An easier way to shuffle files

Anon

I have the following code, which works fine, but its a bit long. I figure there is a much EASIER way to do this. Anyone have any ideas?

What you see below selcts a random number between 1 and 5. Based on the number, it goes and grabs various files.

srand (time());
$ad = rand(1,5); // chooses a random # between 1 and 5

//These are the 5 files which will be pulled up
$include1 = "/php/SC/img/softnet.htm";
$include2 = "/php/SC/img/wiremix.htm";

$include3 = "/php/SC/img/igm.htm";

$include4 = "/php/SC/img/globalinteractive.htm";

$include5 = "/php/SC/img/gocall.htm";

if ($ad== "1") { // This is the order of the files if the Random # is 1
include ("$include1");
include ("$include2");
include ("$include3");
include ("$include4");
include ("$include5");

} else if ($ad== "2") { // This is the order of the files if the Random # is 2
include ("$include2");
include ("$include3");
include ("$include4");
include ("$include5");
include ("$include1");

} else if ($ad== "3") { // This is the order of the files if the Random # is 3
include ("$include3");
include ("$include4");
include ("$include5");
include ("$include1");
include ("$include2");

// etc etc etc

} else {

echo ("There was an error downloading this page. Please press RELOAD (Refresh) now");
}

They don't have to be in a specific order, as long as it is random.*

So if anyone knows how to do it, I would appreciate it.

kparker

$inc = array( 'file1', 'file2', 'file3', 'file4', 'file5'); // array of filenames
srand( time() );
$item = rand( 0, count($inc) - 1 ); // starting index into array

for ($i = 0; $i < count($inc); $i++, $item )
   {
   include( $inc[ $item % count($inc) );
   }

Anytime you see a series of variables NAMEa, NAMEb, NAME... think <i>array</i>. The only other tricky thing here is using the mod operator to generate the sequence of indices based on the array size. Note that if you decide to add or remove include-files, the only thing you have to do is add another element to the array. Nothing hard-coded whatsoever!

kparker

The body of the loop is missing the closing ] for indexing the array:

    include( $inc[ $item % count($inc) <b>]</b> );

Sorry for any confusion this may have caused...

sepodati

There is also an array_randomize() function in PHP4 that could be useful. Randomize the array, then just use $inc[0] for a random file name...

---John Holmes...

Anon

I got an error saying "Failed opening ' for inclusion" on the line where you have:

include( $inc[ $item % count($inc) ] );

My syntax is as follows:

srand (time());

$img="/php/SC/img";

$ads = array( '$img/softnet.htm', '$img/wiremix.htm', '$img/igm.htm', '$img/globalinteractive.htm', '$img/gocall.htm', '$img/1stgenx.htm', '$img/poker.htm', '$img/realtime.htm', '$img/dotcoment.htm', '$img/goldplay.htm', '$img/i-net.htm', '$img/iiga.htm', '$img/iql.htm', '$img/sri.htm'); // array of filenames
srand( time() );
$item = rand( 0, count($ads) - 1 ); // starting index into array

for ($i = 0; $i < count($ads); $i++, $item )
{
include ( $ads[ $item % count($inc)] );
}

I also tried it with " instead of ' and got the same error.

sepodati

You should use double quotes, because PHP won't realize variables enclosed in single quotes. So in your code, $img isn't getting realized within your array. That could be the start of your problem...

Do you want to include every file in a random order, or just one random file. If it's just one random file, do this

srand(time());
$item = rand(0,count($ads)-1);
include($ads[$item]);

add the for loop around there if you're including every file...

I have no idea what include ( $ads[ $item % count($inc)] ); is supposed to do...it looks wrong to me...$inc isn't even assigned a value...

---John Holmes...

Anon

Tried what you said....no go there either.. got a parse error. Still kept the $IMG string.

What I want is it to RANDMLY choose ALL files from the array. (like Shuffle in a CD-player) It will load ALL the files, but in a completely random order (no duplicates).

The code I have at the beginning of the thread works, but its too long. I figured an array would work, I just wasn't sure how to do it.

There is a shuffle () command as well, but I'm bot sure of the syntax in PHP.

Here's the code based on what you stated:

srand (time());

$img="/php/SC/img";

$ads = array( ""$img/softnet.htm"",""$img/wiremix.htm"";,""$img/igm.htm"",""$img/globalinteractive.htm"",""$img/gocall.htm"",""$img/1stgenx.htm"",""$img/poker.htm"",""$img/realtime.htm"",""$img/dotcoment.htm"",""$img/goldplay.htm"",""$img/i-net.htm"",""$img/iiga.htm"",""$img/iql.htm"",""$img/sri.htm""); // array of filenames
srand( time() );
$item = rand( 0, count($ads) - 1 ); // starting index into array

for ($i = 0; $i < count($ads); $i++, $item )
{
include( $ads[ $item % count($ads)] );
}

FYI : I'm using the $img string so I can see all the files in the array easier. Otherwise it will be a repetitive nightmare for me to add and delete some of these files. (They're advertisers - so if they dont Pay, they get pulled from the site).

sepodati

Maybe try this...

$img="/php/SC/img";

//seed random function
srand ((double) microtime() * 10000000);
//shuffle and reset array
shuffle($ads);
reset($ads);

//loop through shuffled array
for ($i = 0; $i < count($ads); $i++, $item )
{
include( $ads[$i]);
}

It doesn't seem like this would be that hard, does it?

---John Holmes...

Anon

Got a parse error " expected ')" on line 5 " - line 5 is the array

Heres the syntax you gave me:

$img="/php/SC/img";

$ads = array( ""$img/softnet.htm"",""$img/wiremix.htm"",""$img/igm.htm"",
""$img/globalinteractive.htm"",""$img/gocall.htm"",""$img/1stgenx.htm"",
""$img/poker.htm"",""$img/realtime.htm"",""$img/dotcoment.htm"",
""$img/goldplay.htm"",""$img/i-net.htm"",""$img/iiga.htm"",
""$img/iql.htm"",""$img/sri.htm"");
// array of filenames

//seed random function

srand ((double) microtime() * 10000000);

//shuffle and reset array

shuffle($ads);
reset($ads);

//loop through shuffled array
for ($i = 0; $i < count($ads); $i++, $item ) // ** There is a '<' but no '>' - where does the '>' go?

{
include( $ads[$i]);
}