How to create an automatic SKU generating code without too many loops?

I have a task of creating a database, and for every new item that is entered in the database, the code should be able to tell which names are already being used and which aren't. For instance, if I have a stored item that is colored silver it will be called SLV1 and if another new item is also silver, it will then be called SLV2. This logic applies to all the fields of the item code. The full item code would look something like this:

Item Code: SLV1-AEEGLB

• Color - SLV1
• Supplier - A
• Brand - E
• Length - E
• Width - G
• Batch # - L
• Batch Date - B

Note: I just need an idea of how to approach it. Thank you!

This automatic SKU generator will be inserted in the lines with the comment signs as shown in the code below:

while current_quantity<quantity
    W=numel(wholefoilrolls(:,1));
    T=numel(cutfoilrolls(:,1));
    for i=1:W
        if strcmp(parentfoilcode_s,wholefoilrolls.ParentFoilCode(i,:))==1
            x(i)=mod(wholefoilrolls.WholeFoilWidth(i),cutsize);
        end
    end

      for j=1:T
          if strcmp(parentfoilcode_s,cutfoilrolls.ParentFoilCode(j,:))==1
              y(j)=mod(cutfoilrolls.CutFoilWidth(j),cutsize);
          end
      end

      for i=1:W
          for j=1:T
              if min(x)<min(y) & min(x)>=target_value
                  if x(i)==min(x)
                      withdraw_whole=wholefoilrolls.WholeFoilCode(i,:);
                      wholefoilrolls(i,:)=[];
                  if current_quantity+floor(wholefoilrolls.WholeFoilWidth(i)/cutsize)<=quantity
  %                     deposit_whole=table(
                      current_quantity=current_quantity+floor(wholefoilrolls.WholeFoilWidth(i)/cutsize);
                  else
  %                     deposit_whole=table(
                      current_quantity=quantity;
                  end
                  elseif min(y)<min(x) & min(y)>=target_value
                      withdraw_cut=cutfoilrolls.CutFoilCode(j,:);
                      cutfoilrolls(i,:)=[];
                      if current_quantity+floor(cutfoilrolls.CutFoilWidth(j)/cutsize)<=quantity
  %                     deposit_cut=table(
                      current_quantity=current_quantity+floor(cutfoilrolls.CutFoilWidth(j)/cutsize);
                      else
  %                         deposit_cut=table(
                          current_quantity=quantity;
                      end
                  else
                      fprintf('There is no more foil with a parent foil code of %s that can satisfy the cut size requirement of %d', parentfoilcode_s, cutsize)
                      break
                  end
              end
              break
          end
          break
      end
  end

Answer 1

[Karan Singh]

Hi @Marc Santos,

Have you tried lookup (or “dictionary”) structure. In MATLAB you might use a "containers.Map" so that when a new item is added you simply look up the current count for its code, increment it, and then build the SKU string. https://in.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/containers.map.html For example:

% Initialize (once) a map for color codes:
if ~exist('colorCountMap','var')
    colorCountMap = containers.Map();
end

% Assume colorCode is determined (e.g., 'SLV' for silver)
if isKey(colorCountMap, colorCode)
    newCount = colorCountMap(colorCode) + 1;
else
    newCount = 1;
end
colorCountMap(colorCode) = newCount;

% Generate the color part of the SKU (e.g., SLV1, SLV2, etc.)
colorSKU = sprintf('%s%d', colorCode, newCount);

% Then, do similar things for the other fields (Supplier, Brand, etc.)
% and finally concatenate the pieces:
fullSKU = sprintf('%s-%s%s%s%s%s%s', ...
    colorSKU, supplierCode, brandCode, lengthCode, widthCode, batchNum, batchDateCode);

Karan