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Digitise ( text )

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John Bochan, private
private

Returns same psuedo-random number for same text input

Description:

Returns the same pseudo-random number ( 0 <= number < 1 ) for the same input text

Cannot guarantee returned number is unique for each unique text input. In most practical cases it can be considered unique.

Example 1:

How random is your list of sample names? (quick and dirty method)

For N names the Average value of all 'digitised' names should be about 0.5
Standard Deviation of values approx = (gamma/2) where gamma is the Euler-Mascheroni constant
If we sort the values and calculate a difference value between two consecutive values, the Average and Standard Deviation of these differences is approx 1/N

Using Firstname and Lastname data from Brian Dunnings great Free Sample Data file '50000.zip'
- create a new database file and import Firstname and Lastname fields from the sample data file.
- for each record create a number calculation field for the value: Digitise ( FirstName & " " & LastName )
- this list contains 4 duplicated names (FirstName & " " & LastName) resulting in 4 duplicated values
- duplicates can be found by calculated value not name; (calculated field for 'FirstName & " " & LastName' not created)
- The Average of all 50,000 values = 0.500883 ( Average 0.500000)
- The Standard Deviation of these values is 0.288149 (gamma/2 = 0.288608)
- the Average of the difference between ordered consecutive values is 0.000020 (1/N = 0.000020)
- the Standard Deviation of the difference between ordered consecutive values is 0.000020 (1/N = 0.000020 )
- If all calculated values are unique, only need the first [ Floor( 2*Log10(N)+1 ) ] decimal places to maintain uniqueness
- Repeat above using 'Random' instead of 'Digitise ( FirstName & " " & LastName )'; similar statisical results but you cannot find duplicate names by value

Example 2:

Generate a recoverable 4 digit pin number with leading zeroes from several text fields, eg A, B and C
pin = Let ( e = 4 ; Right ( Int ( ( Digitise ( List ( A ; B ; C ) ) + 1 ) * 10^e ) ; e ) )

Note: these functions are not guaranteed or supported by BrianDunning.com. Please contact the individual developer with any questions or problems.

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