Transposition Column-Count Candidate List
Enumerate geometry-compatible column counts under explicit full/ragged rectangle policy, not decrypting/scoring candidates or recovered key length.
Description
A column-transposition hypothesis assigns text to a rectangular or ragged grid.
A column-transposition hypothesis assigns text to a rectangular or ragged grid.1
Length-compatible dimensions are candidates rather than discovered keys or decrypted text. Use Transposition Column-Count Candidate List to evaluate the supplied inputs under the specific model below.
When to use Transposition Column-Count Candidate List
Use Transposition Column-Count Candidate List to evaluate the supplied inputs under the specific model below. Choose the intended encoding, alphabet or check and keep the exact character, key and measurement conventions described below.
How to use Transposition Column-Count Candidate List and understand its results
- Choose the intended encoding, alphabet or check and keep the exact character, key and measurement conventions described below.
- Enter Ciphertext length, Minimum columns, Maximum columns, Require full rectangle using the field table and validation rules below, then run the tool.
- Read Candidate column counts, Candidate row counts and interpret units, signs, ordering and placeholders as explained below.
- If the tool reports an input error, correct that field and rerun. A successful false result, empty match list or unknown-evidence placeholder has the specific meaning described here; check the limitations before applying the result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| ciphertextLength | Ciphertext length | number | Required; constraints below |
| minimumColumns | Minimum columns | number | Required; constraints below |
| maximumColumns | Maximum columns | number | Required; constraints below |
| requireFullRectangle | Require full rectangle | boolean | Required; constraints below |
Enter an integer ciphertext length from 1 to 4096 and ordered integer minimum and maximum columns from 1 to 128, plus a complete-rectangle flag. List candidates in ascending order no greater than text length; the flag restricts them to divisors of that length. Return ceil(length/columns) for each candidate. This produces dimensions only and neither decrypts nor ranks texts.
candidates = c in [min,max] with c≤length and (!rectangle or length mod c==0); rows=ceil(length/c) Field order, units and branch conditions follow the implementation explanation above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| candidateColumnCounts | Candidate column counts | array of number |
| candidateRowCounts | Candidate row counts | array of number |
{
"input": {
"ciphertextLength": 12,
"minimumColumns": 2,
"maximumColumns": 5,
"requireFullRectangle": true
},
"output": {
"candidateColumnCounts": [
2,
3,
4
],
"candidateRowCounts": [
6,
4,
3
]
}
}Limitations and assumptions
Length-compatible dimensions are candidates rather than discovered keys or decrypted text. Apply the exact scope and assumptions described above.
All listed fields require explicit values. Unexpected fields, incorrect types, nonfinite numbers and sparse arrays fail validation. Domain-specific bounds, alignments and supported tokens are stated above; extremely large inputs or outputs can also be rejected. These errors differ from successful results such as false, no matches or unknown evidence.
This educational transformation or format check does not establish modern cryptographic confidentiality, authentication or key security.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use Scytale Transposition Tool for a related task: Scytale-style transposition rearranges text through a chosen column count.
Use Route Spiral Transposition Tool for a related task: A spiral route reads cells around a filled rectangle in a chosen direction.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Scytale Transposition Tool
Scytale-style transposition rearranges text through a chosen column count.
- Route Spiral Transposition Tool
A spiral route reads cells around a filled rectangle in a chosen direction.