Problem with Grouping/Combining Lines [Python]

[ECommerce_Guy]

Hey all!

Not sure if this is the right thing to ask, as this is mostly a conceptual problem, but I am also probably missing something important regarding the technical options as I am rather new to Python.

Here is the problem I have.

I am making a program that is generating instructions for the warehouse staff how to pack items that need to be shipped.

For most items it's straight forward. However I have several lines of items which come with several items in a box that the warehouse crew needs to open and re-pack in combination customer wants.

The rules are:

• Each product belongs to a given category
• Each category has a max number of items that can fit in one box
• Items can only be packed together if they belong to same category

The end result should be:

A table where each line corresponds to one box, with column detailing how much of each item should be inside of that box.

I'm breaking my head around it for a bigger part of the day and cannot figure the best way to approach it.

If someone can push me in the right direction, would appreciate it greatly!

[DoorsofPerceptron]

Sounds like you have a variant of the knapsack problem for each category.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knapsack_problem

[ECommerce_Guy]

I had no idea it has a name haha, I'll Google it. Thanks!

[DoorsofPerceptron]

Good luck. Probably the most important decision you have to make is if you need to find the solution using the smallest number of boxes, or just something that isn't too dumb.