How to generate a list of random ID which can later be used instead of participant name?

Hello every one,

I want to programm a code in which I can generate a list of random ID to use as test person ID later during my experiments.

- Each ID has to be consisted of 2 letters as well as 2 digits (e.g., 2g9e)

I would be so thankful if somebody could advise me how to do so.

Best regards,

Parishad

[the cyclist]

May I ask why this particular format? It would certainly be easier to do pure numerical digits.

Answer 1

[Paul Hoffrichter]

Due to the cyclist remark about homework, I am just starting the script. It leaves out certain patterns like 'a9a9' since it is just using combinations. How you rearrange the unique patterns is up to you.

a_26_2 = nchoosek('a':'z',2);
n_10_2 = nchoosek('0':'9',2);

a_26_2f = [a_26_2; fliplr(a_26_2)]; % gives 650 2 letter unique alpha strings
n_10_2f = [n_10_2; fliplr(n_10_2)]; % gives  90 2 letter unique numeric strings

By merging all possibilities, you can get 650*90 (almost 60,000) unique 4 char id's.

[Walter Roberson]

We are not told that letters are restricted to lowercase.

We are also not told to avoid easily confused possibilities such as l0lO

[Paul Hoffrichter]

True. But if homework as @the cyclist was trying to determine, getting a start is better than nothing.

Answer 2

[David Hill]

Yes, a strictly numerical format would be much easier.

a=[randperm(10,2)+47;randperm(26,2)+96];
a=char(a(:)');

[the cyclist]

Still not too difficult.

I was trying to tease out that maybe this was a homework assignment. :-)

[Walter Roberson]

We are not promised that the order of digits and letters is fixed, just that there are two of each.

[Parishad Bromandnia]

@Paul Hoffrichter Thank you so much for your effort :)

Thats what I need and enough for my purpose.

Best,

Parishad