[Resolved] Randomizing Variables...

mberman

I'm trying to make a PHP program to make a "randomized poem" out of a set of inputed words (from a form). I have the PHP-backend to the point where it'll take the variables, randomly chooose a title, and echo the variables in the order they were put in.

What I want to do is randomize the order. I can't think of a way to do this so that a variable doesn't get chosen twice - in other words, I want to randomize the $w0 - $w14 variable's display order, with no one getting used twice. Below is what I have so far...

Any suggestions?

TIA

<?PHP           

$r = rand(0,14);
$wnum = "w".$r;
$title = $$wnum;
echo "<font size='4'><u>";
echo $title;
echo "</font></u>";
echo "<br>&nbsp<br>";
//get the words (15 of them)
for ($i = 0; $i < 15; $i++) { 
        $current = "w".$i;
                if($current == "") {
                        break;
                        }
        echo $$current;
        //space
        echo " ";
} 

?>

Gary_King

First off, I strongly recommend to use an array, always simplifies things when they items are similiar 🙂 Just something like $w[0] $w[1] etc. is much better 🙂

Anyways, I'll look into your script maybe try and get something to go, if I have a successful script I'll attach it 😃

Tekime

Something like this seems to work alright:

function random_word(&$words)
{
    $r = rand(0,sizeof($words)-1); // Get random index
    $word = $words[$r]; // Get current word
    array_splice($words,$r,1); // Remove this word from array
    return $word; // Return the word
}

// Set up our words array
$words = array("Alabama", "Alaska", "Arizona", "Arkansas", "California", "Colorado",
               "Connecticut", "Delaware", "Florida", "Georgia", "Hawaii", "Idaho",
               "Illinois", "Indiana", "Iowa", "Kansas", "Kentucky");

// Output words while the words array has entries
while(sizeof($words)>0)
{
    echo random_word($words) . "<br>";
}

Gary_King

Beat me to it 🙂

Weedpacket

You could also look at [man]shuffle[/man] or [man]array_rand[/man]

Gary_King

Originally posted by Weedpacket
You could also look at [man]shuffle[/man] or [man]array_rand[/man]

shuffle() probably is best

Tekime

Good call shuffle() does look best.

mberman

Allright. Thanks for your help! I'll try implementing a few of your suggestions, and get back to you guys if it doesn't work.

mberman

I used the Tekime's method with the funtion... Works like a charm! Thanks for your help, guys!