msg_to_image - converts binary string to matrix form using its prime factors

msg_to_img.py

# name:         msg_to_img
#
# description:  a simple program for converting a binary string of values
#               and decyphering that string into a matrix form using its factors
#
# author:       evan sneath
# date:         5/28/2012
# license:      This software licensed under the Open Software License version 3.0:
#               http://www.opensource.org/licenses/OSL-3.0

def msg_to_img(msg, picturize=False):
    factor, dim = [], []
    
    # if the user wants a more picture-like output replace '0' with ' ', '1' with 'X'
    if picturize == True:
        msg = msg.replace('0', ' ')
        msg = msg.replace('1', 'X')
    
    # get factors
    for i in range(len(msg) / 2 + 1):
        if i != 0 and i != 1 and len(msg) % i == 0:
            factor.append(i)
    
    # find reasonable dimension for the found factors
    if len(factor) == 0:
        print 'msg length has no factors, stopping...'
        return
    elif len(factor) == 1:
        print 'double factor, continuing...'
        dim = [factor[0], factor[0]]
    elif len(factor) == 2:
        print 'two main factors, continuing...'
        dim = factor
    else:
        print 'too many factors, stopping...'
        return
    
    print '\nimage orientation 1 (' + str(dim[0]) + ' x ' + str(dim[1]) + '):\n'
    # print the potential image
    for i in range(dim[0]):
        print msg[i*dim[1]:(i+1)*dim[1]]
    
    print '\nimage orientation 2 (' + str(dim[1]) + ' x ' + str(dim[0]) + '):\n'
    # print the transferse of the image
    for i in range(dim[1]):
        print msg[i*dim[0]:(i+1)*dim[0]]
    
    return

if __name__ == '__main__':
    msg = '10001011111100010100001000101000010001010000100010100001000101000011111011111'
    msg_to_img(msg, picturize=True)