qfind - a spaceship search program

[C_R_116]

How do you run a search with a given partial result?

I tried the -l command but that didn't work.

To extend a partial result, use the -e command. You will first need a file containing the rows you want to start from. This file can be created by the Golly Lua script getrows.lua (follow the instructions in the code comments). This will create a file called initrows.txt. Make sure initrows.txt is in the same folder as qfind, and then include "-e initrows.txt" in your command line options.

The -l command is for loading a search state saved with the -d command. The -d command causes qfind to periodically save the state of the search to a file so that it can be restarted from that point and doesn't need to be started from the beginning.

Where is initrows.txt?

[Sokwe]

Where is initrows.txt?

After running the Golly script getrows.lua, it should be created in the same folder as getrows.lua. If this is different from the folder where qfind is stored, then you will need to move initrows.txt to wherever qfind is.

[C_R_116]

Thanks!

[C_R_116]

This is potentially bad, as your qfind search (if I understand it right) should have found this first. Can you please share your exact setup (qfind version, qfind options used, and initial rows file) and if possible the output from the run of qfind that found the original tagalong? I need it for debugging.

My version is qfind v2.3
qfind options in the cmd line:

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 2 -w 10 -s o -e initrows.txt -t 24

initrows.txt

Code: Select all

.o........
..o....oo.
....o.....
.oo.......
.ooo.oo...
...o...o..
.o.o...o..
...o......
.o.....oo.
..o.......
.oo...o.o.
..........
.oo....o..
..o...oo..

Unfortunately, I don't have the exact output rle, but I think it looked something like this:

Code: Select all

x = 23, y = 65, rule = B3/S23
2b2o3bobobobo3b2o$9bobo$8bo3bo$8bo3bo$5b2o2bobo2b2o$8b2ob2o$4bo3b2ob2o
3bo$8bo3bo$5bo3bobo3bo$7bobobobo$6b2obobob2o$5bo2bo3bo2bo$4b2o9b2o$6bo
7bo$10bo$8b2ob2o$9bobo$8b2ob2o2$7bobobobo$8b2ob2o$7b2obob2o$5b2o7b2o$
5b2o7b2o$4bobo7bobo$3b2obo7bob2o$8b2ob2o$4bo11bo$4b2ob3ob3ob2o$4b3o7b
3o$5bo9bo$5b2o7b2o$6bo7bo$6bo7bo$5bo9bo$2b4o9b4o$bo2b2o9b2o2bo$3bo13bo
$b2o3b2o5b2o3b2o$6b2o5b2o$6bo7bo2$8b2ob2o$4b2o2b2ob2o2b2o$5bobo5bobo$
3b3ob2o3b2ob3o$b2ob4obobob4ob2o$5bob2o3b2obo$5bobo2bo2bobo$2bobo2b7o2b
obo$3bo2b2ob3ob2o2bo$6b3obob3o$5b2obobobob2o$3b2o2b2obob2o2b2o$2bo4b2o
3b2o4bo$2bo5bo3bo5bo$3bobo3bobo3bobo$3b3o3bobo3b3o$2bo3bo2bobo2bo3bo$
4b2o9b2o$3b3o9b3o$2bo15bo2$2b2o13b2o!

[Sokwe]

My version is qfind v2.3
qfind options in the cmd line:

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 2 -w 10 -s o -e initrows.txt -t 24

initrows.txt

Code: Select all

.o........
..o....oo.
....o.....
.oo.......
.ooo.oo...
...o...o..
.o.o...o..
...o......
.o.....oo.
..o.......
.oo...o.o.
..........
.oo....o..
..o...oo..

Thanks! I assume by the .exe extension that you are on Windows. Did you use the pre-compiled version available here, or did you compile it yourself? If you compiled it yourself, can you tell me what compiler you used and any compiler flags you included?

[C_R_116]

My version is qfind v2.3
qfind options in the cmd line:

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 2 -w 10 -s o -e initrows.txt -t 24

initrows.txt

Code: Select all

.o........
..o....oo.
....o.....
.oo.......
.ooo.oo...
...o...o..
.o.o...o..
...o......
.o.....oo.
..o.......
.oo...o.o.
..........
.oo....o..
..o...oo..

Thanks! I assume by the .exe extension that you are on Windows. Did you use the pre-compiled version available here, or did you compile it yourself? If you compiled it yourself, can you tell me what compiler you used and any compiler flags you included?

Yeah, it's precompiled.

[Sokwe]

Thanks! I assume by the .exe extension that you are on Windows. Did you use the pre-compiled version available here, or did you compile it yourself? If you compiled it yourself, can you tell me what compiler you used and any compiler flags you included?

Yeah, it's precompiled.

Thanks again! When you get a chance, can you please copy qfind.exe and inirows.txt into a new empty folder and run the exact search again with

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 2 -w 10 -s o -e initrows.txt -t 24 -d dump > output.txt

Please run it until you find the completion you found before, and after that put the whole new folder in a .zip file and post it here as an attachment. I would greatly appreciate it!

Unfortunately, I have limited debugging ability at the momoent due to my laptop for some reason having trouble compiling qfind. I think I need a fresh OS install, but I just got swamped with a big real-life project and I don't want to interrupt my workflow right now.

[C_R_116]

Thanks! I assume by the .exe extension that you are on Windows. Did you use the pre-compiled version available here, or did you compile it yourself? If you compiled it yourself, can you tell me what compiler you used and any compiler flags you included?

Yeah, it's precompiled.

Thanks again! When you get a chance, can you please copy qfind.exe and inirows.txt into a new empty folder and run the exact search again with

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 2 -w 10 -s o -e initrows.txt -t 24 -d dump > output.txt

Please run it until you find the completion you found before, and after that put the whole new folder in a .zip file and post it here as an attachment. I would greatly appreciate it!

Unfortunately, I have limited debugging ability at the momoent due to my laptop for some reason having trouble compiling qfind. I think I need a fresh OS install, but I just got swamped with a big real-life project and I don't want to interrupt my workflow right now.

So I finished completion, and there might be a little bit of confusion about what row I used to extend that partial:
When I said I started from that row:

Code: Select all

x = 59, y = 71, rule = LifeHistory
2.A12.A27.A12.A$.A.A10.A.A25.A.A10.A.A$A3.A8.A3.A23.A3.A8.A3.A$.A2.A8.
A2.A25.A2.A8.A2.A$.A.A4.2A4.A.A25.A.A4.2A4.A.A$2.3A3.2A3.3A27.3A3.2A3.
3A$5.A6.A33.A6.A$4.A2.4A2.A4.3A17.3A4.A2.4A2.A$8.2A9.A19.A9.2A$5.3A2.
3A33.3A2.3A$18.A.A17.A.A$18.A.A17.A.A$19.A19.A$21.3A11.3A$21.2A.2A7.2A
.2A$20.A.4A7.4A.A$20.2A3.2A5.2A3.2A$21.A15.A$20.A.A.A9.A.A.A$20.2A.2A
9.2A.2A$21.4A9.4A$21.A15.A$22.2A11.2A$23.A11.A$22.A.A9.A.A$22.3A9.3A$
22.2A11.2A$24.A9.A2$22.A.2A7.2A.A$23.2A9.2A$22.A13.A$24.A9.A$23.A11.A
$24.A9.A$22.2A11.2A$22.2A2.A5.A2.2A2$23.A.A7.A.A$24.A9.A$22.A2.2A5.2A
2.A$21.4A.2A3.2A.4A$20.A4.2A5.2A4.A$27.A3.A$18.2A.A15.A.2A$21.A15.A$18.
2A5.A.2A.2A.A5.2A$21.A3.2A.A.A.2A3.A$21.2A3.A.A.A.A3.2A$24.2A.A3.A.2A
$20.DC8D7.A$23.A11.A$22.A4.2A.2A4.A$28.A.A$26.A5.A$26.A5.A$26.A.A.A.A
$26.A5.A$25.3A3.3A$27.A3.A$28.A.A$25.2A.A.A.2A$24.A3.A.A3.A$23.A3.A3.
A3.A$26.A5.A$23.3A3.A3.3A$27.2A.2A$27.2A.2A2$27.2A.2A$27.2A.2A!

I actually used zfind to find a ship, not qfind.
I actually extended the partial into qfind from that row:

Code: Select all

x = 59, y = 71, rule = LifeHistory
2.A12.A27.A12.A$.A.A10.A.A25.A.A10.A.A$A3.A8.A3.A23.A3.A8.A3.A$.A2.A
8.A2.A25.A2.A8.A2.A$.A.A4.2A4.A.A25.A.A4.2A4.A.A$2.3A3.2A3.3A27.3A3.
2A3.3A$5.A6.A33.A6.A$4.A2.4A2.A4.3A17.3A4.A2.4A2.A$8.2A9.A19.A9.2A$5.
3A2.3A33.3A2.3A$18.A.A17.A.A$18.A.A17.A.A$19.A19.A$21.3A11.3A$21.2A.
2A7.2A.2A$20.A.4A7.4A.A$20.2A3.2A5.2A3.2A$21.A15.A$20.A.A.A9.A.A.A$
20.2A.2A9.2A.2A$21.4A9.4A$21.A15.A$22.2A11.2A$23.A11.A$22.A.A9.A.A$
22.3A9.3A$22.2A11.2A$24.A9.A2$22.A.2A7.2A.A$23.2A9.2A$22.A13.A$24.A9.
A$23.A11.A$24.A9.A$22.2A11.2A$22.2A2.A5.A2.2A2$23.A.A7.A.A$24.A9.A$
22.A2.2A5.2A2.A$21.4A.2A3.2A.4A$20.A4.2A5.2A4.A$27.A3.A$18.2A.A15.A.
2A$21.A15.A$18.2A5.A.2A.2A.A5.2A$21.A3.2A.A.A.2A3.A$21.2A3.A.A.A.A3.
2A$24.2A.A3.A.2A$21.A15.A$23.A11.A$22.A4.2A.2A4.A$28.A.A$26.A5.A$26.A
5.A$26.A.A.A.A$26.A5.A$25.3A3.3A$27.A3.A$28.A.A$25.2A.A.A.2A$24.A3.A.
A3.A$23.A3.A3.A3.A$26.A5.A$23.3A3.A3.3A$27.2A.2A$20.7D2CD2A2$27.2A.2A
$27.2A.2A!

When you extract the file and go into output.txt and look for the first result, you will find out that I found your solution first.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... hpRXUG9uKj

My bad, I gave you the wrong row, and I think that's the reason why it gave you the smaller solution:

Code: Select all

x = 82, y = 108, rule = LifeHistory
11$10.A12.A27.A12.A$9.A.A10.A.A25.A.A10.A.A$8.A3.A8.A3.A23.A3.A8.A3.A
$9.A2.A8.A2.A25.A2.A8.A2.A$9.A.A4.2A4.A.A25.A.A4.2A4.A.A$10.3A3.2A3.
3A27.3A3.2A3.3A$13.A6.A33.A6.A$12.A2.4A2.A4.3A17.3A4.A2.4A2.A$16.2A9.
A19.A9.2A$13.3A2.3A33.3A2.3A$26.A.A17.A.A$26.A.A17.A.A$27.A19.A$29.3A
11.3A$29.2A.2A7.2A.2A$28.A.4A7.4A.A$28.2A3.2A5.2A3.2A$29.A15.A$28.A.A
.A9.A.A.A$28.2A.2A9.2A.2A$29.4A9.4A$29.A15.A$30.2A11.2A$31.A11.A$30.A
.A9.A.A$30.3A9.3A$30.2A11.2A$32.A9.A2$30.A.2A7.2A.A$31.2A9.2A$30.A13.
A$32.A9.A$31.A11.A$32.A9.A$30.2A11.2A$30.2A2.A5.A2.2A2$31.A.A7.A.A$
32.A9.A$30.A2.2A5.2A2.A$29.4A.2A3.2A.4A$28.A4.2A5.2A4.A$35.A3.A$26.2A
.A15.A.2A$29.A15.A$26.2A5.A.2A.2A.A5.2A$29.A3.2A.A.A.2A3.A$29.2A3.A.A
.A.A3.2A$32.2A.A3.A.2A$29.A15.A$31.A11.A$30.A4.2A.2A4.A$36.A.A$34.A5.
A$34.A5.A$34.A.A.A.A$34.A5.A$33.3A3.3A$35.A3.A$36.A.A$33.2A.A.A.2A$
32.A3.A.A3.A$31.A3.A3.A3.A$34.A5.A$31.3A3.A3.3A$35.2A.2A$28.7D2CD2A2$
35.2A.2A$34.A.A.A.A$36.A.A$33.A.A3.A.A$35.A3.A3$31.3A7.3A$31.2A.2A3.
2A.2A2$32.4A3.4A$28.2A.A.A.A3.A.A.A.2A$28.2A2.A2.2A.2A2.A2.2A$32.A2.A
3.A2.A$33.3A3.3A$34.A5.A$35.A3.A!

[C_R_116]

Look what I found!

Awesome! And way more compact than I was expecting.

I can't help but wonder if there's a bug in a search program. Notice that the original partial has a higher logical width than the completion, ignoring the frontend itself.

Code: Select all

x = 51, y = 48, rule = LifeHistory
3.5A5.5A15.5A5.5A$.2A5.A3.A5.2A11.2A5.A3.A5.2A$9.A.A27.A.A$.A7.A.A7.A
11.A7.A.A7.A$3.A13.A15.A13.A$5.2A7.2A19.2A7.2A$.A3.A2.A3.A2.A3.A11.A
3.A2.A3.A2.A3.A$A3.A2.2A3.2A2.A3.A9.A3.A2.2A3.2A2.A3.A$3.A2.A2.A.A2.A
2.A15.A2.A2.A.A2.A2.A$2A.5A5.5A.2A9.2A.5A5.5A.2A$D3.A.A7.A.A3.D10.D2.
A.A7.A.A2.D$D3.3A7.3A3.D10.D2.3A7.3A2.D$D4.2A7.2A4.D10.D3.2A7.2A3.D$D
3.2A.3A.3A.2A3.D10.D2.2A.3A.3A.2A2.D$D7.2A.2A7.D10.D6.2A.2A6.D$D7.2A.
2A7.D10.D6.2A.2A6.D$D19.D10.D17.D$D6.A.3A.A6.D10.D5.A.3A.A5.D$D5.2A2.
A2.2A5.D10.D4.2A2.A2.2A4.D$D5.A.A.A.A.A5.D10.D4.A.A.A.A.A4.D$D3.A11.A
3.D10.D2.A11.A2.D$D5.A7.A5.D10.D4.A7.A4.D$D3.2A9.2A3.D10.D2.2A9.2A2.D
$D19.D10.D17.D$D2.3A.3A.3A.3A2.D10.D.3A.3A.3A.3A.D$D.A2.2A7.2A2.A.D
10.DA2.2A7.2A2.AD$D19.D10.D17.D$D.A6.A.A6.A.D10.DA6.A.A6.AD$D2.A4.A3.
A4.A2.D10.D.A4.A3.A4.A.D$D7.A3.A7.D10.D2.2A.A5.A.2A2.D$D19.D10.D2.A.A
7.A.A2.D$D4.3A5.3A4.D10.D.2A11.2A.D$D4.2A7.2A4.D10.D17.D$D6.2A3.2A6.D
10.D17.D$D3.A2.3A.3A2.A3.D10.D17.D$D.3A.A.A3.A.A.3A.D10.D17.D$DA4.A7.
A4.AD10.D17.D$D3.A.2A5.2A.A3.D10.D17.D$D.A.A2.A5.A2.A.A.D10.D17.D$DA
4.A7.A4.AD10.D17.D$D.2A2.4A.4A2.2A.D10.D17.D$D9.A9.D10.D17.D$D.A4.3A.
3A4.A.D10.D17.D$CA4.A.A3.A.A4.AC10.D17.D$D3.A.2A2.A2.2A.A3.D10.D17.D$
D2.A2.2A5.2A2.A2.D10.D17.D$D2A.A3.2A.2A3.A.2AD10.D17.D$C2A.3A7.3A.2AC
10.D17.D!

Wouldn't this likely imply that the program found no completion at the lower width when one existed?

It depends on what program was being used to find each pattern. If zfind at logical width 11 was used, then it could have found the initial partial before finding the spaceship. However, if qfind was used for the first search, then it should have found the spaceship before it found that longer partial.

@C_R_116, can you explain how each partial was found, especially which search programs were used and what rows you extended from?

Uh oh, it seems we've encountered upon another error, because I used qfind v2.3 to find this.
I typed this into the command line:

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 1 -w 11 -s o -d c7ospk -e initrows.txt -t 80

Whereas initrows.txt is this:

Code: Select all

...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
.....o.....
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
....ooo....

And for the dump files (Which I had to split because of the amount of data it can handle):

c7ospk00035.zip

(8.63 MiB) Downloaded 3 times

c7ospk00045.zip

(9.27 MiB) Downloaded 2 times

c7ospk00060.zip

(9.32 MiB) Downloaded 1 time

[C_R_116]

c7ospk00035.zip
c7ospk00045.zip
c7ospk00060.zip

c7ospk00083.zip

(9.51 MiB) Downloaded 8 times

c7ospk00117.zip

(9.71 MiB) Downloaded 8 times

c7ospk00152.zip

(7.1 MiB) Downloaded 9 times

[Sokwe]

I used qfind v2.3 to find this.
I typed this into the command line:

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 1 -w 11 -s o -d c7ospk -e initrows.txt -t 80

Whereas initrows.txt is this:

Code: Select all

...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
.....o.....
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
....ooo....

And for the dump files (Which I had to split because of the amount of data it can handle):

Do you still have the program output? It should have found the ship at a depth of around 248 (possibly slightly earlier).

[C_R_116]

I used qfind v2.3 to find this.
I typed this into the command line:

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 1 -w 11 -s o -d c7ospk -e initrows.txt -t 80

Whereas initrows.txt is this:

Code: Select all

...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
.....o.....
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
....ooo....

And for the dump files (Which I had to split because of the amount of data it can handle):

Do you still have the program output? It should have found the ship at a depth of around 248 (possibly slightly earlier).

Argh, I should've waited for it to load the last dump file before ending it (They take hours to do so).

BUT, I know that the total depth was 249 when it gave me the result.

[Sokwe]

Argh, I should've waited for it to load the last dump file before ending it (They take hours to do so).

BUT, I know that the total depth was 249 when it gave me the result.

Generally, I think it's a good idea to redirect output to a file by adding " > filename.txt" to the end of the line like in the following example:

Code: Select all

qfind.exe -p 7 -y 1 -w 11 -s o -d c7ospk -e initrows.txt -t 80 > output.txt

Anyway, I don't think there's a bug. When printing partials, the program also includes the extra extension rows from the deepening step. The partial you posted had a length of 50 cells, corresponding to a depth of about 350, while the search didn't find the ship until the partials would have had a depth of around 385 = depth 249 + deepening 136. Therefore you would get the longer partial before the shorter spaceship. Note that the partials you get from the latest dump file have a length of about 54, corresponding to a depth of about 378.

So there's seemingly no apparent bug here. Things seem to be working as expected.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Drelectron8]

I'm sorry, but how does this search work? Where do I put the code in?

It's a command line program. If you are using Windows you can download a zip file from the bottom of this post containing the executable file. After extracting the zip file to the desired folder, you will need to open a command prompt window and navigate to that folder (using the cd command, look online for how to change directories in windows command prompt for more details). Once you have navigated to the right folder, you can run the program by typing its name and a space-separated list of options and then pressing the enter key. For example, typing the following would search for a c/10 orthogonal spaceship with even symmetry and logical width 5 (full width 10 due to even symmetry) using two threads:

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

Run "qfind --help" to get a list of all options. It can also be helpful to send output to a file by adding " > filename" to the end of the line. For example:

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2 > output.txt

If you are using an operating system other than windows, you will need to compile the code. You will probably have to look online for how to do this for your operating system.

Once you've compiled the code, running it is pretty much the same as on Windows. You will need to open the command terminal and navigate to the correct directory. To run the program, you will probably need to type "./qfind" instead of just "qfind". For example:

Code: Select all

./qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2 > output.txt

I hope this helps.

What do I type for the name on the command window?

Can you walk me through on how to do this? I suck at coding scripts.

[Sokwe]

What do I type for the name on the command window?

Can you walk me through on how to do this? I suck at coding scripts.

I'm assuming you're using Windows, since you didn't object when I suggested it earlier. Here are step-by-step instructions that I think should work in that case.

1. Download the zip file from the bottom of this post.
2. Extract the downloaded zip file into the desired folder (this should give a file called qfind.exe file). For example, I might extract it into a folder called "qfind" with full path "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"
3. Open a command window by clicking the start menu, typing "cmd", and pressing enter.
4. Use the cd command to change the directory to the folder containing qfind.exe. For example, if the full path to the folder is "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind" then I would type or paste the following into the command window and press enter.

   Code: Select all

   cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

5. You can now run qfind by typing "qfind" followed by a list of options and then pressing enter. For example, typing or pasting the following and pressing enter would search for a c/10 orthogonal spaceship with even symmetry and logical width 5 (full width 10 due to even symmetry) using two threads:

   Code: Select all

   qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

   Run "qfind --help" to get a list of all options. It can also be helpful to send output to a file by adding " > filename" to the end of the line. For example:

   Code: Select all

   qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2 > output.txt

   This will create a file containing the program output called "output.txt" in the same folder as qfind.exe.

[Drelectron8]

What do I type for the name on the command window?

Can you walk me through on how to do this? I suck at coding scripts.

I'm assuming you're using Windows, since you didn't object when I suggested it earlier. Here are step-by-step instructions that I think should work in that case.

1. Download the zip file from the bottom of this post.
2. Extract the downloaded zip file into the desired folder (this should give a file called qfind.exe file). For example, I might extract it into a folder called "qfind" with full path "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"
3. Open a command window by clicking the start menu, typing "cmd", and pressing enter.
4. Use the cd command to change the directory to the folder containing qfind.exe. For example, if the full path to the folder is "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind" then I would type or paste the following into the command window and press enter.

   Code: Select all

   cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

5. You can now run qfind by typing "qfind" followed by a list of options and then pressing enter. For example, typing or pasting the following and pressing enter would search for a c/10 orthogonal spaceship with even symmetry and logical width 5 (full width 10 due to even symmetry) using two threads:

   Code: Select all

   qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

   Run "qfind --help" to get a list of all options. It can also be helpful to send output to a file by adding " > filename" to the end of the line. For example:

   Code: Select all

   qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2 > output.txt

   This will create a file containing the program output called "output.txt" in the same folder as qfind.exe.

Okay, I understand until step 4, but when I try and open the "qfind.exe" file, it keeps on closing after a message saying "Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.". Is the file not supposed to open?

Also, if there is a qfind.exe file, do I insert the code there or do I insert the code into the command window?

[Sokwe]

when I try and open the "qfind.exe" file, it keeps on closing after a message saying "Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.".

I'm not familiar with this issue, so I searched for it online. You could try right-clicking on qfind.exe, selecting "properties", and checking the "unblock" box at the bottom of the window. If that doesn't work, you could try following the instructions here. Another option might be to open the command prompt in administrator mode. To do that, follow step 3 above, but instead of just pressing enter, you would press ctrl+shift+enter.

if there is a qfind.exe file, do I insert the code there or do I insert the code into the command window?

You would type everything in the command window.

[Drelectron8]

when I try and open the "qfind.exe" file, it keeps on closing after a message saying "Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk.".

I'm not familiar with this issue, so I searched for it online. You could try right-clicking on qfind.exe, selecting "properties", and checking the "unblock" box at the bottom of the window. If that doesn't work, you could try following the instructions here. Another option might be to open the command prompt in administrator mode. To do that, follow step 3 above, but instead of just pressing enter, you would press ctrl+shift+enter.

if there is a qfind.exe file, do I insert the code there or do I insert the code into the command window?

You would type everything in the command window.

Okay, so, after I did all the steps, when I open qfind.exe, it just keeps on closing, is it meant to do that?

[Sokwe]

Okay, so, after I did all the steps, when I open qfind.exe, it just keeps on closing, is it meant to do that?

To be clear, you should not at any point click on qfind.exe in your file explorer. It won't do anything and will close immediately.

Everything is done through the command line. Step 5 is where you actually run the program. When you reach step 5, try copying and pasting the following into the command window:

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

Then press enter, and see what happens.

[Drelectron8]

Okay, so, after I did all the steps, when I open qfind.exe, it just keeps on closing, is it meant to do that?

To be clear, you should not at any point click on qfind.exe in your file explorer. It won't do anything and will close immediately.

Everything is done through the command line. Step 5 is where you actually run the program. When you reach step 5, try copying and pasting the following into the command window:

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

Then press enter, and see what happens.

When I put the directory of the folder, like

Code: Select all

cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

and so, it brings me to the file, then what?

When I type this

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

into the

Code: Select all

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd

windows command line, it just says that

Code: Select all

'qfind' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. 

. Am I missing something here?

[Sokwe]

When I put the directory of the folder, like

Code: Select all

cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

and so, it brings me to the file, then what?

When I type this

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

into the

Code: Select all

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd

windows command line, it just says that

Code: Select all

'qfind' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. 

.

It looks like the directory is not changing properly. When you change the folder, the command line should update to show what folder you're in. For example, after typing

Code: Select all

cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

and pressing enter, my command window would look like this:

Code: Select all

C:\Windows\system32>cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind>

Notice that the first line says I am in "C:\Windows\system32", but after I change the directory with the cd command it says I am in "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind".

Keep in mind that you will need to replace "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind" with whatever folder you put qfind.exe in. Your folder will not have the same path as mine.

[Drelectron8]

When I put the directory of the folder, like

Code: Select all

cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

and so, it brings me to the file, then what?

When I type this

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2

into the

Code: Select all

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd

windows command line, it just says that

Code: Select all

'qfind' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. 

.

It looks like the directory is not changing properly. When you change the folder, the command line should update to show what folder you're in. For example, after typing

Code: Select all

cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

and pressing enter, my command window would look like this:

Code: Select all

C:\Windows\system32>cd "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind"

C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind>

Notice that the first line says I am in "C:\Windows\system32", but after I change the directory with the cd command it says I am in "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind".

Keep in mind that you will need to replace "C:\Users\Matthias\Documents\Life\qfind" with whatever folder you put qfind.exe in. Your folder will not have the same path as mine.

Oh, my goodness, thanks so much for helping me bro!

[Sokwe]

Oh, my goodness, thanks so much for helping me bro!

Does qfind appear to be working properly now? With the example input given above, the output should look like this:

Code: Select all

qfind v2.3 by Matthias Merzenich, 19 March 2023
Input: qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 1


Rule: B3/S23
Period: 10
Offset: 1
Width:  5
Symmetry: even
Queue size: 2^20
Hash table size: 2^20
Minimum deepening increment: 3
Lookahead caching disabled
Number of threads: 2
Starting search
Queue full, depth 9, deepening 3, 131k/165k -> 70k/96k
Queue full, depth 9, deepening 6, 131k/174k -> 59k/82k
Queue full, depth 10, deepening 8, 131k/185k -> 46k/85k
Queue full, depth 13, deepening 8, 131k/391k -> 46k/177k
Queue full, depth 15, deepening 9, 131k/365k -> 47k/191k
Queue full, depth 16, deepening 11, 131k/360k -> 39k/171k
Queue full, depth 18, deepening 12, 131k/342k -> 41k/180k
Queue full, depth 19, deepening 14, 131k/358k -> 35k/165k
...

Remember that it can be very useful to send the output to a file. To do this, add " > filename.txt" to the end of your input line, where "filename" is the name of the desired output file. For example, by giving the following input:

Code: Select all

qfind -r B3/S23 -p 10 -y 1 -w 5 -s even -t 2 > output.txt

a file called "output.txt" containing the program output will be created in the same folder as qfind.exe.

Run "qfind --help" to see a full list of options.