Random number/letter generator w/load feature.

[Kemble]

I'm looking for a random number & letter generator that will allow me to add a suffix/prefix to it. I also need the ability to save the list that was generated to a file and then LOAD the same list back in to generate additional random numbers/letters when needed. This is important so that the random number/letters that were generated the 1st time wont be duplicated the second/third/fourth+ time new numbers/letters are needed to be generated.

Does anyone have a program like this or knows of one?

I have google searched and installed/tried at least 15 different random generators and have yet to find what I'm looking for which is why I'm asking here.

Thanks

 

[AusAndy]

For windows? How many numbers do you expect to keep track of? Can you give an example of the numbers/letters you want?

 

[pmlegend]

You can produce random numbers in Excel and with some other rules you might be able to get your letters. It is possible but could be a long winded task. For numbers just use 'randbetween' function then you could assign a letter to a number etc'

 

[Kemble]

For example a SKU system. 3 letters in front will determine the category, 7 random numbers at the end will make up the product ID. Thus the need to be able to save/load feature so that existing numbers are not replaced or duplicated.

 

[J Hill Designs]

fairly simple in php, can add to database and check against database for dup's...dont know about an actual program, tho...

 

[Kemble]

fairly simple in php, can add to database and check against database for dup's...dont know about an actual program, tho...

Not a damn clue what your talking about, lol

 

[AusAndy]

I might be able do something for you. You can save numbers to a file, really simple but if you searching the file to look for an existing random number, then lots of numbers = lots of time to search. If you use a small database, then the search is quicker but the program is a lot more complicated. So we need to know roughly how many numbers you think will be stored in the file.

 

[AusAndy]

Actually, i just wrote a little test app to kind of do what you want. Turns out its not quite as easy as I thought! Using an example of 1 - 10, you pick a random number, then save it to your file. Next time, you pick a random number, check to see if its in the file, if it is you pick a new random number.

When you get all 10 numbers in the file, you will keep picking new numbers forever.

In the case you mention, normally there is a list of numbers, and you select the next number in the list and save it. The other way its done is by using something called GUID, or a globally unique identifier, however they are normally 24 numbers long.

Is there any reason they have to be random? Or can the number be sequential?

 

[Kemble]

Random would prevent customers from guessing product id's. The id's are going to be what will identify a download able product. When one pays for an item and gets their product ID then I don't want them thinking they can get a different one by a sequential ID. Which is why I want to also have the ability to have prefix/suffix that I can make up myself to stay static.

I have found an "add-in" for Microsoft excel that will sort of do what I want. I just need to do a few extra things. The "add-in" will generate a list of numbers/letters in cells that I have highlighted (which is handy cause all my products are in excel already). Then I can use excels duplicate feature to highlight duplicated cells and I can then delete the random number/letter and replace it with a new one. Then once I have all unique random number/letters I can use a function to add the prefix/suffix. When new products are entered I use the random generator to give them their own random number/letter and then run excels duplicate feature again.

Thanks for taking the time to write something as a test AusAndy, I appreciate it. I saw something about GUI in one of the many generator programs I d/l. Looks like software serial numbers with the - in them. =)

 

[earplug]

sku number generator

 

[Kemble]

sku number generator

Apparently you missed the part I mentioned in my first post.

I have google searched and installed/tried at least 15 different random generators and have yet to find what I'm looking for which is why I'm asking here.