>>>The main reason we never tried this was the temperature... first we thought watching them do it manually would get us some insight and bring ideas, but it's freezing there. We gave it up and they didn't push it.
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>>In that scenario, I suspect that you're filling multiple boxes and trying to get the most even distribution.
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>>It seems that type of algorithm is considered a search algorithm -- the Prolog language basically using that, in the form of a search engine -- as its mode of execution and a database of statements as its data.
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>>I've wondered if the types of problems that Prolog solves could just as easily be done in Fox, specifically SQL. I presented a first solution here based on SQL which shows that SQL can be used as a rudimentary search engine. There are some very definite limitations, and it may, ultimately, turn out to be too inefficient for practical use. But, the declarative style of programming is so powerful, it's interesting to give it a whirl.
>
>Actually, our first guess was to develop a heuristic approach. Pick sequentially until the next one would overfill. Then have a table of differences between the picked ones and the unpicked ones. Look for one where the difference fits the missing amount. Or something like that.
>
>Never had the time, and still don't :)

But, it's a fun one to run on the back burner...

Have a good weekend!

Jay