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How does one use Outer with a compiled function that accepts 3 or more arguments. Alternatively, how does one create a compiled function with 3 or more arguments that can be used with Outer?

I am trying to use the following function:

minimumImagePD =  Compile[{{x, _Real, 1}, {y, _Real, 1}, {z, _Real}}, 
                 Total[( (x - y) - z * Round [ (x - y) / z]) ^ 2]]

This function compiles just fine but you can't use it with Outer. Trying the following doesn't work because Compile does not "see" the argument 'z':

minimumImagePD2[z_Real] =  Compile[{{x, _Real, 1}, {y, _Real, 1}}, 
                 Total[((x - y) - z * Round[ (x - y)/z] ) ^ 2]]

    Outer[minimumImagePD2[3.2], {{2.1, 3.2, 4.3}}, {{3.2, 4.3, 2.8}, 
                           {1.1, 2.2, 3.3},   {3.4, 2.0, 6.5}}, 1].

Now, If I replace z in minimumImagePD with a number as follows:

minimumImagePD3 =  Compile[{{x, _Real, 1}, {y, _Real, 1}}, 
  Total[((x - y) - 3.25026*Round[(x - y)/3.25026])^2]]

The function compiles and works fine as with the following example:

Outer[minimumImagePD3, {{2.3, 4.3, 6.5}}, {{2.1, 4.8, 7.3}, {2.2, 
   1.1, 4.3}, {2.1, 3.3, 4.7}}, 1] // Flatten

Which gives:

{0.93, 1.11557, 3.14325}

As noted by Oleksandr R. below, using set-delayed in minimumImagePD2 solves the problem.

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The problem is not the number of arguments. It is that Total doesn't accept a sequence as argument. The solution : minimumImagePD = Compile[{{x, _Real, 1}, {y, _Real, 1}, {z, _Real}}, Total[List @ ((x - y) - z*Round[(x - y)/z])^2]] –  andre Feb 7 at 18:03
 
@andre, actually the result of the calculation is NOT a sequence it's a list, as both x and y are Lists (Hence the 1 in {x, _Real, 1} etc. The function works fine If I replace z with a number instead. So the problem is with Outer as there's no room for that third argument. –  RunnyKine Feb 7 at 18:17
 
must go outside. I See that in 2 hours. Sorry –  andre Feb 7 at 18:21
 
@RunnyKine: Could you give an example call to Outer with the minimumImagePD? –  Joel Klein Feb 7 at 18:24
 
@Joel Klein, that's exactly the reason I asked this question. There's no place for the third argument z to go. That's why I tried the 2nd variation of the function. minimumImagePD should accept List just like I showed with minimumImagePD2. –  RunnyKine Feb 7 at 18:28
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3 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

The original definition of minimumImagePD can be used with Outer with this syntax:

Outer[minimumImagePD[##, zvalue] &, xlist, ylist, 1]

Outer provides two arguments to the pure function minimumImagePD[##, zvalue] &, and the pure function inserts those two arguments into the ## (SlotSequence), so that minimumImagePD is called with the expected three arguments in total.

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This is exactly what I wanted. So elegant. Thanks –  RunnyKine Feb 7 at 21:24
up vote 2 down vote

Here is a more elegant way, I think, to solve this problem. By including the third argument as one of the Lists in Outer.

minimumImagePD = Compile[{{x, _Real, 1}, {y, _Real, 1}, {z, _Real}}, 
  Total[((x - y) - z * Round[ (x - y) / z] )^2]]

And using it like this:

Outer[minimumImagePD, {{2.3, 4.3, 6.5}}, {{2.1, 4.8, 7.3}, {2.3, 1.1, 
    4.3}, {2.1, 3.3, 4.7}}, {3.25026}, 1] // Flatten
share|improve this answer
 
This is also how I would do it. +1 –  Mr.Wizard♦ Mar 8 at 2:40
 
@Mr.Wizard, thanks. –  RunnyKine Mar 8 at 3:33
up vote 2 down vote

I am not sure I understand 100% what you are looking for but does this help:

This inserts the value into the compiled function:

minimumImagePD2[zIn_Real] := 
  With[{z = zIn},
   Compile[{{x, _Real, 1}, {y, _Real, 1}}, 
    Total[((x - y) - z*Round[(x - y)/z])^2]]]

f = minimumImagePD2[3.25026]

The use as before.

Outer[f, {{2.3, 4.3, 6.5}}, {{2.1, 4.8, 7.3}, {2.2, 1.1, 4.3}, {2.1, 3.3, 4.7}}, 1]
(* {{0.93, 1.11557, 3.14325}} *)

As suggested by OleksandrR, the With is not strictly necessary, so you can also go with

minimumImagePD2[z_Real] := 
   Compile[{{x, _Real, 1}, {y, _Real, 1}}, 
    Total[((x - y) - z*Round[(x - y)/z])^2]]]

I find the With solution clearer, but clearly that is a matter of taste.

share|improve this answer
 
this has been suggested above by Oleksandr R. It's just adding set-delayed to my minimumImagePD2 function. –  RunnyKine Feb 7 at 19:49
 
I am doing something somewhat different here; I generate the compiled function with the proper value inside and then use it as often as I want. Also this presetting allows for optimizations in compile –  user21 Feb 7 at 19:59
 
@OleksandrR., I'd leave it in; it's more general for other type of problems. –  user21 Feb 7 at 20:01

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