I said I would share this if ever found...
I thank GillesD from another forum.
Here is his explaination...
------------------------------QUOTE GillesD---------------------------
Skips for Pick 3 draws
Lets say your data in Excel has the draw number in column A and N1, N2 and N3 in columns B, C and D starting on row #3 and going down. Row 2 can be used for labels. Note it might be best if the width of columns is small in order to see more (a width of 5 is enough).
A - Skips not considering the position
The method listed here does take into consideration the position a number has come out but simply when it did come out last.
In cells F1 to O1, enter the consecutive numbers, 0,1, 2, &, 9. In cell F3, enter the formula =IF(COUNTIF($B3:$D3,F$1)>=1,0,F2+1). Then copy this formula across to column O, and down for all the draws.
This will give you a 0 if the number in the top row has come out in the draw or otherwise a number indicating how many draws the number has not come out.
B Skips considering the position
This method now takes into consideration the position of the number, either in first, second or third position.
In cells F1 to O1, enter the consecutive numbers, 0,1, 2, &, 9 for numbers in the first position, then repeat this, in cells Q1 to Z1 for numbers in the second position, and in cells AB1 to AK1 for numbers in the third position.
In cell F3, enter the formula =IF($B3=F$1,0,F2+1), in cell Q3, the formula =IF($C3=Q$1,0,Q2+1) and in cell AB3, the formula =IF($D3=AB$1,0,AB2+1). Then copy each formula across each set of data and down for all draws.
This will give you a 0 if the number in the top row has come out in the draw or otherwise a number indicating how many draws the number has not come out in a specific position depending on which block of data you are looking at.
---------------------------End Quote----------------------------
In my reply, I added the formulas needed to convert the out counts back into the most out combo and how to count them for Straights and Boxes....
---------------------Quote Me------------------------
It works for the most out!
I have drawing number results in columns D to F.
After setting (by position) the next 30 columns, I can extract the longest out digit (each position) with
=LOOKUP(MAX(J2:S2),J2:S2,J$1:S$1) in cell AN2
=LOOKUP(MAX(T2:AC2),T2:AC2,T$1:AC$1) in cell AO2, and
=LOOKUP(MAX(AD2:AM2),AD2:AM2,AD$1:AM$1) in cell AP2
then, in cell AQ2, recreate the combo with
=(AN2*100)+(AO2*10)+AP2
and finally check for a straight or boxed hit with
=IF(AQ2=(($D2*100)+($E2*10)+$F2),"S",IF(AQ2=(($D2*100)+($F2*10)+$E2),"B",IF(AQ2=(($F2*100)+($E2*10)+$D2),"B",IF(AQ2=(($F2*100)+($D2*10)+$E2),"B",IF(AQ2=(($E2*100)+($D2*10)+$F2),"B",IF(AQ2=(($E2*100)+($F2*10)+$D2),"B"," "))))))
in cell AR2.
At the bottom, it's simply a matter of countif to get straights and boxes
Straights
=COUNTIF(AR1:AR9174,"=S")
and boxes (which includes the straight hits as box hits also)
=COUNTIF(AR1:AR9174,"=B")+AR9176
This is great for the most out because it works... now to figure out how to count the next 2 longest outs... I'll save that for another day.
Results... MOST OUT has produced a grand total of 4 STRAIGHT hits and 18 BOXED (including the 4 straights) in 9,173 drawings... not exactly the next big thing, but it was nice to be able to backtest it... thanks again!
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Finally some progress in this undertaking... Thanks again GillesD!
And there you have it... skip counting
Another tip, use conditional formatting to make the 0's BOLD, this way you can visualize the "flow" of numbers across the 1 to 0 range by position easier.
There are still some accuracy problems with my end of the formulas, what to do with the skip counts, but the skip counts work like a charm!
enjoy!