This helper tool is not functional (never came out of beta) and is preserved only for historical purposes.

This handy applet is a Java implementation of a Windows application written by Kite as a refinement of an old DOS application used by Dart. It allows you to easily track your letter replacements as you work through a cryptogram.

This application requires Sun™ Java™ 1.4.2 for your browser. Look for “Java Software Download” at java.com for an upgrade. This is also called a “Java 2 platform.” Sun is currently shipping Java 1.5.x, so hopefully this application will run on most computers including those not on the “bleeding edge.” Mozilla and IE can tell you about your browser's capability if you put “about:plugins” into the address bar.

1. Type your cryptogram into the upper Cypher window.
2. Press the [Clear] button if you've been doing any other cryptograms.
3. Type letters into the lower Cypher box, and matching letters into Plain Text box.
4. When you have the matched each Cypher letter to a Plain Text letter, you can press the [Exchange] button.
5. The three alphabets show you how the letters swap out. An upper alphabet letter is in the Cypher text and the lower alphabet is always the Plain Text letter that matches the letter above. This is true whether you are working in the top pair, or the lower pair of alphabets.
6. Tip: Java uses [Ctrl-Tab] to move out of Edit controls (Mac=[Cmd-Tab]).

The Rules page is reserved for future features that are not yet implemented in this version. They may never be since this version follows all the rules for NPL cryptograms.

This application runs in browsers tested on:

• Windows™ XP and 98
  • Netscape™ 4.74 failed even though a current Java was available; apparently Java installations no longer update the browser's plugin.
  • Mozilla Firefox™ worked.
  • Microsoft's™ Internet Explorer™ worked.
  • Opera 7.54 worked.
• Mac OsX 10.3
  • Apple's™ Mac Safari™ worked.
  • Mozilla Firefox™ failed due to Java version though it was on the same computer as the Safari success. Not sure if that can be resolved.
  • Netscape 7.1 failed as the Java plugin is only 1.3.
  • Netscape 4.7 in OS 9 compatibility mode failed as the Version Major number was too low. So, it only had some level of Java 1.x

If you have any problems, contact kite@puzzlers.org.

• It would be great if the applet could be pre-loaded with a cryptogram's source text straight from the site without needing to retype it (with added typos).
• The Windows version provided more options for coloring text and the like. Nice to have, but may not add much value.