1- Before you can run the program, you need the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) which you can obtain from Oracle. Follow the link on the right-hand side and choose the right version for your operating system. Make sure you follow instructions to install the Java Platform closely :)

You may prefer to install the Java Development Kit (JDK) if you intend (at step 2) to compile the source code. It contains the JRE in addition to the tools you need to compile and debug Java code.

• Oracle JRE and JDK

2- The next step is to install Puzzled. Here you have two options, you can download the source files, compile them, and then run the program, or you can simply download the class files which is all you need if the code represents no interest to you.

If you choose to compile the code, then you probably know what you are doing and I will not elaborate on the procedure.

• Download Puzzled

3- Once the file is downloaded, you need to unzip it into a directory of your choice. You can use the shareware program on the right if you use Microsoft Windows and don't have anything else to do the job.

Remember where you put the files, I'll refer to this directory as <installdir> later on.

• Winzip

4- Open a command line prompt in the <installdir>. If you use Microsoft Windows, that means opening an MS-DOS prompt and changing into the directory you installed puzzled.

Ensure the content of the directory you're in has a folder called puzzled. If so, type in (capital letters are important):

java puzzled.ProblemSolver

Future version will have the classes in .jar file which can simply be double-clicked

1- Since version 1.3, a sample problem file has been included with the package. The file is located in the <installdir> directory (see above) and is named number47.lpf. It has been chosen to be the reference problem. Puzzled uses the .lpf extension to indicate problem files (as in Logic Problem File.)

.lpf files contain only the problem definition, not the actual clues. In the future, Puzzled will allow you to also save the clues associated with a problem, the file will have the same name but bear the .lpc extension (Logic Problem Clues)

2- In order to open a file, you have three options: the toolbar, the menu, or the keyboard shortcut. The symbol on the right is used to open a file and should appear on your toolbar. Using the menu, you can choose File, Open. For a quicker access, you can press Ctrl+O on your keyboard. Once you have chosen one of these options, a dialog will ask you to find the desired file. Just point your file explorer to your <installdir> and select the sample problem file (number47.lpf)

If you see that the File Open option is not available for you (greyed out), this means you already have a problem file opened and should close it. It is possible to configure Puzzled to open the last problem file used when it is started. Puzzled can also be configured so that no toolbar appears, see Setting User's Preferences.

1- Likely you downloaded Puzzle because you wanted to be able to enter your own logic puzzles or the ones assigned to you by your math teacher. It is a relatively easy thing to do if you follow these steps. First you choose File, New from the menu bar, or click the New File icon on the toolbar (see beside) or use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+N)

If you see that the File New option is not available for you (greyed out), this means you already have a problem file opened and should close it. It is possible to configure Puzzled to open the last problem file used when it is started. Puzzled can also be configured so that no toolbar appears, see Setting User's Preferences.

2- You'll then have to indicate how many categories and items per categories you wish to enter for the problem you have to solve. The images beside explain what categories and items are. Once you the information entered and pressed Ok, you'll have to enter the category names, and then the items names for each of your categories.

Choose simple names since you'll have to use those exact names when you enter your clues. You can set Puzzled to be case sensitive or insensitive, so don't worry about capital letters. Puzzled understands category or item names of more than one word.

• Image of categories
• Image of items

3- Once that step is completed, you should see diagram showing you the relations grid with the information you entered, on the first tab, and a sheet that keeps track of the answers on the second tab (see beside.)

The answer tab is likely to be empty at this stage, until some answers are discovered.

• Image of relations grid

4- Now is a good time to save your work. By choosing File, Save from the menu or by pressing the icon shown here or by pressing Ctrl+S, you'll be prompted to enter a filename. The extension .lpf will be added to the file name.

You'll be prompted to enter a filename only the first time you save the file. In subsequent file save, the same name will be used, unless you select the File, Save As option, which allows you to save the file under a different name. The Save action will be disabled (greyed out) if you have no file opened.