Reconcile a Jigsaw Before Passing It On — Free
Counted pieces and the number printed on a box are different kinds of evidence. Record the discrepancy and plan a recount before labelling a puzzle complete for another family.
The proof surface
Household inventory tracks possessions. This reconciles puzzle counts, catches possible mixed-in pieces, and budgets recount effort without pretending counts prove picture completeness.
Why the flat version breaks
Equal count means complete
A foreign or duplicate piece can mask a missing one.
A negative gap proves loss
The printed count may be nominal or the recount mistaken.
Timing absent pieces
Only pieces physically present contribute to recount time.
How to work the puzzle tallyboard
Use one tray per puzzle and remove obvious foreign pieces before counting. A duplicate from another box can hide a genuinely missing piece.
Use the count on that edition’s box. Manufacturers may use nominal counts, so a discrepancy is a reason to investigate rather than proof of a defect.
Divide the pieces actually present by your measured counting rate. The row note reports counted minus stated pieces independently of the time estimate.
If you have not assembled the picture, say counted rather than complete. Photograph the box and keep any missing-piece note with it, without including children’s personal details.
What the puzzle tallyboard replaces
| Question | Before | Visible working |
|---|---|---|
| Equal count means complete | A foreign or duplicate piece can mask a missing one. | Record the advertised count |
| A negative gap proves loss | The printed count may be nominal or the recount mistaken. | Budget the recount from counted pieces |
| Timing absent pieces | Only pieces physically present contribute to recount time. | Disclose uncertainty when donating |
A local arithmetic aid replaces hand calculation, not expert review. No paid AI service is needed.
Run it on the samples, right here
FIRST-LOAD
Input is processed locally and a draft is saved automatically in this browser profile when storage is available. Reset to sample clears that draft; Pro history has its own clear button. A state link encodes your inputs in its URL: share only non-sensitive rows. Browser history, clipboard and anyone receiving the link may retain it. Optional AI use below leaves this device; it is not required.
A count does not certify completeness, authenticity or child safety. Inspect condition and disclose unverified completeness to the recipient.
Data note: Everything runs in this browser tab on the puzzle tallyboard: your puzzle | stated piece count | distinct pieces counted stays on this device, nothing is uploaded, and the reading is rebuilt only when you press run.
Go deeper: the companion app files the same reading as a triage clipboard with three lanes
The article demo above runs without limits. The companion app keeps a local history, exports the rows as CSV, prints the puzzle tallyboard reading, and holds your drafts on this device — one free run, then $ 4 one-time for the layer that keeps filing.
The puzzle tallyboard reading is complete for free. The optional $4 layer adds print, row CSV and the last five local reading summaries; it does not add hidden answers. Checkout is not configured yet; the article demo remains unlimited.
Open the reconcile a jigsaw before passing it on companionBoundary
A count does not certify completeness, authenticity or child safety. Inspect condition and disclose unverified completeness to the recipient.
What this is built on
- Method: Divide the pieces actually present by your measured counting rate. The row note reports counted minus stated pieces independently of the time estimate.
- All sample records are invented examples. The app does not fetch measurements, policies, files or personal records.
- Google’s official pricing page, fetched 2026-09-27, lists free-tier access including AI Studio. Optional formatting only; limits and availability can change. Free-tier content may be used to improve products. Never paste private records there.
Before: A foreign or duplicate piece can mask a missing one. After: the puzzle tallyboard shows the working beside each named row so the reader can change the assumption and inspect the consequence.
Optional AI formatting, not calculation
For this puzzle tallyboard, use the free AI Studio interface only if available to you, with no paid API key. Manual entry completes the same workflow for free. Supply only fictional or non-sensitive notes. Review its output against the source; never paste unresolved questions into the numeric rows.
Format my non-sensitive notes for a puzzle tallyboard. Return plain rows only: puzzle | stated piece count | distinct pieces counted. Preserve supplied quantities exactly. Do not guess missing values; list questions separately. Do not calculate or add advice. I will check every row before pasting into the local tool.
Accepted schema: puzzle | stated piece count | distinct pieces counted. No AI response is executed as code.