Algorithm for generating variations based on different sets containing different values

Question

In short I am looking for a way in Java/C# for generation of all possible variations based on different sets containing different values. For example: Lets say we have set of names:

 -Max, Jack, Roger

Second set of verbs

-Loves, hates, knows

And third set of programming languages just as an example but we may have 10 sets

-Java, C#, Python, Visual Basic, C++

What I want is a way to generate all possible variations containing ALL attributes and having all values for example an output should be :

Max loves Java
Jack loves Java
Roger loves Java
Max hates Java
Jack hates Java
Roger hates Java
Max knows Java
Jack knows Java
Roger knows Java
Max loves C#
Jack loves C# 
Roger loves C#
and so on... this will generate 45 variations if I am not wrong at the end

Can anyone help ? I believe a similar easier example will be if you want to generate a variations of products in some clothing shop which have different sizes, colors and materials for example and you want all variations.

blogs.msdn.com/b/ericlippert/archive/2010/06/28/… and links seq. — AakashM
– AakashM, Commented Jun 6, 2013 at 15:34
Lots on SO when you search Cartesian Product; pick your favourite dupe :) — AakashM
– AakashM, Commented Jun 6, 2013 at 15:35
Simply loop through each set and append the strings? e.g, something like for i in (Max, Jack, Roger) for j in (loves, hates) for k in (Java, C#) print i+j+k;? — Hari Menon
– Hari Menon, Commented Jun 6, 2013 at 15:37

SteveL · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-06 20:45:55Z

4

String[] names={"Max", "Jack", "Roger"};
String[] verbs={"Loves", "hates", "knows"};
String[] languages={"Java", "C#", "Python", "Visual Basic", "C++"};
for(String name:names)
   for(String verb:verbs)
      for(String language:languages)
         System.out.println(name+" "+verb+" "+language);

EDIT:

Oh ,i see . I misunderstood the question . You can just use the magic of recursion to solve this. This is what you want:

public static void main(String[] args) {
    String[][] sets={
            {"Max", "Jack", "Roger"},
            {"Loves", "hates", "knows"},
            {"Java", "C#", "Python", "Visual Basic", "C++"},
    };
    combine(sets,0,"");
}

public static void combine(String[][] list,int index,String upperText)
{
    if(index==list.length)return;
    for(String i:list[index]){
        combine(list,index+1,upperText+i);
        if(index==list.length-1){
            System.out.println(upperText+i);
        }
    }
}

edited Jun 6, 2013 at 20:45

answered Jun 6, 2013 at 16:17

SteveL

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2 Comments

jNayden Over a year ago

It was a bit more tricky sicne the amount of for loops was not fixed.. I mean the amount of "sets" is not just 3 and I didnt want repercussion ... but anyway I didnt asked correctly so thanks for tha snwer

jNayden Over a year ago

Yup I agree with recursion you can :) I also found this answer which is in C# but shows good solution as well using the C# magic :) : stackoverflow.com/questions/545703/combination-of-listlistint Anyway I've done it already with recursion :)

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