#178152 - 2007-07-23 01:57 AM
KiXgolf Freebie: Quicksum
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Sealeopard
KiX Master
Registered: 2001-04-25
Posts: 11164
Loc: Boston, MA, USA
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The Challenge: Quicksum
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A checksum is an algorithm that scans a packet of data and returns a single number. The idea is that if the packet is changed, the checksum will also change, so checksums are often used for detecting transmission errors, validating document contents, and in many other situations where it is necessary to detect undesirable changes in data.
For this problem, you will implement a checksum algorithm called Quicksum. A Quicksum packet allows only uppercase letters and spaces. It always begins and ends with an uppercase letter. Otherwise, spaces and letters can occur in any combination, including consecutive spaces.
A Quicksum is the sum of the products of each character's position in the packet times the character's value. A space has a value of zero, while letters have a value equal to their position in the alphabet. So, A=1, B=2, etc., through Z=26.
Here are example Quicksum calculations for the packets "ACM" and "MID CENTRAL":
ACM: 1*1 + 2*3 + 3*13 = 46
MID CENTRAL: 1*13 + 2*9 + 3*4 + 4*0 + 5*3 + 6*5 + 7*14 + 8*20 + 9*18 + 10*1 + 11*12 = 650
A download is available at http://s91376351.onlinehome.us/kixtart/KiXgolf_Quicksum.zip
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Inputs & Outputs
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Input: A packet containing 1 to 255 characters
Output: An integer denoting the Quicksum of the input packet
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Scoring
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The solution must pass all tests in order for it's KiXgolf Score to be considered.
When posting KiXtart Golf Scores, please include the KIXGOLF_*.TXT file that is created in the script directory. It contains some basic information about the computer that the script is run on and the resulting scores.
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Test program
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Test cases are provided to help screen entries and to provide the Golf Score.
Any script that passes the test cases can be submitted. If you are surprised that your solution passed the test cases, please submit it anyway! That will help me identify bugs in the test program.
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KiXtart GOLF - How To Play
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Most importantly, anybody can play, no age restrictions, no penalties, no handicap!
The object in "real" golf is to hit the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes. The object in KiXtart Golf is to get from input (tee) to target (hole) in the fewest keystrokes.
Example: How many positive elements are in array $a?
Array $a could be of structure $a=[1, 2 ,-3, 4, -5, -7, 8, 9]
One approach:
for $b=0 to ubound($a)
if $a[$b]>0
$c=$c+1
endif
next
for a score of 45.
Another solution is:
DO
$b=$b+1
if $a[$b]>0
$c=$c+1
endif
UNTIL $b>(UBOUND($a)+1)
for a score of 53.
Better approach: Code sample 1
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KiXtart GOLF - The Rules
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1) The goal of KiXtart Golf is to score the lowest strokes.
2) Strokes are all characters in a piece of code except whitespace characters, unless the whitespace character is necessary for the line of code to work. Therefore, carriage returns and line feeds do not count or spaces in between the '=' sign when assigning variables, e.g. '$a = $b' scores 5.
3) Code can be constructed any way you like, as long as it does not generate syntax or other errors when running the script in KiXtart.
4) The final solution MUST pass all test scripts that accompagny the KiXtart golf challenge. Some test scripts may not be included in the publicly available test suite but may be utilized as part of the official KiXgolf score verification.
7) During the private coding phase, no code is allowed to be posted. Violations result in disqualification of said player.
8) During the public coding phase, code should be posted, reused, and borrowed from other players.
9) The test script contains the official KiXgolf scoring engine
10) Only the person posting a particular score will be recognized for the score, unless the KiXtart Golf Challenge organizer or another delegate posts code on behalf of a player
11) KiXtart Golf (a.k.a KiXgolf) codes must be written inside the KiXgolf UDF collection tags, ';!' and ';!;!'
12) Parameter names of the UDF's can be changed and additional optional parameters can be added.
13) Additional helper UDFs can be written as long as they reside inside the ';!' and ';!;!' tags.
14) The use of '$' as a variable is allowed.
15) The UDF layout is up to coder.
16) The UDF is expected to finish in a reasonable time, that is, on modern computers inside 1 hour timeframe.
17) You can submit scores as often as you want.
18) If you reach leading score, you are obligated to post your score immediately so others can try to compete with you.
19) The UDF may only use the KiXtart/KiXforms commands/functions/macros, no other code fragments are allowed.
20) Calls to COM components that are part of a standard default Windows installation are allowed.
21) The use of the KiXforms DLL is also permitted as the KiXforms DLL can now be considered an integral part of KiXtart scripting.
22) Calls to other executables, as long as they are part of a standard default Windows installation are allowed.
23) The UDF should be self-contained (except for any I/O mentioned in the challenge). In particular, you may not do things like fetching extra data from a remote site or file.
24) You may assume ASCII as character set.
25) You may use block comments as the KiXgolf Scoring Engine now supports block comments.
26) You are allowed to only use publicly available versions of KiXtart and KiXforms, private builds or alpha builds are NOT allowed.
27) Your submitted score must include the result print of the KiXgolf test-engine.
28) The SETOPTION() parameters in the KiXgolf script may not be modified and will govern the script behavior. SETOPTION() parameters may change depending on the particular needs of the KiXgolf challenge.
29) Tokenizing the UDF, script, or portions thereof is not allowed.
30) If something is not explicitly denied by the rules, it's allowed.
31) If Confusion arises, arranger of the KiXgolf round has the final say.
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KiXtart GOLF - The Duration of the Competition
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Open ended combined private/public round. There's no private coding round per se but you can definitley hold off posting your code solutions until a couple of other participants have posted KiXgolf scores
A download is available at http://s91376351.onlinehome.us/kixtart/KiXgolf_Quicksum.zip
_________________________
There are two types of vessels, submarines and targets.
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