Crossword puzzle

Hallo NG!
Still somebody watching this newsgroup?

I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different length
and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters like
'.EA...R'.
Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
'THEATER' and so on.
This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
solved.
Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
Thanks!

Vy 73! Helge
--
Helge, DJ1WM

"Helge Haensel" <dj1wm@nurfuerspam.de> wrote in message
newsp.u2nuk7p2sjedh2@dj1wm.fqdn.th-h.de...
>
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different length
> and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters like
> '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>

You might take a look at regular expressions.
Which library will depend on your OS, development platform, ...

-ralph

Do you mean like this? :

a$(1) = "coconut"
a$(2) = "american"
a$(3) = "weather"
a$(4) = "heater"
a$(5) = "theater"
a$(6) = "amphi-theater"

for t = 1 to 6
if instr(a$(t),"ea",2) = 2 and instr(a$(t),"e",6) = 6 then print a$(t)
next t

Gordon




"Helge Haensel" <dj1wm@nurfuerspam.de> wrote in message
newsp.u2nuk7p2sjedh2@dj1wm.fqdn.th-h.de...
>
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different length
> and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters like
> '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>
> Vy 73! Helge
> --
> Helge, DJ1WM
>
>

On Oct 31, 10:40*am, "Helge Haensel" <dj...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different length *
> and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters *like *
> '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not *
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already *
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>
> Vy 73! Helge
> --
> Helge, DJ1WM

grep does that:

user@unixbox:~$ grep '^.ea...r$' /usr/share/dict/words
Heather
Leander
Realtor
beadier
feather
headier
heather
heavier
leafier
leakier
learner
leather
mealier
meander
meatier
reactor
readier
realtor
seamier
teacher
tearier
wearier
weather

On Oct 31, 12:59*pm, "Ralph" <nt_consultin...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> You might take a look at regular expressions.
> Which library will depend on your OS, development platform, ...

A BBC BASIC solution using regular expressions is listed below.

Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/
To reply by email change 'news' to my forename.

SYS "LoadLibrary", @lib$+"gnu_regex.dll" TO gnu_regex%
IF gnu_regex% = 0 ERROR 100, "Cannot load gnu_regex.dll"
SYS "GetProcAddress", gnu_regex%, "regcomp" TO `regcomp`
SYS "GetProcAddress", gnu_regex%, "regexec" TO `regexec`

DIM buffer% 255

pattern$ = "^.ea..e. "
SYS `regcomp`, buffer%, pattern$, 2 TO result%
IF result% ERROR 101, "Failed to compile regular expression"

sowpods% = OPENIN("C:\mydown~1\sowpods.txt")
REPEAT
INPUT #sowpods%, A$
IF ASC(A$) = 10 A$ = MID$(A$,2)
SYS `regexec`, buffer%, A$, 0, 0, 0 TO result%
IF result% = 0 PRINT A$
UNTIL EOF#sowpods%
CLOSE #sowpods%

Hello,

I watch this Newsgroup too.
Thougth it was about BASIC.
So here is my BASIC solution.
This may not be a fast solution, but it's BASIC.

while b$ <> "zzz"
b = b + 1
read b$
wend
restore

dim a$(b)

for t = 1 to b
read b$
a$(t) = b$
next t


data Heather,Leander,Realtor,beadier,feather,headier,he ather
data heavier,leafier,leakier,learner,realtor,seamier,te acher
data tearier,wearier,weather,coconut,american,theater," ampi-theater"
data zzz


input "first instring to look for ";f$
input "position of first instring ";pf
input "second instring to look for ";s$
input "position of second instring ";ps

for t = 1 to b
if instr(a$(t),f$,pf) = pf and instr(a$(t),s$,ps) = ps then
print a$(t)
end if
next t

print rint "done"
wait

'global items
'function found$(f$,pf,s$,ps)
'for t = 1 to items
'if instr(a$(t),f$,pf) = pf and instr(a$(t),s$,ps) = ps then
'found$ = a$(t)
'end if
'next t
'end function

Gordon



"Helge Haensel" <dj1wm@nurfuerspam.de> wrote in message
newsp.u2nuk7p2sjedh2@dj1wm.fqdn.th-h.de...
>
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different length
> and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters like
> '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>
> Vy 73! Helge
> --
> Helge, DJ1WM
>
>

Am 31.10.2009, 11:40 Uhr, schrieb Helge Haensel <dj1wm@nurfuerspam.de>:

>
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different
> length and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters
> like '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>
> Vy 73! Helge

Hi, surprise!
Well, I was a little bit short with my search/find problem.
My system is: WindowsXP/HE/SP3, OfficeXP/Pro/SP3, VB5EE/SP3
Starting with the pattern as given above I need the possible fitting words
from the word list. 'WEATHER' or 'REALTOR' fits, 'BROTHER', 'WEATHERMAN'
don't fit.
Regular Expressions are a good idea, but I think I can't use them in VB5/6.
The solution of Gordon is a first step but not very flexible for an
extensive use.
Something like 'grep' would be optimal when using a linux/unix system and
being a keyboard hacker. The example code by Gordon isn't very flexible
because the pattern of course changes in length, in chars positions and so
in '.'-positions as a 'grep' would easily allow. But it is possibly the
only starting point to begin with.
Thanks so far.
Helge

On Nov 1, 8:58*am, "Helge Haensel" <dj...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:
> Regular Expressions are a good idea, but I think I can't use them
> in VB5/6.

I'm pretty sure you can. If you can use 'gnu_regex.dll' in BBC BASIC
(see the example I posted) I'd be extremely surprised if you can't use
it in VB too. For details of where to download 'gnu_regex.dll' see
here:

http://bb4w.wikispaces.com/Using+regular+expressions

Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/
To reply by email change 'news' to my forename.

Am 01.11.2009, 11:19 Uhr, schrieb news@rtrussell.co.uk
<news@rtrussell.co.uk>:

> On Nov 1, 8:58 am, "Helge Haensel" <dj...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:
>> Regular Expressions are a good idea, but I think I can't use them
>> in VB5/6.
>
> I'm pretty sure you can. If you can use 'gnu_regex.dll' in BBC BASIC
> (see the example I posted) I'd be extremely surprised if you can't use
> it in VB too. For details of where to download 'gnu_regex.dll' see
> here:
>
> http://bb4w.wikispaces.com/Using+regular+expressions
>
> Richard.
> http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/
> To reply by email change 'news' to my forename.

Hi, Richard.
Downloaded 'gnu_regex.exe' via the given link to my desktop.
After executing the exe I can't find it anywhere.
Searched for 'gnu_regex.dll'. OK?
Helge

Hallo Helge,

I will give it a try.
I'll make it flexible.

Someone (Derek) did that in QB already and published
the code in the ALT.LANG.BASIC Newsgroup. (15 september 2009)

I'm thinking of a different approach than Derek.
I'm back to the drawingboard.

Gordon.


"Helge Haensel" <dj1wm@nurfuerspam.de> wrote in message
newsp.u2nuk7p2sjedh2@dj1wm.fqdn.th-h.de...
>
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different length
> and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters like
> '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>
> Vy 73! Helge
> --
> Helge, DJ1WM
>
>

Am 01.11.2009, 12:17 Uhr, schrieb Gordon Rahman <grahman@planet.nl>:

> Hallo Helge,
>
> I will give it a try.
> I'll make it flexible.
>
> Someone (Derek) did that in QB already and published
> the code in the ALT.LANG.BASIC Newsgroup. (15 september 2009)
>
> I'm thinking of a different approach than Derek.
> I'm back to the drawingboard.
>
> Gordon.
>

Sorry about all that trouble. But now it becomes an interesting project.
BTW, all packers I have do not unpack that EXE! (downl'd from 'here' on
the linked page)
I'll check the ALB-Group via Google.
So long!
Helge

Am 01.11.2009, 12:17 Uhr, schrieb Gordon Rahman <grahman@planet.nl>:

> Hallo Helge,
>
> I will give it a try.
> I'll make it flexible.
>
> Someone (Derek) did that in QB already and published
> the code in the ALT.LANG.BASIC Newsgroup. (15 september 2009)

Hi, actually 15.09.2008. Got it.
Helge

Here is my pattern recognition

'Pattern recognition meaning find ea and e and their relative pos

c$ = "...hello...ea...e." rint c$

for t = 1 to len(c$)
if mid$(c$,t,1)="." and mid$(c$,t+1,1)<>"." then gosub [dotEndFound]
if mid$(c$,t,1)<>"." and mid$(c$,t+1,1)="." then gosub [charEndFound]
next t

pf = s(1)+1
f$ = mid$(c$,pf,u(1)-s(1))
print "from ";pf,f$;" to ";u(1)

ps = s(2)+1
s$ = mid$(c$,ps,u(2)-s(2))
print "from ";ps,s$;" to ";u(2)

wait


[dotEndFound]
s1 = s1 + 1 :s(s1) = t
'print "start";s1;" at position ";s(s1) 't
return

[charEndFound]
s2 = s2 + 1 :u(s2) = t
'print "stop";s2;" at position ";u(s2) 't
return



'input "first instring to look for ";f$
'input "position of first instring ";pf
'input "second instring to look for ";s$
'input "position of second instring ";ps

Good luck,

Gordon



"Helge Haensel" <dj1wm@nurfuerspam.de> wrote in message
newsp.u2nuk7p2sjedh2@dj1wm.fqdn.th-h.de...
>
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different length
> and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters like
> '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>
> Vy 73! Helge
> --
> Helge, DJ1WM
>
>

On Nov 1, 11:02*am, "Helge Haensel" <dj...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:
> Downloaded 'gnu_regex.exe' via the given link to my desktop.
> After executing the exe I can't find it anywhere.

Looks like the file has become corrupted since I last downloaded it.
I've put the correct version here for you:

http://www.rtr.myzen.co.uk/gnu_regex.exe

Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/
To reply by email change 'news' to my forename.

Am 31.10.2009, 11:40 Uhr, schrieb Helge Haensel <dj1wm@nurfuerspam.de>:

>
> Hallo NG!
> Still somebody watching this newsgroup?
>
> I have a wordlist with some 180.000 entries, of course of different
> length and not necessarily sorted. I create a pattern of characters
> like '.EA...R'.
> Now I am looking for a search algorithm that throws up 'WEATHER' but not
> 'THEATER' and so on.
> This is a classical crossword puzzle issue and I assume it is already
> solved.
> Do you know a suitable/fast solution?
> Thanks!
>
> Vy 73! Helge

Well, I got Dereks code to run for me. I simplified it to my needs and it
finds the pattern (see above) within 2 seconds out of my wordlist with
178510 entries.
For Dereks code look here:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.l...3db2c75758f0e3
Thanks to Derek, thanks to all of you!
Helge

The code of my main is as follows:

Sub main()
Let J = 1
hdl0 = FreeFile
Open "C:\Utilities\Kreuzwort\dist\files\wordlist.tx t" For Input As #hdl0
Do While Not EOF(hdl0)
M$ = "-1"
RE$ = "^.EA...R$"
Line Input #hdl0, Text$
If M$ = LTrim$(Str$(RegExp%(RE$, Text$))) Then Debug.Print "Okay"
Let J = J + 1
DoEvents
Loop
Debug.Print J
Close
End sub