algorithm for computing combinations of elements

[udit99]

Hi guys...Im trying to figure out an algorithm for calculating the various combinations of n elements...Iv come to the conclusion that its gotta be a recursive call inside a for loop...and thats where Im stuck...need help here

what I need
Combinat(ABC)=

ABC
ACB
BAC
BCA
CAB
CBA

[jemidiah]

Here's the cheap method:

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim tempStr As String
Dim tempChar As String
Dim StoreStr As String
Dim StrLen As Integer
Dim tempVal As Long
 
StrLen = 3
 
Randomize
tempVal = (StrLen + 2) * Factorial(StrLen)
Do Until Len(StoreStr) = tempVal
    tempStr = ""
    For i = 1 To StrLen
ReTempChar:
        tempChar = Chr(Asc("A") + Int(Rnd * StrLen))
        If InStr(tempStr, tempChar) Then GoTo ReTempChar
        tempStr = tempStr & tempChar
    Next i
    If InStr(StoreStr, tempStr) = 0 Then StoreStr = StoreStr & tempStr & vbCrLf
    Me.Caption = Int(Len(StoreStr) / tempVal * 100)
Loop
 
Text1.Text = StoreStr
End Sub
 
Private Function Factorial(myNum As Integer) As Double
Dim Factorial_i As Long
Factorial = 1
 
For Factorial_i = 1 To myNum
    Factorial = Factorial * Factorial_i
Next Factorial_i
End Function

It's extremely fast until after StrLen is 6. 7 isn't bad, 8 would take a while. I'm sure it can handle up till 11 or so (overflows), though it would get much slower.

Edit: Fixed it so it only used every character once per permutation.