Permutation of array elements

Hi, I have 3 array with different number of cells and a matrix of 1 row and 3 columns composed by the arrays.

ACTIVITY_WAKE = {'awake_in_bed','out_of_bed','out_bedroom'};
ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET = {'enter_toilet','sit_WC','wash','exit_toilet'};
ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST = {'prepare_breakfast','have_breakfast','wash_dishes'};

WAKE_UP = [ACTIVITY_WAKE ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST];

I would like to generate WAKE_UP with random order, but when I use randperm command I have permutation of the element in single array, I only need to permute the array, like:

WAKE_UP = [ACTIVITY_WAKE ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET] or
WAKE_UP = [ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET ACTIVITY_WAKE ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST ]

Answer 1

[Matz Johansson Bergström]

This seems to work

A = {'test a 1', 'test a 2'};
B = {'test b 1', 'test b 2'};
WAKE = [A',B'] %see below for explanation
WAKE(:, randperm(2))

If we simply write WAKE = [A,B], the vector will become

   'test a 1'    'test a 2'    'test b 1'    'test b 2'

instead I write transpose the A and B elements, so WAKE = [A',B'] which gives

      'test a 1'    'test b 1'
      'test a 2'    'test b 2'

This should work in a similar way in your case, but I have not tested this.

[Andrea]

Yes, but I have always the same order

[Matz Johansson Bergström]

Nevermind, the solution above will only work if length(A)==length(B), but it seems that you want to have different lengths.

[Andrea]

I don't understand, in this way WAKE_UP has always the same order...

[Andrea]

Yes, I have different lengths, for example: awake_in_bed = [1 5*60 1*60]; out_of_bed = [3 30 10]; out_bedroom = [2 2*60 15]; ACTIVITY_WAKE = {'awake_in_bed','out_of_bed','out_bedroom'}; enter_toilet = [2 20 5]; sit_WC = [3 5*60 30]; exit_toilet = [2 20 5]; wash = [2 15*60 2*60]; ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET = {'enter_toilet','sit_WC','wash','exit_toilet'}; prepare_breakfast = [2 2*60 30]; have_breakfast = [3 30*60 2*60]; wash_dishes = [2 5*60 60]; ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST = {'prepare_breakfast','have_breakfast','wash_dishes'};

and after the definition of these features, I have:

WAKE_UP = [ACTIVITY_WAKE ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST];

[Matz Johansson Bergström]

Ok, if I understand you correctly you want to randomize the order of the activites in blocks and not the order of the activites themselves.

I have had some more time to think about it. I believe this is what you want:

ACTIVITY_WAKE = {'awake_in_bed','out_of_bed','out_bedroom'};
ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET = {'enter_toilet','sit_WC','wash','exit_toilet'};
ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST = {'prepare_breakfast','have_breakfast','wash_dishes'};
activities = {'ACTIVITY_WAKE', 'ACTIVITY_MORNING_TOILET', 'ACTIVITY_BREAKFAST'};

WAKE = randperm(3);
ff = cellfun(@eval, activities(WAKE),'UniformOutput', false);
[ff{:}]'

Just rerun the randperm to get new random orders.

[Sam Ferguson]

Would there be a way to prevent repeats of the same combination?

[Paolo]

@Sam, please open a new question.