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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Man page of MISSING_LINK</TITLE>
</HEAD><BODY>
<H1>MISSING_LINK</H1>
Section: Games and Demos (6)<BR>Updated: 15 Aug 2024<BR><A HREF="#index">Index</A>
<A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html">Return to Main Contents</A><HR>

<A NAME="lbAB">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>NAME</H2>

xmlink - Missing Link X widget
<A NAME="lbAC">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>SYNOPSIS</H2>

<B>/usr/games/xmlink</B>

[-geometry [{width}][x{height}][{+-}{xoff}[{+-}{yoff}]]]
[-display [{host}]:[{vs}]] [-[no]mono] [-[no]{reverse|rv}]
[-{foreground|fg} {color}] [-{background|bg} {color}]
[-{border|bd} {color}] [-face{0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7} {color}]
[-tile {color}] [-frame {color}] [-[no]stippleFrame]
[-[no]install] [-picture {filename}] [-delay msecs]
[-[no]sound] [-bumpSound {filename}]
[-moveSound {filename}] [-{font|fn} {fontname}]
[-tiles {int}] [-faces {int}] [-[no]orient] [-[no]middle]
[-[no]practice] [-base {int}] [-userName {string}]
[-scoreFile {filename}] [-scores] [-version]
<A NAME="lbAD">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>DESCRIPTION</H2>

<P>

Ideal's The Missing Link, a 4x4 puzzle, riding on the wave of Rubik's
Cube craze.  There are many variations on this theme, including the &quot;6x6&quot;
puzzle and Babylon Tower.  What makes the Missing Link a harder puzzle to
solve is that the 2 center positions rotate together.
<A NAME="lbAE">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>FEATURES</H2>

Press &quot;<B>mouse-left</B>&quot; button to move a tile.  Release
&quot;<B>mouse-left</B>&quot; button in the same row would move the tile towards the
space (unless there is no space in that row).  Release on a different row
will move the tiles up or down.
<P>

Click &quot;<B>mouse-right</B>&quot;, or press &quot;<B>Z</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>z</B>&quot; keys, to
randomize the puzzle (this must be done first to set a new record).
<P>

Press &quot;<B>G</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>g</B>&quot; keys to read (get) a saved puzzle.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>W</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>w</B>&quot; keys to save (write) a puzzle.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>U</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>u</B>&quot; keys to undo a move.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>R</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>r</B>&quot; keys to redo a move.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>C</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>c</B>&quot; keys to clear the puzzle.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>S</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>s</B>&quot; keys to start the auto-solver.  Only works
where tiles = 4 and faces = 4.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>O</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>o</B>&quot; keys to toggle the orient mode.  Slightly
more challenging on (default is off).
<P>

Press &quot;<B>M</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>m</B>&quot; keys to toggle the middle mode.  All the
middle tiles rotate together.  This is considerably more challenging on
(default is on).
<P>

Press &quot;<B>&gt;</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>.</B>&quot; keys to speed up the movement of tiles.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>&lt;</B>&quot; or &quot;<B>,</B>&quot; keys to slow down the movement of tiles.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>@</B>&quot; key to toggle the sound.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>Esc</B>&quot; key to hide program.
<P>

Press &quot;<B>Q</B>&quot;, &quot;<B>q</B>&quot;, or &quot;<B>CTRL-C</B>&quot; keys to kill program.
<P>

Use the key pad or arrow keys to move without the mouse.
<BR>

Key pad is defined for Missing Link as:
<BR>

<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Up
<BR>

<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;^
<BR>

4&lt; &gt;6   Left, Right
<BR>

<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;v
<BR>

<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Down
<P>

Use the shift key and the up or down arrow keys to rotate all the tiles.
<P>

Use the control key and the keypad or arrow keys to reduce or enlarge the
complexity of the puzzle.
<P>

The title is in the following format (non-motif version):
<DL COMPACT><DT><DD>
xmlink: &lt;row&gt;x&lt;column&gt; {norm|ind&lt;control of movement of middle tiles&gt;} @
(&lt;Number of moves&gt;/{&lt;Record number of moves&gt;
&lt;user name&gt;|&quot;NEVER noaccess&quot;|&quot;practice&quot;}) - &lt;Comment&gt;
</DL>

Movement of middle tiles are either move together or independent.
<BR>

If there is no record of the current puzzle, it displays &quot;NEVER noaccess&quot;.
<A NAME="lbAF">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>OPTIONS</H2>

<DL COMPACT>
<DT><B>-geometry {+|-}</B><I>X</I>{+|-}<I>Y</I>

<DD>
This option sets the initial position of the missing link window (resource
name &quot;<I>geometry</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-display </B><I>host</I>:<I>dpy</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the X server to contact.
<DT><B>-[no]mono</B>

<DD>
This option allows you to display the missing link window on a color
screen as if it were monochrome (resource name &quot;<I>mono</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-[no]{reverse|rv}</B>

<DD>
This option allows you to see the missing link window in reverse video
(resource name &quot;<I>reverseVideo</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-{foreground|fg} </B><I>color</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the foreground of the missing link window (resource
name &quot;<I>foreground</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-{background|bg} </B><I>color</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the background of the missing link window (resource
name &quot;<I>background</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-tile </B><I>color</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the tile color of the tiles in the missing link window
(resource name &quot;<I>tileColor</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-{border|bd} </B><I>color</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the border color of the tiles in the missing link
window (resource name &quot;orderColor&quot;).
<DT><B>-face{0|1|2|3|4|5|6|7} &lt;</B><I>color</I>&gt;

<DD>
This option allows you to change the color of a face (resource name
&quot;<I>faceColorN</I>&quot;). In mono-mode, color is represented as the first letter
of the color name.  The 0th face is the last face face on missing link
because I wanted that one to remain white by default when there are more or
less faces.
<DT><B>-frame </B><I>color</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the color of the frame (resource name
&quot;<I>frameColor</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-[no]stippleFrame</B>

<DD>
This option allows you to toggle the frame stippling (resource name
&quot;<I>stippleFrame</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-[no]install</B>

<DD>
This option specifies if the colormap should be installed or not
(resource name &quot;<I>install</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-picture </B><I>filename</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the file for the picture (resource name
&quot;<I>picture</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-delay </B><I>msecs</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the number of milliseconds it takes to move a tile or
a group of tiles one space (1-50) (resource name &quot;<I>delay</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-[no]sound</B>

<DD>
This option specifies if a sliding tile should make a sound or not
(resource name &quot;<I>sound</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-bumpSound </B><I>filename</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the file for the bump sound for the sliding of
(resource name &quot;<I>bumpSound</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-moveSound </B><I>filename</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the file for the move sound for the twisting of
the puzzle (resource name &quot;<I>moveSound</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-{font|fn} </B>ontname

<DD>
This option specifies the font that will be used (resource name
&quot;<I>font</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-tiles &lt;</B><I>int</I>&gt;

<DD>
This option allows you to change the number of links in a row
(resource name &quot;<I>tiles</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-faces &lt;</B><I>int</I>&gt;

<DD>
This option allows you to change the number of faces in column
(resource name &quot;<I>faces</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-[no]orient</B>

<DD>
This option allows you to access the oriented mode (resource name
&quot;<I>orient</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-[no]middle</B>

<DD>
This option allows you to access the middle rigid mode (resource name
&quot;<I>middle</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-[no]practice</B>

<DD>
This option allows you to access the practice mode (resource name
&quot;<I>practice</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-base </B><I>int</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the base used (default is base 10) (resource name
&quot;<I>base</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-userName </B><I>string</I>

<DD>
This option specifies the user name for any records made or else it will
get your login name (resource name &quot;<I>userName</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-scoreFile </B><I>filename</I>

<DD>
Specify an alternative score file (resource name &quot;<I>scoreFile</I>&quot;).
<DT><B>-scores</B>

<DD>
This option lists all the recorded scores and then exits.
<DT><B>-version</B>

<DD>
This option tells you what version of xmlink you have.
</DL>
<A NAME="lbAG">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>RECORDS</H2>

You must randomize the puzzle before a record is set, otherwise an
assumption of cheating is made if it is solved after a get.
<A NAME="lbAH">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>SAVE FORMAT</H2>

Here is the format for the xmlink configuration, starting position, and
the movement of its pieces.
<P>
<DL COMPACT><DT><DD>
tiles: 1-8 &lt;number of tiles in a row&gt;
<BR>

faces: 1-8 &lt;number of tiles in a column&gt;
<BR>

middle: 0-1 &lt;0 false, 1 true; if 1 then middle moves as one unit&gt;
<BR>

orient: 0-1 &lt;0 false, 1 true; if 1 then chain linked in order&gt;
<BR>

moves: 0-MAXINT &lt;total number of moves&gt;
<P>
startingPosition: &lt;array of tile positions where 0 is the empty space&gt;
</DL>

<P>
This is then followed by the moves, starting from 1.
<DL COMPACT><DT><DD>
move #: &lt;direction&gt; &lt;tile&gt; &lt;shift&gt;
</DL>

Direction is represented as 0 up, 1 right, 2 down, and 3 left.
<BR>

Tile is the column of tile.
<BR>

Shift is represented as 0 or 1, 1 if the whole puzzle is moved at
once (here Tile does not matter), 0 if not.  The xmlink record keeper
does not count a control move as a move, but here we do.
<A NAME="lbAI">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>REFERENCES</H2>

L. E. Horden, Sliding Piece Puzzles (Recreations in Mathematics Series),
Oxford University Press 1986, Plate X.
<P>
you are about to find the solution: The Missing Link,
Ideal Toy Corporation, 1981.
<P>
James G Nourse, The Simple Solutions to Cubic Puzzles, Bantam Books,
New York, November 1981, pp 16-23.
<A NAME="lbAJ">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>SEE ALSO</H2>

<P>

<A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?1+X">X</A>(1), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xcubes">xcubes</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xtriangles">xtriangles</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xhexagons">xhexagons</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xbarrel">xbarrel</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xpanex">xpanex</A>(6),
<A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xmball">xmball</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xpyraminx">xpyraminx</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xoct">xoct</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xrubik">xrubik</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xskewb">xskewb</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xdino">xdino</A>(6),
<A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xbevel">xbevel</A>(6), <A HREF="/cgi-bin/man/man2html?6+xabacus">xabacus</A>(6)
<A NAME="lbAK">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>COPYRIGHTS</H2>

<P>

&#174; Copyright 1994-2024, David A. Bagley
<A NAME="lbAL">&nbsp;</A>
<H2>BUG REPORTS AND PROGRAM UPDATES</H2>

<P>

Send bugs (or their reports, or fixes) to the author:
<DL COMPACT><DT><DD>
David A. Bagley, &lt;<I>bagleyd AT verizon.net</I>&gt;
</DL>

<P>
The latest version is currently at:
<DL COMPACT><DT><DD>
<I><A HREF="https://www.sillycycle.com/puzzles.html">https://www.sillycycle.com/puzzles.html</A></I>
<BR>

<I><A HREF="http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/games/strategy/">http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/games/strategy/</A></I>
<P>
</DL>

<HR>
<A NAME="index">&nbsp;</A><H2>Index</H2>
<DL>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAB">NAME</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAC">SYNOPSIS</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAD">DESCRIPTION</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAE">FEATURES</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAF">OPTIONS</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAG">RECORDS</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAH">SAVE FORMAT</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAI">REFERENCES</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAJ">SEE ALSO</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAK">COPYRIGHTS</A><DD>
<DT><A HREF="#lbAL">BUG REPORTS AND PROGRAM UPDATES</A><DD>
</DL>
<HR>
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