What is a .NON file?
A .NON file is a special type of file that is used for storing puzzles known as nonograms. Nonograms are a kind of puzzle that became popular in Japan during the 1980s. They are made up of a grid with numbers along the top and side. These numbers help you figure out which squares in the grid should be colored in and which should be left blank. By solving these clues and coloring the squares correctly, you reveal a hidden picture.
The .NON file format was specifically designed by Dr. Steven Simpson, who works as a Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University in the UK. This format is used to save all the necessary details of a nonogram puzzle in a simple, plain text format. Inside a .NON file, you'll find information laid out in "keys" that describe the puzzle's goal, its height and width, and the specific clues for each column and row. Additionally, these files can include metadata like the puzzle's title, the author's name, a description, and copyright information.
To open a .NON file, you can use a program specifically designed for nonogram puzzles or any basic text editor. This is because the file is saved in plain text, making it readable by simple text editing software. However, to actually play the puzzle as intended, you'll need to use a nonogram puzzle program that can interpret the .NON file's contents and display the puzzle correctly.
It's important to note that a single .NON file contains information for just one nonogram puzzle. If you come across files that contain multiple puzzles, these will have a different extension, known as .nonpack.
In summary, if you enjoy solving nonogram puzzles, you might encounter .NON files. These files are a way to store and share individual nonogram puzzles in a format that can be easily opened by dedicated puzzle programs or even just a basic text editor.
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