DWITE Online Computer Programming Contest
January 2009
Problem 4
Shortest path around v2
Sometimes an open field could be as much of a maze as narrow tunnels. Given an obstacle in an otherwise empty room, what is the shortest path around it?
The input file DATA4.txt will contain five sets of data, each a 8 by 8 character map. The character representations are as follows:
- . - empty space
- # - wall
- A - start
- B - end
The output file OUT4.txt will contain five lines -- each the shortest integer distance between A and B.
Notes: There will always be a valid path. Valid steps are into any adjacent empty space; diagonal steps are valid. Refer to sample data for examples.
Sample Input (2 of 5 sets shown):
........ ....#... ....#... A...#..B ....#... ....#... ........ ........ ......#. ......#. ......#. ......#. A..####B ..#..... .##..... .##.....
Sample Output (2 of 5 sets shown):
7 7