Overlap in python

[Mark Lawrence]

Jay Bird wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I've been trying to figure out a simple algorithm on how to combine a
> list of parts that have 1D locations that overlap into a non-
> overlapping list.  For example, here would be my input:
> 
> part name   location
> a                  5-9
> b                  7-10
> c                  3-6
> d                  15-20
> e                  18-23
> 
> And here is what I need for an output:
> part name   location
> c.a.b            3-10
> d.e               15-23
> 
> I've tried various methods, which all fail.  Does anyone have an idea
> how to do this?
> 
> Thank you very much!
> Jay
I haven't tried  but could you adapt this:-

data = [ 1,  4,5,6, 10, 15,16,17,18, 22, 25,26,27,28]
for k, g in groupby(enumerate(data), lambda (i,x):i-x):
     print map(itemgetter(1), g)

found here 
http://www.python.org/doc/2.6.2/library/itertools.html#module-itertools
-- 
Kindest regards.

Mark Lawrence.