Checking numeric ranges

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
#1

I have a table that has a column where the operators can set ranges like 1-12. They can set a range in each row. I need to be able to check that non of the ranges cross in to each other.

Example

1-12
13-22
21-45

I need to be able to figure out that in this example, the 3rd range has a duplicate number “21 & 22”

Does anybody know how to check for this in a list of ranges?

Thanks

#2

If the numbers
1 12
13 22
21 45

are in cells A1:B3 of an Excel sheet, I’d put the formula

=IF(MAX($A$1:B1) <= $A2, “problem”, “”) in C2 and drag it downwards.

#3

Here’s something to get you started. It returns information about the first overlap encountered (if any) working through the ranges from the beginning.

on checkRanges(theRanges)
	set verdict to {ranges:{}, |common values|:{}}
	
	set astid to AppleScript's text item delimiters
	set AppleScript's text item delimiters to "-"
	repeat with i from 1 to (count theRanges)
		set thisRange to text items of item i of theRanges
		set item i of theRanges to thisRange
		set {a, b} to thisRange
		repeat with j from 1 to i - 1
			set {c, d} to item j of theRanges
			considering numeric strings
				if ((a ≥ c) and (a ≤ d)) or ((b ≥ c) and (b ≤ d)) or ((a < c) and (b > d)) then
					set verdict's ranges to {j, i}
					repeat with k from a to b
						if ((k ≥ c) and (k ≤ d)) then set end of verdict's |common values| to k
					end repeat
					exit repeat
				end if
			end considering
		end repeat
		if ((count verdict's ranges) > 0) then exit repeat
	end repeat
	set AppleScript's text item delimiters to astid
	
	return verdict
end checkRanges

set ranges to {"1-12", "13-22", "21-45"}
checkRanges(ranges)
--> {ranges:{2, 3}, |common values|:{21, 22}}