Java and recursion

[3x108th]

i am working on a program where the user enters a number and the computer will generate N number of characters and print them in all combonations. For example:

enter number: 3

aaa aab aac aba abb abc aca acb acc
baa bab bac bba bbb bbc bca bcb bcc
caa cab cac cba cbb cbc cca ccb ccc

I have made the program build the array and randomize the characters however i dont know how to use recursion to print all the combos. Here is what i have so far:

import cs1.Keyboard;
import java.util.Random;

public class Letter
{

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.out.println("How many characters do you want");
        int number = Keyboard.readInt();

        char[] list = new char[number];

        Random generator = new Random();

        for(int index = 0; index < list.length; index++)
        {       
           int temp = generator.nextInt(26) + 65;
           list[index] = (char) temp; 
        }

        //check if all characters are different
        for(int index = 0; index < list.length-1; index++)
        {
            if(list[index] == (list[index+1]))
            {
              int temp = generator.nextInt(26) + 65;
              list[index+1] = (char) temp;
              index=0;
            }
        }

I believe recursion would be the best solution but i dont know how to use it to print the answer. Any help would be great. thanx

[iamthwee]

This is the basic principle...

char stuff[]="abc";
     
     for(int i=0; i<3; i++)
     {
         for(int j=0; j<3; j++)
         {
             for(int k=0; k<3; k++)
             {
                 print stuff[i];
                 print stuff[j];
                 print stuff[k];
                 print newline
             }
             
         }
     }

From there you should be able to devise a general model and see where the recursion comes into play.

[3x108th]

I understand that. I know thats how it works, but i dont know how to get the for loops to repeat N number of times. The program i am making has to work for any number N.
I'm new at the topic of recursion so im lost in trying to use it. But thanks for the help so for.

[jwenting]

so parameterise the whole thing to take a number n instead of using a fixed number of iterations...

[masijade]

try the following:

public void printLoop(int index; char[] list; char[] string) {
  if (index == list.length) {
    System.out.print(new String(string) + " ");
    return;
  }

  for (int i = 0; i < list.length; i++) {
    string[index] = list[i];
    printLoop(index + 1, list, string);
  }
}

char[] string = new char[list.length];

for (int i = 0; i < list.length; i++) {
  string[0] = list[i];
  printLoop(1, list, string);
  System.out.println("");
}