What's new in Diagnil 3.0
Aug 9, 2013
- The user interface was revamped in several areas. A keystroke-based grid navigation mode was added to complement the mouse-based navigation method. This addition required changes to some existing keystroke commands, primarily those involving the arrow keys. Word numbers are now incremented and decremented using the + and - keys. Word movement shortcuts now require a Shift-Click combination. Users familiar with earlier versions will find these and a few other features have undergone small changes. The basic flow of command sequences is largely the same, however.
- Other additions include a timer feature for displaying and recording solving time. Support was added for importing files created in the Crossword Solver format (.jpz files). Automatic detection of puzzle completion was improved. A primer on diagramless solving was added to the Help information.
New in Diagnil 2.4 (Aug 9, 2013)
- Support was added for the new ipuz open-standard format for puzzle files. For the curious, a technical description of ipuz is available. A layout option for wider windows was added to provide more room for clues. Clashing letters are now displayed side-by-side in their cells. During word movement operations, clashes of letters and end blocks are indicated as words are dragged around the grid. Several additional enhancements and usability improvements are included.
New in Diagnil 2.3 (Mar 1, 2011)
- A capability to keep track of and switch between alternative answers was added in this version. Along with this were a few lesser feature enhancements and usability improvements.
New in Diagnil 2.2 (Mar 1, 2011)
- Support was added for the new XPF crossword file format, complementing the existing capability for Across Lite files. XPF is a recently proposed open standard for distributing crosswords. For the curious, a technical description of XPF is available. Although publishers have not yet incorporated XPF in their operations, Diagnil is now XPF-ready and is capable of working with such files as soon as authors and publishers begin to distribute in this format.
- Also, an intermediate method of obtaining digitized puzzle clues was introduced in this version. Diagnil can now accept clues that have been scanned from printed materials and interpreted using OCR software. This feature gives solvers who wish to move away from paper another usage option.
New in Diagnil 2.1 (Mar 1, 2011)
- This revision introduced several modest enhancements: shortcuts for dragging word groups, Delete Puzzles command, Redo command, and a few miscellaneous fixes.
New in Diagnil 2.0.1 (Mar 1, 2011)
- This minor update fixed a bug in version 2.0 that could be triggered when Diagnil tried to infer word numbers on a grid.
- Moving the mouse cursor along the top row of a mini-grid sometimes led to an internal program error.
New in Diagnil 2.0 (Mar 1, 2011)
- A major new capability was added, namely, the means to accept puzzle files distributed electronically using the popular Across Lite file format. Diagnil can now operate in two modes: clueless, where the puzzle clues are in print form (previously the only mode), and clueful, where puzzle clues and other information are extracted from a ".puz" file. In clueful mode, the word clues are displayed by Diagnil in its main window.
- To accompany the new ".puz" file capability, several new features that naturally follow were added. Because the author's solution is part of a .puz file, it is possible to check your words against the solution or reveal words if hints are desired. Also, clues are used to optimize the word entry process in clueful mode because word numbers are known by the software.
- Many minor improvements in other areas were also incorporated in this version.
New in Diagnil 1.3 (Mar 1, 2011)
- Several minor enhancements were added in this version, some of which were suggested by users.
- Included are features to declare the puzzle size and make use of grid symmetry to help visualize a puzzle's structure.
- Other additions provide improvements for moving word regions, tracking indicators for word motion, and new user preferences.
- A startup issue that prevented Diagnil from running on Vista was corrected.
- Word number estimation was improved.
New in Diagnil 1.2 (Mar 1, 2011)
- This version contains a large variety of minor improvements over version 1.0 to make for smoother operation and better control.
- Enhancements to the user interface were made to improve the layout.
- This version now provides a more native look and feel on the Windows XP platform.
New in Diagnil 1.0 (Mar 1, 2011)
- This version introduced major improvements over version 0.8 to provide better usability. It also included a few minor bug fixes and a new file format.