Random Generation without repeat

Question

Hi, I am trying to write a script that will generate a random 5 digit number, using only the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5, and with no repeats. For example: 12345, or 31524, or 24153. At the moment I can make the random 5 digit number, using only the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5, yet I am struggling to get no repeats. So far I have something along the lines of:
set x to some item of "12345"
set y to some item of "12345"
set z to some item of "12345"
set a to some item of "12345"
set b to some item of "12345"
if x = y then
if x ≤ 1 then
set x to x + 1
end if
if x ≥ 5 then
set x to x - 1
end if
else if x = z then
if x ≤ 1 then
set x to x + 1
end if
if x ≥ 5 then
set x to x - 1
end if
else if x = a then
if x ≤ 1 then
set x to x + 1
end if
if x ≥ 5 then
set x to x - 1
end if
else if x = b then
if x ≤ 1 then
set x to x + 1
end if
if x ≥ 5 then
set x to x - 1
end if
else
set itemsOne to x & y & z & a & b
end if
set itemsOne to x & y & z & a & b
itemsOne
Any Ideas??
Thanks for any help you can give,
MrBlobE

Answer 1

Hello
In addition to what others have said.
This sort of script could be done efficiently by class filtering of index list.
The basic is this :
{1, 2, false, 4, false}'s integers --> {1, 2, 4}
{1, 2, false, 4, false}'s some integer --> {1, 2, 4}'s some item --> 2, e.g.
Thus you might try something like this :
--set nn to {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set nn to "12345"
return some_permutation(nn)
on some_permutation(aa)
script o
property xx : aa -- source list
property yy : {} -- result list
property kk : {} -- index list
repeat with k from 1 to count my xx
set end of kk to k
end repeat
repeat (count my kk) times
set k to my kk's some integer -- some integer (class filter)
set my kk's item k to false -- suppress the chosen index
set end of my yy to my xx's item k -- extract item by chosen index
end repeat
if my xx's class = list then
return my yy's contents
else
return "" & my yy
end if
end script
tell o to run
end some_permutation
Regards,
H