Random image: array or database?

[kilbey1]

I'm wanting to get a random image on my main page, but always START with image 1. I have really no idea how to handle this.

I saw the array_rand function elsewhere while searching for help and started with this:

srand ((float) microtime() * 10000000);
$directory="/images/front/";
$input = array ("erp.jpg", "solutions.jpg", "something.jpg", "whatever.jpg");
$keys = array_rand ($input, sizeof($input));
while (list($k, $v) = each($keys))
{
   echo $new_input = $input[$v];
}

It gives me everything, when what I really want is just 1 output.

Furthermore, I also want it to start with 0 when the user first sees the page. Is this something best handled with sessions? CAVEAT: session_start() will NOT work on my ISP, but session_register() will.

Does anyone have a script for this sort of action, either using a database or without? The directory to pull from and selection of images will remain static.

Thanks,
Eve

[kilbey1]

I have also tried this through a database, and since I'm at my wits' end, I'd even settle for proceeding through the database in order, to better get a different image each time.

Help!

[diego25]

You could use cookies or sessions to see if it's the first time the user is here. If cookie is not set, or session is not started, then output first image. If cookie is set or session has started, then create a random number, using [man]rand[/man], and then use that to access the array of images.

HTH,

Diego

[diego25]

Alternatively, you can use Javascript to change the random image. So when the page loads, it loads with your first image. Then with Javascript (after user click, or with a timer), change the image to a random one.

Diego

[kilbey1]

I had it working fine with Javascript first - but my boss kept seeing repeats of images. He wants randomness, but NO repeat of the last image seen.

I can also run this through several scripts using a database. But again... whether I use srand, or rand... I can get repeat images, since I only have 4 images to choose from.

I need to eliminate any repeat images, AND start from image 1 if this is the visitor's first view of the page. When I run session_start(), I get this error (even though I am not calling session_start() anywhere else):

Warning: Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent by (output started at /home/httpd/wow-erp/index1.php:2) in /home/httpd/wow-erp/index1.php on line 16

Warning: Cannot send session cache limiter - headers already sent (output started at /home/httpd/wow-erp/index1.php:2) in /home/httpd/wow-erp/index1.php on line 16

I'd be glad to post both the Javascript code, and the PHP code, I've been using.

[kilbey1]

The following code appears to work pretty well, but how can I pull out just 1 instead of displaying all 4?

 $linkpath = './images/random';

$linkArray = array();

$fh = opendir($linkpath);
while(($file = readdir($fh)) !== FALSE)
  {
  if(strcmp($file,'.') === 0 || strcmp($file,'..') === 0)
    {
    continue;
    }

  array_push($linkArray,$file);
  }
closedir($fh);

shuffle($linkArray);

foreach($linkArray as $link)
  {
  //echo $link;
  //include($linkpath.'/'.$link);
  echo '<img src="/images/random/'.$link[0].'.jpg">';
  } 

[ShawnK]

Just use this!

<?

$totalpics = "5";

session_start();

if(!isset($_SESSION['lastimgviewed'])){

$_SESSION['lastimgviewed'] = "0";

} elseif(isset($_SESSION['lastimgviewed'])){

$lastimg = $_SESSION['lastimgviewed'];

  if($lastimg == $totalpics){
              $nextimg = "1";
  else {

  $nextimg = $lastimg + "1";

  $imgfile .= $nextimg;
  $imgfile .= ".jpg";

}

echo "<img src=\"$imgfile\">";
}

?>

just change totalpics to whatever # is your highest pic #, oh ya dont do leading zeros either!

[kilbey1]

Great... except $_SESSION doesn't work where I host. session_start and session_register does, however.

[kilbey1]

Current code - things I'd like to do with this are:

1. set up session_registering correctly to show 1st image upon first view.
2. Set up links to each different image in the array (a hrefs).

session_start();
echo $start;

if (!$_GET['r']) { ?> 
	<meta name="refresh" content="0; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1"> 
<?php } else {?> 
	<meta name="refresh" content="30; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1"> 
<?php 
} 

$linkpath = './images/random';

$linkArray = array();

$fh = opendir($linkpath);
while(($file = readdir($fh)) !== FALSE)
  {
  if(strcmp($file,'.') === 0 || strcmp($file,'..') === 0)
    {
    continue;
    }

  array_push($linkArray,$file);
  }
closedir($fh);

shuffle($linkArray);

echo '<a href=""><img src="/images/random/';
if(!session_register("start")) {
	$start = "staffing.jpg";
	session_register("start");
	echo "staffing.jpg";
} else {
	echo $linkArray[0];
}
echo '" border="0"></a>';

[kilbey1]

ok! This code works pretty well...
Can any of you guys tell me how I can now add the appropriate HREF to the image in the array?

<?php
session_start();

if (!$_GET['r']) { ?> 
	<meta name="refresh" content="0; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1"> 
<?php } else {?> 
	<meta name="refresh" content="30; url=<?=$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']?>?r=1"> 
<?php 
} 

$szTitle = ''; 
$category = 0; 
$scategory = 0; 
include('display.php'); 
head('','0','0');

$linkpath = './images/random';

$linkArray = array();

$fh = opendir($linkpath);
while(($file = readdir($fh)) !== FALSE)
  {
  if(strcmp($file,'.') === 0 || strcmp($file,'..') === 0)
    {
    continue;
    }

  array_push($linkArray,$file);
  }
closedir($fh);

shuffle($linkArray);

?>				
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
  <tr>
    <td colspan="2" align="right" valign="bottom"><?php echo '<a href=""><img src="/images/random/';
if(!$HTTP_SESSION_VARS["start"]) {
	$start = "staffing.jpg";
	session_register("start");
	echo "staffing.jpg";
} else {
	echo $linkArray[0];
}
echo '" width="514" height="269" border="0"></a>';
 ?></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="59" align="right" valign="top"><img src="/images/front/curve2.jpg" width="59" height="81" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" align="right"></td>
    <td width="455"><center>
      <?php require "includes/highlights.php"; ?>
    </center></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<?php
foot();
?>