Maze Maker FAQ - version 0.92

This FAQ is maintained by jlauro@umich.edu. If you have any additions, suggestions, or corrections let me know!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I print a maze?
How do I get color to work right?
What do the other parameters mean?
Can I use the maze(s) I generated for...?
Can I link to this site?
How can I make mazes easier for young childern?
How can I get a more difficult maze to solve?
Can I have the source to the maze program?
Can I at least have the algorithm you used?
Can I run this program at home (offline)?

How do I print a maze?

You print the same way you print any other page with your web browser. Most (if not all) problem reports related to printing were solved by upgrading to the latest browser. If you have the latest version, it may have introduced a new bug, and you need to go down a version.

How do I get color to work right?

The values for Red/Green/Blue can each range from 0-255. For a more complete description, you can click for a color chart.

What do the other parameters mean?

The path width and wall width can be used to magnify (or shrink) the size of the maze. The path/wall width do not change the number of cells or complexity of the maze. The width/height/size of the maze can be increased to make the maze larger by adding more cells to travel through. The length factor can be use to make longer paths to run down, and generally a little harder to solve. Too small a value for the length factor and you have lots of short dead ends, too large and the mazes can become trivial.

Can I use the maze(s) I generated for...?

Yes. I consider any maze generated by my programs to be public domain. I do appreciate a note of anything unique to be placed in the comments board, and even a reference to this site, but neither is required.

Can I link to this site?

You can link to the main page at http://hereandabove.com/maze/. If you want to link to anywhere else on this site, please e-mail jlauro@umich.edu for permission, and include where and how long you would like the link to remain.

How can I make mazes easier for young childern?

The main suggestions I have are to make the path width fairly large (14 or even much higher), and also make the wall width a little larger (4 or 6) to make it easier to stay between the lines. The mazes themselves are already fairly easy, but can be made even more so by decreasing the width/height/size and setting the length factor to 0.

How can I get a more difficult maze to solve?

Aside from the obvious (Increase width/height/size and set wall width at 1 and path width small like 3), try setting the length factor to 20, and do the valentine shaped mazes. Right now I know the mazes are fairly trival to solve, and only have one path... I do have some ideas for making more difficult mazes, but that will require an almost complete rewrite, and I am not sure when I will make it available.

Can I have the source to the maze program?

No.

Can I have the algorithm you used?

Not the complete one, but a simple algorithm is now available.

Can I run this program at home (offline)?

No. As it is written (produces GIF images), it would not work well on a PC. If there is enough interest, I might make a shareware version. If anyone knows of a freeware, shareware, or commercial maze program, I will add them to this FAQ.