Combinations Repost

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Joosy - 06 Feb 2008 09:49 GMT

Rather than reinvent the wheel, can anyone suggest code to create
combinations and permutations based on the number of elements that need to
be combined?

Example

CombIn (1DArray, 2) would output

12
13
21
23
31
32

Signature

Stevie

"Build a man a fire and he will be warm for one night. Set a man on fire,
and he will be warm for the rest of his life." ~ Sun-Tzu on Fire

Reply to this Message

Ed Ferrero - 06 Feb 2008 11:37 GMT

Not too sure I understand the question.

Do you want all combinations of 2-digit integers?
Then count from 0 to 99 and format as 00.

Do you want all combinations of the numbers from 1 to 3?
Then enter 1,2,3 in cells A2, A3, A4 and B1, C1, D1 and
enter in cell B2 the formula =$A2 & B$1 and copy

Like this;
1 2 3
1 =$A2&B$1 =$A2&C$1
2 =$A3&B$1
3

Ed Ferrero
www.edferrero.com

Reply to this Message

Dave D-C - 06 Feb 2008 16:34 GMT

And you can have
PermutationsWithReplacement
CombinationsWithoutReplacement
CombinationsWithReplacement
and limited replacement and ..

Option Explicit

Const N = 3, K = 2
Dim BigSet$(N), Flags%(N)

Sub PermutationsWithoutReplacement()
BigSet(1) = "1"
BigSet(2) = "2"
BigSet(3) = "3"
Call PWR(N, K, "", 0) ' n, k, str, level
End Sub

Sub PWR(pN%, pK%, pStr$, pLvl%)
Dim i1%
If pLvl = pK Then
Debug.Print pStr
Exit Sub
End If
For i1 = 1 To N
If Flags(i1) = 0 Then
Flags(i1) = 1
Call PWR(N, K, pStr & BigSet(i1), pLvl + 1)
Flags(i1) = 0
End If
Next i1
End Sub

>Rather than reinvent the wheel, can anyone suggest code to create
>combinations and permutations based on the number of elements that need to
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>31
>32

Reply to this Message

joeu2004 - 06 Feb 2008 19:12 GMT

> Rather than reinvent the wheel, can anyone suggest code to create
> combinations and permutations based on the number of elements
> that need to be combined?

Sure, it's easy. But my first question is: why are you interested?
Perhaps the whole purpose is indeed for __you__ to "reinvent the
wheel". Is this a class assignment?

Reply to this Message

Joosy - 07 Feb 2008 09:53 GMT

On Feb 6, 1:49 am, "Joosy" <Spam@free> wrote:

> Rather than reinvent the wheel, can anyone suggest code to create
> combinations and permutations based on the number of elements
> that need to be combined?

Sure, it's easy. But my first question is: why are you interested?
Perhaps the whole purpose is indeed for __you__ to "reinvent the
wheel". Is this a class assignment?

You just gave me my first real chuckle of the day and reinforced that you
never know in forums whether you a dealing with a ten year-old whiz kid or a
Nonagenarian.

I'm not quite at the latter yet. This is intended as a parting gesture at
work after thirty-five years. Some will appreciate it. Some will not. Its a
follow up to an Excel (self taught) project completed years ago. Some bright
spark invented some very narrow rules relating to the work processes this
tool helps design. This is intended only as Q&D tool to develop sample sets
that what can be done in a set number of 7-day weeks is finite and that the
constraints are too constrictive. There are only so many combinations that
can be considered.

I haven't been able to focus on Excel or Access for about five years. You
don't know how much VBA develops your thought processes until you suffer
rust and sludge from lack of use. I would once have worked through this as a
self-disciplined learning exercise but, I now have 73 working days remaining
and incredible pressure to pass on a vast array of experience and knowledge
unrelated to programming - before hand over to my replacement who is yet to
arrive can start.

One of life's lessons. You really appreciate how precious time is when you
have a finite amount of time to wrap up all those things you always wanted
to achieve. Could be worse. Might be dying <bg>

Oh! No. It's not a class assignment.

Signature

Stevie

"Build a man a fire and he will be warm for one night. Set a man on fire,
and he will be warm for the rest of his life." ~ Sun-Tzu on Fire

Reply to this Message