles both puzzles.  And it's an easy fix to make it work 
with your 'boxrows' instead.

Thanks for the tips.
-Adam