Clock scramble notation

[Clement Gallet]

Here is a suggestion about clock scramble notation. The actual notation has an important limitation : it relies on some text display or some ascii art to be able to understand it. The problem with this is that it cannot be manipulated (changing the font, the size), it is very difficult to be parsed, so to be saved, translated into something else, etc. It is very different from the scrambler notation of all the other puzzles.

Also, minor issue, when scrambling on a computer, text is very small if you want to fit the whole page on screen.

So I propose to use a more standard notation for clock, and add a section in the regulations with how to interpret the scrambles (which is missing right now). Coming from square-1, I propose something like this :
(UUdd,1,-2) (dUdU,3,5) (ddUU,-2,4) etc.
First pins position, then turns around U pins and turns around d pins. I'm not stuck on this particular notation, everything that can stand as a text sequence with no line break is fine for me.

What do you think ?

Clément

[DanielSheppard]

I agree with Clement that the clock scrambles could be a lot better. Personally I use concise notation when I'm practicing, which is just (2,3),(0,-5) etc.
Obviously for the official scrambles we need the pin positions there as well in case the scramblers don't know the order, so I like Clement's proposal for the new notation. We'd need a diagram of the pin positions too to check that the scramble is correct - is there any way we could generate a picture of the clock rather than using the current grid of numbers?

[Pedro_S]

I like this:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=880&p=4904

It's not a single string of text, but would make it much easier for non-expert people, I think.

[Pedro_S]

Reviving and old thread, but better than making a new one.

I made this today: http://www.cuber.com.br/clockScrambler.html

I was talking to Lucas yesterday, and he said Jaap's image version takes too much space, so I did this more compact one.

It generates the scrambles in a string, no line breaks, as Clement said. (It's at the bottom).

Suggestion on improvements are welcome.

[Alukret]

Pedro, it is amazing work! Thanks!

Possible improvements:
1. prepare printable version for an album a4 paper sheet, because width > height
2. that's why you can remove text scrambles below every image, to decrease height (If anyone wants to use text scrambles, he can go down the page and look at them)

[Pedro_S]

The scramble is below each image for the expert scramblers, who can do it just with the numbers.

The problem for printing wasn't that, since the clocks at the end are tall. Removing the text wouldn't have any effect.

But I've fixed it, printing only the image, and there was even space left for the competition name and round. Check it out.

Here's a sample print: http://www.cuber.com.br/clockScramble.pdf

[gagou9]

it's very nice, and i guess will help a lot for 'new' scramblers, but, if you can, you should remove the '0' on some moves ! it confuses.

[Pedro_S]

I have the 0s because it is that way in the official scrambler, but removing that is not a problem, if necessary.

Milán suggested that we change the scrambling order, exchanging the 2nd and 3rd pin positions.
http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showt ... post710953

I think it would make it easier, always using the same wheels.