SYNOPSIS

       /usr/games/xcubes                                            [-geometry
       [{width}][x{height}][{+-}{xoff}[{+-}{yoff}]]]                 [-display
       [{host}]:[{vs}]]   [-[no]mono]   [-[no]{reverse|rv}]  [-{foreground|fg}
       {color}]  [-{background|bg}  {color}]  [-block  {color}]  [-{border|bd}
       {color}]    [-[no]install]   [-picture   {filename}]   [-delay   msecs]
       [-[no]sound]   [-bumpSound    {filename}]    [-dripSound    {filename}]
       [-{font|fn}  {fontname}]  [-size{x|y|z} {int}] [-base {int}] [-userName
       {string}] [-scoreFile {filename}] [-scores] [-version]


DESCRIPTION

       A 3D sliding block puzzle.  The cubes represented are flattened out  on
       the  plane.   If the Blocks Z slider is greater than 1, then each group
       of boxes is a layer of the puzzle.  If the Blocks Z slider  =  1,  then
       this  is  a  simple  15 tile puzzle.  The 15 puzzle was originally made
       around 1879 (the 14-15 puzzle of Sam Loyd was made soon after).   Simi-
       lar  3D  puzzles include BloxBox; Qrazy Qube (2x2x2) by P. Hein of Den-
       mark and Varikon Box 'L (3x3x3) (Hungary) and Mad  Marbles  (3x3x3)  by
       Toys & Games International USA.


FEATURES

       Click  "mouse-left"  button  to  move  a  block.  Clicks on a space, or
       clicks on blocks that are not in line with a space, will not  move  the
       blocks.  Notice, one can move more than one block at a time by clicking
       on the block farthest from the space but still in line with the  space.
       Since you only have a 2-D screen, the next level down is either the box
       to the right of the current box or the bottom of the current box.

       Click "mouse-right" button, or press "R" or "r" keys, to randomize  the
       puzzle.

       Press "I" or "i" keys to move a block in.

       Press "O" or "o" keys to move a block out.

       Press  "S"  or  "s" keys to start the auto-solver.  Only works on lxmx1
       where l > 3 and m > 3.

       Press "U" or "u" keys to undo a move.

       Press "G" or "g" keys to get a saved puzzle.

       Press "W" or "w" keys to write or save a puzzle.

       Press "C" or "c" keys to clear a puzzle.

       Press ">" or "." keys to speed up the movement of blocks.

       Press "<" or "," keys to slow down the movement of blocks.

       Press "@" key to toggle the sound.

       The control key allows you to change the complexity  of  xcubes.   Hold
       down  control key and use the keypad or arrow keys to reduce or enlarge
       puzzle complexity.

       The title is in the following format (non-motif version):
              xcubes: <Number of columns>x<Number of rows>x<Number of  stacks>
              @   (<Number   of   moves>/{<Record   number   of  moves>  <user
              name>|"NEVER noaccess"}) - <Comment>
       If there is no record of the current puzzle, it displays  "NEVER  noac-
       cess".


OPTIONS

       -geometry {+|-}X{+|-}Y
               This  option  sets  the  initial  position  of the cubes window
               (resource name "geometry").

       -display host:dpy
               This option specifies the X server to contact.

       -[no]mono
               This option allows you to display the cubes window on  a  color
               screen as if it were monochrome (resource name "mono").

       -[no]{reverse|rv}
               This option allows you to see the cubes window in reverse video
               (resource name "reverse").

       -{foreground|fg} color
               This option  specifies  the  foreground  of  the  cubes  window
               (resource name "foreground").

       -{background|bg} color
               This  option  specifies  the  background  of  the  cubes window
               (resource name "background").

       -block color
               This option specifies the block color  of  the  blocks  in  the
               cubes window (resource name "blockColor").

       -{border|bd} color
               This  option  specifies  the  border color of the blocks in the
               cubes window (resource name "borderColor").

       -[no]install
               This option specifies if the colormap should  be  installed  or
               not (resource name "install").

       -picture filename
               This  option  specifies the file for the picture (resource name
               "picture").

       -delay msecs
               name "dripSound").

       -{font|fn} ontname
               This option specifies the font that will be used (resource name
               "font").

       -size{x|y|z} <int>
               This option allows you to change the number of cubes in a  row,
               column, or stack (resource name "sizeX", "sizeY", "sizeZ").

       -base int
               This  option  specifies the base used in cubes (default is base
               10) (resource name "base").

       -userName string
               This option specifies the user name for  any  records  made  or
               else it will get your login name (resource name "userName").

       -scoreFile filename
               Specify  an alternative score file (resource name "scoreFile").

       -scores This option lists all the recorded scores and then exits.

       -version
               This option tells you what version of xcubes you have.


RECORDS

       You must randomize the puzzle before a  record  is  set,  otherwise  an
       assumption  of cheating is made if it is solved after a get or an auto-
       solve.


SAVE FORMAT

       The format is not standard.  The reason for this is that this is simple
       and I do not know what the standard is.

              sizeX: 1-8 <number of columns of blocks>
              sizeY: 1-8 <number of rows of blocks>
              sizeZ: 1-8 <number of blocks in a stack>
              moves: 0-MAXINT <total number of moves>

              startingPosition: <array of block positions where 0 is the empty
              space>

       This is then followed by the moves, starting from 1.
              move #: <direction>
       Direction is represented as 0 up, 1 right, 2 down, 3 left, 4 in, and  5
       out.


REFERENCES

       L.  E.  Horden,  Sliding  Piece  Puzzles  (Recreations  in  Mathematics
       Series), Oxford University Press 1986, pp 1, 157-159.

       The latest version is currently at:
              ftp://ftp.tux.org/pub/tux/bagleyd/xpuzzles
              ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/games/strategy



V7.2                              01 Apr 2006                        XCUBES(6)