ppmtopuzz

Convert a PPM image to an X11 puzzle file

$ ppmtopuzz [path/to/file.ppm] > [path/to/file.puzz]

ppmtopuzz [-width columns] [-height rows] [-noheader] [ppmfile]

-width columns
    Specifies the number of columns in the puzzle (i.e., how many pieces wide the puzzle is). Defaults to 16 if not specified.

-height rows
    Specifies the number of rows in the puzzle (i.e., how many pieces tall the puzzle is). Defaults to 16 if not specified.

-noheader
    Suppresses the writing of the 'puzzle' file header. This might be useful in some special cases but is generally not needed.

ppmfile
    The input PPM file to be converted. If not specified, ppmtopuzz reads from standard input.

The ppmtopuzz command converts a Portable Pixmap (PPM) image into a Macintosh 'puzzle' (version 1) file. This format was used by early Macintosh puzzle software. The resulting puzzle file can then be transferred to a Macintosh computer for use with compatible puzzle applications. The image is divided into tiles, and these tiles are scrambled to create the puzzle. The command can be used to create custom puzzles from any PPM image, making it a useful tool for creating retro-style puzzle games or simply for transferring image content to older Macintosh systems via this unconventional format.
Note: This command is primarily relevant for those interacting with legacy Macintosh systems and software.

The 'puzzle' format is specific to older Macintosh systems. Using this command effectively requires access to a Macintosh computer running compatible software or an emulator. This command is part of the Netpbm suite, which is available on many Unix-like systems.

ppm(5), pnmtopng(1), convert(1)