Python - n Different characters used in a grid

Question

If I have a grid of 3x3, and it's for a latin square board

Where each row is a unique set of characters.

My question is; I have currently checked if the grid is a n x n grid, but how can I check if there is a "n" different amount of characters used i.e. 3 characters such as ABC

Am I supposed to use a count function? Or am i supposed to integrate this question "code" into my square function:

Maybe if I clarify my question; I want to check if theres an N amount of characters. Such as if the nxn function checks if its 3x3, there should also be 3 Different characters, it doesn't need to check if they are ABC in different orders but just any 3 different characters used

Possible duplicate of [Using dynamic multi-dimensional arrays in c++](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1471721/using-dynamic-multi-dimensional-arrays-in-c) — Prune, Mar 04 '16 at 18:21
Each row is not a unique set of characters. The set `{A,B,C}` is the same as `{B,C,A}` and `{C,A,B}`. Do you mean that each row is unique? — AMACB, Mar 04 '16 at 18:21
`for row in rows: if len(set(row)) != len(row): #not unique` — zondo, Mar 04 '16 at 18:23
[This question](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/35761604/python-latin-square-column-and-row-validation) is farther along in the solution path. — Prune, Mar 04 '16 at 18:24
You can use a Counter (package collections) to see that each of N characters is used exactly once; you can check each character against the rest of the string. You can use a set of the characters and see whether it's length is the row length (now a previous comment). You'll want to generate columns using a comprehension, for whatever type you use to evaluate the rows (set, counter, etc.). — Prune, Mar 04 '16 at 18:27
Maybe if I clarify my question; I want to check if theres an N amount of characters. Such as if the nxn function checks if its 3x3, there should also be 3 Different characters, it doesn't need to check if they are ABC in different orders but just any 3 different characters used — Xrin, Mar 04 '16 at 18:31

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 04 '16 at 19:01

1

To see in a line only contains different characters, just make a set with it: if there are duplicates, the length of the set will be shorter than the original line. You function could become:

def square(sq):
    rows = len(sq)
    for row in sq:
        if (len(row) != rows) or (len(set(row)) != rows):
            return False
    return True

answered Mar 04 '16 at 19:01

Serge Ballesta

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Credits for this should remain to @zondo who first gave the solution in its comment – Serge Ballesta Mar 04 '16 at 19:01
With this function @Serge Ballesta ;it does check if "n" amounts of characters are used, but how do i make it check if it is EXACTLY n amount of characters and not just >= n? – Xrin Mar 05 '16 at 19:15

Python - n Different characters used in a grid

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