[RESOLVED] How to choose and loop thru images based on category?

dmacman1962

Hi all,

I am trying to select 5 images randomly from my table, and display them so that 1,3,5 are people shots, and 2, 4 are places.

I am not looking for the images to change randomly while you are at the page, but at least to change the next time you visit, even if its just a refresh.

I had a similar question that bpat1434 answered and weedpacket elaborated on, but my cranium is not as efficient as bpat's or weedpacket's, so I cannot 'translate' their explanation and convert it to this new challenge. Their answers to a similar question I had.

To try and keep it simple enough for me to apply to my site, here is my table and field names.

Database: Products
Table: Banner
Fields;
ID (nuff said)
Name (image.gif)
Category (0 = people shot, 1 = places shot)

Here is a sample HTML layout for the 5 images...

<table width="600" border="0">
  <tr>
    <td>Image 1 </td>
    <td>Image 2 </td>
    <td>Image 3 </td>
    <td>Image 4 </td>
    <td>Image 5 </td>
  </tr>

</table>

I know there is a logical (efficient) way of doing this, I am not sure how to get there.

Thanks in advance,

Don

jkurrle

Let's break it down:

1) You have two categories of photos, people and places.
2) You want to random select unique (no duplicate) images from each category, 3 from people, 2 from places.
3) You want to display them.

So, you need to do something like this:

Load all id numbers into an array that match people
initialize selected_array_people

Loop until counter = 3
   {
   random select a number between 0 and (max number-1)
   check it against selected_array positions 0 and 1
   if not there, array_push() it into selected_array_people and increment counter by one
   }

Do the same for places. Now you have 2 arrays, (selected_array_people,selected_array_places) filled with data.

To create the table data fields do the following:

Set two counters, $people_count and $place_count and set them equal to how many items they hold.

while ($people_count<>0 && $place_count<>0)
   {
   if ($people_count>$place_count)
      {
      //write the people <td> statement
      $people_count=$people_count-1
      }
   else()
      {
      //write the place <td> statement
     $place_count=$place_count-1
      }
   }

That's your basic logic

bogu

Make 2 SELECTION from table Banner

//this will extract 3 random people shot
SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=0 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 3

//this will extract 2 random places shot
SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=1 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 2

jkurrle

Nice! I like that!

dmacman1962

Thanks for the posts and suggestions. I am close, I can get either the people or the places, I am having a challenge getting both.

Here is my code:

<?PHP include('includes/connection.php'); ?>
<?PHP 
//Get the People pictures
$query = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=0 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 3";
$r = mysql_query($query) or die("Could not query: " . mysql_error());

//Get the Places pictures
$query2 = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=1 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 2";
$r = mysql_query($query2) or die("Could not query: " .mysql_error());
?>

<body>
<table width="600" border="0">
  <tr>
  <?PHP while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r, MYSQL_ASSOC)) { 
  $Name = $row['Name'];
  $Places = $row2['Name'];
  ?>
    <td><?PHP echo $row['Name']; ?></td>
	<td><?PHP echo $row2['Name']; ?></td>
	<?PHP } ?>
  </tr>
</table>

I can't seem to get a loop that takes both queries and then show them. I can get 1 query OR the other.

Any ideas????

Thanks,

Don

bogu

Man, u are doing this the wrong way ...

<?PHP include('includes/connection.php'); ?> 
<?PHP 
//Get the People pictures 
$query = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=0 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 3"; 
$r = mysql_query($query) or die("Could not query: " . mysql_error()); 

//Get the Places pictures 
$query = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=1 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 2"; 
$r1 = mysql_query($query) or die("Could not query: " .mysql_error()); 
?> 

<body> 
<table width="600" border="0"> 
  <tr> 
  <?PHP
  //for the first query
  while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r, MYSQL_ASSOC)) { 
  $Name = $row['Name']; 
  ?> 
    <td><?=$Name; ?></td> 
    <?PHP }
  //for the second query
  while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r1, MYSQL_ASSOC)) { 
  $Name = $row['Name']; 
  ?> 
    <td><?=$Name; ?></td> 
    <?PHP } ?> 
  </tr> 
</table>

I think u should read something about php & mysql ...

dmacman1962

Hi bogu,

Thanks for the help.

As a note, I have read a lot on php and mysql, I was trying to take another persons code and adapt it to what I was trying to accomplish. Not always easy...

I tried your code, and it gives me the items, randomly selected, but the area I am grey on is what my 1st post stated.

I am trying to select 5 images randomly from my table, and display them so that 1,3,5 are people shots, and 2, 4 are places.

Example: images listed left to right as such (1,2,3,4,5)

Thats where my confusion on how to take the queries and get image 1,3,5 to be people shots, and 2,4 to be places.

With your suggestion I get

1,2,3 People shots and 4,5 Places.

Do that explain why my attempt at the query and loop seemed so far off to you?

Thanks,

Don

jkurrle

If you look at my last post, I layed out the logic for how to do that, if not the code. You set a dual set of counters and test the values of both counters against each other. Your places counter should always be equal or less than the people counter. If it isn't, show a random image and decrement the places counter...

bogu

Man play with array's ...

<?PHP
	include('includes/connection.php');
	//Get the People pictures 
	$query = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=0 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 3"; 
	$r = mysql_query($query) or die("Could not query: " . mysql_error()); 
	$i=1;
	while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r, MYSQL_ASSOC)) {
		$rand_arr[$i] = $row['Name'];
		$i+=2;
	}
	//Get the Places pictures 
	$query = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=1 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 2"; 
	$r = mysql_query($query) or die("Could not query: " .mysql_error()); 
	$i=2;
	while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r, MYSQL_ASSOC)) {
		$rand_arr[$i] = $row['Name'];
		$i+=2;
	}
	ksort($rand_arr);
	reset($rand_arr);
?> 

<body> 
<table width="600" border="0"> 
<tr> 
	<?php
	foreach ($rand_arr as $value) {
		echo "<td>{$value}</td>";
	}
	?> 
</tr> 
</table>

dmacman1962

You da man! (Not meant in sexist way, of course)

Here is your suggestions, incorporated into my page.

Random Header (The images in the filmstrip at the top) (hit 'Refresh' to see different images in the filmstrip)

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Don

Here is my code mixed with your code for all to benefit from...

<?PHP
    include('x.php');
    //Get the People pictures
    $query = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=0 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 3";
    $r = mysql_query($query) or die("Could not query: " . mysql_error());
    $i=1;
    while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r, MYSQL_ASSOC)) {
        $rand_arr[$i] = $row['URL'];
        $i+=2;
    }
    //Get the Places pictures
    $query = "SELECT * FROM Banner WHERE Category=1 ORDER BY rand() LIMIT 2";
    $r = mysql_query($query) or die("Could not query: " .mysql_error());
    $i=2;
    while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($r, MYSQL_ASSOC)) {
        $rand_arr[$i] = $row['URL'];
        $i+=2;
    }
    ksort($rand_arr);
    reset($rand_arr);
?>
<table width="510" border="0" bgcolor="#000000" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td colspan="11"><img src="../Images/Filmstrip_top.jpg" width="610" height="15" /></td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <?php
    foreach ($rand_arr as $value) {
	echo '<td width="11">&nbsp;</td>';
        echo '<td><img src="../Images';
		echo '/';
		echo $value;
		echo '" width="110" height="73" /></td>';
    }
    ?>
  	<td width="11">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
  <tr>
    <td colspan="11"><img src="../Images/filmstrip_bottom.jpg" width="610" height="14" /></td>
  </tr>
</table>

bogu

Nice man.

I'm glad that I could help.

Have fun coding. 🙂