Complex number assignment HELP.

[vlmiller845]

Hello, I have been trying to run this problem through ChatGPT, but it cannot get the solution correctly. I am trying to create a template to automatically assign and/or reassign a number based on a couple of criteria. I am not sure if this is the right place to go, but I have watched so many Mr. Excel videos, he is the 1st person I thought of that could potentially help, along with all the other brilliant minds that contribute here. So here is goes: I will upload my worksheet, but want to provide some context to the issue. I machine embroider and I have to manually type data into a spreadsheet so I can assign a needle position to the thread color that needs to be used for the design. I am trying to minimize the number of times I have to change the thread so efficient assignment is the goal. Below is a sample of the spreadsheet I use and some comments of how I manually assign the needle positions. I appreciate any help that can be provided. Thank you.

Snowy Owl
Color Change #	Color#	Color Name	Color Position	Replacement Position	How many needles are available:	10	Need keyed
1	1027	Dolphin	1	How many thread colors are in the pattern?	26	should auto select
2	1360	Dusty Blue	2	How many color changes are in the design?	57	should auto select
3	1001	Super White	3	Needle assignment
4	1010	Gray Haze	4	Assign the number of available needles to the first available thread colors
5	1360	Dusty Blue	2	Look in #1 for the number of available needles
6	1118	Overcast Gray	5	If the thread color is used more than once then assign the same needle number to that same color
7	1160	Antique Blue	6	After all the needles are assigned and if the number of thread colors are greater then the number of needles then
8	1363	Steel Lavender	7	reassignment of the needles is necessary so when the thread color is supposed to be used it is available for the design
9	1240	Stone	8	All thread colors and thread color changes have to be assigned a needle; otherwise it cannot be used
10	1164	Twister	9	If there is a thread color that needs assigned to a needle and there are no needles available then
11	1364	Storm Sky Blue	10	one of the needles will need to be reassigned to that thread color.
12	1368	Night Sky	1	When deciding which needle to use; determine if there are any thread colors that are used only once
13	1071	Baby's Breath	6	If there are, then take one of those needles and assign it to the thread color
14	1149	Tusk	7	If not, then take a needle that has the least amount of threads assigned.
15	1001	Super White	3	If a needle is reassigned then the new needle assignment is put in the replacement position for the first time
16	1118	Overcast Gray	5	and if used for the same color after that position then the needle number is put in the Thread color position column
17	1010	Gray Haze	4	If the needle that has been reassigned was used for a color that is still in use then that needle position must change
18	1149	Tusk	7	You cannot assign a needle position without making sure it is not used by a different color below; if it is the needle position
19	1118	Overcast Gray	5	below must change.
20	1062	Rhino	10	Continue assigning needles to all thread colors and color changes until they are all assigned.
21	1041	Polished Pewter	6	Try to minimize the number of thread color changes, efficiency is important
22	1240	Stone	8
23	1273	Peanut Brittle	1
24	1138	Doe Skin	2
25	1144	Bark	7
26	1230	Root Beer	5
27	1273	Peanut Brittle	1
28	1059	Dark Chocolate	7
29	1368	Night Sky	5
30	1360	Dusty Blue	7
31	1273	Peanut Brittle	1
32	1138	Doe Skin	2
33	1157	Marsh	5
34	1156	Olive Green	7
35	1105	Weeping Willow	5
36	1000	Emerald Black	7
37	1001	Super White	3
38	1010	Gray Haze	4
39	1118	Overcast Gray	1
40	1062	Rhino	10
41	1240	Stone	8
42	1041	Polished Pewter	6
43	1164	Twister	9
44	1241	Obsidian	2
45	1068	Canary	5
46	1000	Emerald Black	7
47	1001	Super White	3
48	1010	Gray Haze	4
49	1118	Overcast Gray	1
50	1062	Rhino	10
51	1240	Stone	8
52	1164	Twister	9
53	1041	Polished Pewter	6
54	1241	Obsidian	2
55	1000	Emerald Black	7
56	1010	Gray Haze	4
57	1001	Super White	3
Count	Madeira Color #	Madeira Color
1	1000	Emerald Black
2	1001	Super White
3	1010	Gray Haze
4	1027	Dolphin
5	1041	Polished Pewter
6	1059	Dark Chocolate
7	1062	Rhino
8	1068	Canary
9	1071	Baby's Breath
10	1105	Weeping Willow
11	1118	Overcast Gray
12	1138	Doe Skin
13	1144	Bark
14	1149	Tusk
15	1156	Olive Green
16	1157	Marsh
17	1160	Antique Blue
18	1164	Twister
19	1230	Root Beer
20	1240	Stone
21	1241	Obsidian
22	1273	Peanut Brittle
23	1360	Dusty Blue
24	1363	Steel Lavender
25	1364	Storm Sky Blue
26	1368	Night Sky
26	Number of Colors
Embroidered Item
Hoop Size
Size of Pattern	7.64" W X 11.8" H
Number of Stitches	225,128
Time to embroider
Number of Colors	26

 

[vlmiller845]

Below is a different version of the above, I hope this is easier to read.

 

[NdNoviceHlp]

Hi *vlmiller845. I'm guessing you're still looking for help on this. What do you consider a successful outcome.... the least number of needles to produce the outcome; OR the least number of needles changed; OR the least number of needles changes (ie. total needle changes); OR some combination of these; OR all of these; OR something else? I don't quite understand your displayed outcomes above. For example, color change #13 has Baby's Breathe replacement with needle #6 which I understand, but color change #14 has Tusk replacement with #7? Why not use #6 again as there is no more requirements for Baby's Breathe? Dave

 

[vlmiller845]

Hello, thank you for responding to my question. You are correct with the color change #13; however I try to avoid thread changes with the same needle position right next to each other. I have provided a photo of the embroidery machine with 10 needles, some machines can have more or less needles so that could change, but for this example I am using my 10 needle machine. I have also included the original copy of the pattern that uses 26 different thread colors and 57 different thread changes. Since the machine only has 10 needles I have to change the thread colors based on the order of the 57 thread changes in the pattern. I try to minimize the number of times I have to rethread the machine to change the thread colors based on the pattern. The machine runs around 1000 stitches per minute so stopping the machine at the exact time needed to change the thread, if the thread color color change is the next needle with the same color is very difficult. I try to allow myself at least one needle ahead to change colors so I thread the machine while it is still running and then I can stop the machine, pull the threads through and restart the machine, but if I change the thread for the next needle as suggested, it can be done, but not ideal. I hope this makes sense and I appreciate any help. Thank you

 

[NdNoviceHlp]

OK. Sounds dangerous. So I'll rework my solution for safety's sake. As a nearly retired farmer with all my digits and appendages, I would very much encourage you to make sure any machine that you use is stopped before making any kind of change to it. I'll post when I arrive at another solution. Dave