random image w/link generator

[lukeurtnowski]

I have a webpage which uses javascript to generate 5 random images from a given array in a folder (images)
It gets to be a pain when whenever I add an image to the folder, I also have to update the array an upload the page again. I was there a way to have this effect using php so that it will always choose random pictures from the folder (even if its updated) and would print that image (img01.jpg) and link it to a wmv video file (img001.wmv) (notice: the only difference between the 2 files are its exension, .jpg and .wmv)
Thanks

[gufmn]

Not tested and someone else might have a better way of doing this, but this should work:

function randomImage(){
	if ($handle = opendir('images')){
		$counter = 0;
		$files = array(); 
    	while (false !== ($file = readdir($handle))) { 

		if (eregi(".jpg$|.jpeg$|.gif$", $file)){
			$files[] = $file;
			$counter++;
			}
	}
}
$random = rand(0, $counter - 1);
$pieces = explode(".", $files[$random]);
    return $pieces[0];
}

Then just do:

$file = randomImage();
echo '<a href ="movies/' . $file . '.wmv"><img src="images/' . $file . '.jpg"></a>';

[lukeurtnowski]

Thank you thank you.
Siince I'm trying to display it 5 times, I went like this

 $file = randomImage();
  $file1 = randomImage();
  $file2 = randomImage();
  $file3 = randomImage();
  $file4 = randomImage();
echo '<a href ="images/' . $file . '.wmv"><img src="images/' . $file . '.jpg"  border="0"></a><br>';
echo '<a href ="images/' . $file1 . '.wmv"><img src="images/' . $file1 . '.jpg" border="0"></a><br>'; 
echo '<a href ="images/' . $file2 . '.wmv"><img src="images/' . $file2 . '.jpg" border="0"></a><br>'; 
echo '<a href ="images/' . $file3 . '.wmv"><img src="images/' . $file3 . '.jpg" border="0"></a><br>'; 
echo '<a href ="images/' . $file4 . '.wmv"><img src="images/' . $file4 . '.jpg" border="0"></a></br>' 

Which work's great, the only thing is that it allows for the possibbily for duplicates, is there a way to not allow duplcates?

[gufmn]

function randomImages(){
    if ($handle = opendir('images/')){
        $counter = 0;
        $files = array(); 
        while (false !== ($file = readdir($handle))) { 

        if (eregi(".jpg$|.jpeg$|.gif$", $file)){
            $files[] = $file;
            $counter++;
            }
    }
}
$unique_images = array();
for($x = 0; $x < 5; $x++){    
	$random = rand(0, $counter - 1);
	$pieces = explode(".", $files[$random]);
    if($pieces[0] != ""){
		$unique_images[] =  $pieces[0];
		unset($files[$random]);
		$counter--;
	}
}
return $unique_images;
}

then do:

$randomImage = randomImages();
$file = $randomImage[0];
$file1 = $randomImage[1];
$file2 = $randomImage[2];
$file3 = $randomImage[3];
$file4 = $randomImage[4];

[lukeurtnowski]

Perfect, the only thing i'm noticing is that every now and then, I'll get a broken link and image? Its at http://www.lukesplace.com/Phil/test.php
(attached is the code I used with a txt extension instead of a php one), thank you soo much.

[gufmn]

Hmmm.....
Has something to do with the random selected number pulling an indexed value that has been removed from the files array. That's what this was supposed to prevent:

if($pieces[0] != ""){
$unique_images[] = $pieces[0];
unset($files[$random]);
$counter--;
}

I tested it a few times and it looked fine. Guess I should have tested it a few more times 🙂

I'm working right now but I'll take a closer look at it tonight when I get home.

If anyone else wants to fix it, feel free 😃

[lukeurtnowski]

Great, I notice it only happens to the bottom 3 if that makes a difference

[gufmn]

I was decreasing $counter when I should have been decreasing $x.

Dumb dumb dumb.

I tested this about 30 times and it pulled 5 unique images every time.

function randomImages(){
    if ($handle = opendir('images/')){
        $counter = 0;
        $files = array(); 
        while (false !== ($file = readdir($handle))) { 

        if (eregi(".jpg$|.jpeg$|.gif$", $file)){
            $files[] = $file;
            $counter++;
            }
    }
}
$unique_images = array();
for($x = 0; $x < 5; $x++){    
	$random = rand(0, $counter - 1);
	$pieces = explode(".", $files[$random]);
    if($pieces[0] != ""){
		$unique_images[] =  $pieces[0];
		unset($files[$random]);
	}
	else {
		$x--;
	}
}
return $unique_images;
}

[lukeurtnowski]

You are supurb, Boston is lucky to have you...Do you do this for a living?

[gufmn]

lukeurtnowski wrote:

You are supurb, Boston is lucky to have you...Do you do this for a living?

Yes and no.

It's not my job, but I end up doing it quite a bit.

Are you from Coronado as in the San Diego area? I'm originally from CA and looking to move back. Any job connections?

[lukeurtnowski]

Sorry, no connections (for php work) but you should be in high demand and I'll let youi know if I hear of anything.