It is a fairly common optimization problem and there are hints of other stuff being out there. For example, there is an open source cutlist app written in Delphi that, if I had more patience, I would sit down and try and reverse engineer for CF. There also seems to be shadows of a ruby api(?) for this sort of thing but the links to the actual script their referring to are dead ( http://groups.google.com/group/Ruby-API/browse_thread/thread/41990420606da989/244d39b1a8012627 ). While expecting a library, tag, or cfc in ColdFusion may be a bit of a stretch I really expected there to be some previous work out there in Java that could have been built upon.
The way I'm going to proceed is based on what Adam offhandedly mentioned - letting users visually set pieces in place. Rather than doing the equivalent of a mathematical thesis trying to solve this, only to have the user desire a different optimization (rip-cut verses cross cut, max off side verses max off bottom) I'll just allow them to organize the pieces how they best see fit. As long as the number remains low having the user eyeball the desired optimization is vastly more efficient than building a specific algorithm that ignores their work requirements. Having the user start out with an optimized layout would be awesome but, given the new direction, it is a 'would be nice' and not a need. Matthew ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Create robust enterprise, web RIAs. Upgrade to ColdFusion 8 and integrate with Adobe Flex http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/flex2/?sdid=RVJP Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/message.cfm/messageid:292386 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4
