Pywerball.md

% PYWERBALL(1)
% krusader74
% November 2016

# NAME

Pywerball - Powerball lottery utilities

# SYNOPSIS

**Pywerball** [*OPTION...*]

# DESCRIPTION

**Pywerball** is a Python script, useful for checking Powerball lottery results. **Pywerball** may also be used to generate Powerball numbers, show odds and prizes, and estimate the chances for a split jackpot.

# OPTIONS

**-c**, **--check** *FILE*
:   Read Powerball numbers from the *FILE* and check them. The winning numbers are downloaded from the web. Therefore, there must be a working web connection, the Powerball site must be online, and the winning numbers for the dates to be checked must be posted online.

**-d**, **--date** *DATE*
:   If *DATE* is 'next' or 'prev', then the next or previous drawing date is output. Otherwise, *DATE* is used to set the date for the `generate`, `numbers` and `split` options. If no date is given, assume the next drawing for the `generate` and `split` options, and assume the last drawing for the `numbers` option. The date option must be specified before the `generate`, `numbers` and `split` options. The format for *DATE* is `MM/DD/YYY`, e.g., `-d '11/26/2016'`.

**-g**, **--generate** *NUMBER*
:   Randomly generate the specified *NUMBER* of tickets.

**-h**, **--help**
:   Display this help message and exit.

**-n**, **--numbers**
:   Print the winning numbers.

**-o**, **--odds** *COMBO*
:   Print the odds of getting a combination of so many white balls plus so many power balls. The *COMBO* is formatted like 'WB+PB', e.g., `-o '0+1' -o '3+0'`. WB must be a number 0 to 5. PB must be a number 0 or 1.

**-p**, **--prize** *COMBO*
:   Print the prize for getting a combination of so many white balls plus so many power balls. The *COMBO* is formatted like 'WB+PB', e.g., `-p '0+1' -p '3+0'`. WB must be a number 0 to 5. PB must be a number 0 or 1.

**-v**, **--version**
:   Display the version (number and date) and exit.

# FILES

The *FILE* to be checked is formatted like so:

        Draw Date   WB1 WB2 WB3 WB4 WB5 PB
        11/26/2016  01  20  37  51  67  18
        11/26/2016  07  51  58  63  67  24
        11/26/2016  16  31  45  46  69  18
        11/26/2016  02  39  53  61  63  13
        11/26/2016  12  31  42  55  68  03
        11/26/2016  17  19  21  37  44  16
        11/26/2016  11  19  21  37  42  11
        11/26/2016  10  13  23  36  41  16
        11/30/2016  17  19  21  37  44  16

If the *FILE* is named `powerball.txt`, and the current date is 11/27/2016, and you ran the following command

        Pywerball -c powerball.txt

then you would see the following results printed to standard output:

        Draw Date   WB1 WB2 WB3 WB4 WB5 PB
        11/26/2016  01  20  37  51  67  18  no match
        11/26/2016  07  51  58  63  67  24  no match
        11/26/2016  16  31  45  46  69  18  no match
        11/26/2016  02  39  53  61  63  13  no match
        11/26/2016  12  31  42  55  68  03  no match
        11/26/2016  17  19  21  37  44  16  matches 5+1 for $Jackpot
        11/26/2016  11  19  21  37  42  11  matches 3+0 for $7
        11/26/2016  10  13  23  36  41  16  matches 0+1 for $4
        11/30/2016  17  19  21  37  44  16  error: could not find matching date online!

# EXAMPLES

Check the numbers in the file `powerball.txt`:

        Pywerball -c powerball.txt

Show the next draw date:

        Pywerball -d next

Show the previous draw date:

        Pywerball -d prev

Generate 10 random draws for the next Powerball drawing date. The output is formatted exactly like a *FILE* to be checked:

        Pywerball -g 10

Generate 10 random draws for the drawing date specified with the --date option:

        Pywerball -d '12/03/2016' -g 10

Show the winning numbers for the previous draw date:

        Pywerball -n

Show the winning numbers for the date specified with the --date option:

        Pywerball -d '11/12/2016' -n

Show the odds of getting 5 white balls plus 0 power balls:

        Pywerball -o '5+0'

Show the prize for getting 5 white balls plus 0 power balls:

        Pywerball -p '5+0'

# LIMITATIONS

Powerplay option is ignored.

The winning numbers are downloaded from the web. Therefore, there must be a working web connection, the Powerball site must be online, and the dates to be checked must be posted online.

# COPYLEFT

**Pywerball** 2016 by krusader74. This work has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder. This applies worldwide. This is free software: You are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY.