Replacing Shufflewith SRAND

Anon

I have an array that consists of a bunch of files. I want ALL thenfiles to appear everytine in a completely RANDOM order.

I tried using Shuffle () - but it seems the PHP Manual states there are problems with shuffle (it comes up with the same results very often).

I wanted to randomize the entire array and I have some code, but need assistance finalizing it:

<?
srand (time()); //seed random function

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

$ads = array( "$img/softnet.htm","$img/wiremix.htm",
"$img/igm.htm",
...etc etc etc...
,"$img/iql.htm","$img/sri.htm");
// array of filenames

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

I need to LOOP the $ads so ALL the ads appear, again in a random order (like shuffle, only it works better).

Any assistance will help

brandonschnell

i haven't tried it, but i'd assume something like the below would work.

<?
srand (time()); //seed random function

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

$ads = array( "$img/softnet.htm","$img/wiremix.htm",
"$img/igm.htm",
...etc etc etc...
,"$img/iql.htm","$img/sri.htm");
// array of filenames

srand(time());

for($count = array_count_values($ads);$count > 0;$count--)
{
$output = array_slice ($ads, rand(0,$count - 1), 1);

include($output[0]);
}

btanner

K, here goes. I'm gonna keep the solution generic though, hope thats ok.

You have an array "Array" of size "N", full of items.

Try this pseudocode...

Set X = N.
While X>0{
Pick a random number (R) between 1 and X
Set Item=Array[R]
Swap(Array[R],Array[X]);
X--;
}

Voila!

You pick a random item from the list, take it out of the list, pick a random item from the remainder, etc.

-Brian

Anon

Sounds nice in theory.....

Now what does the syntax look like?

Anon

Tried what you suggested - got a parse error on line 10, which is:

for($count = array_count_values($ads);$count > 0;$count--)

brandonschnell

then change the syntax:

srand(time());

$count = array_count_values($ads);
while($count > 0)
{
$output = array_slice ($ads, rand(0,$count - 1), 1);
include($output[0]);
$count--;
}

Anon

Got the following error:

<b>"Fatal error: Call to unsupported or undefined function array_count_values() on line 10"</b>

line 10 is here:

$count = array_count_values($ads);
while($count > 0)

Here's the complete syntax:

<?
srand (time()); //seed random function

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

$ads = array( "$img/softnet.htm", ...etc... etc... etc....
,"$img/sri.htm");
// array of filenames

$count = array_count_values($ads);
while($count > 0)
{
$output = array_slice ($ads, rand(0,$count - 1), 1);
include($output[0]);
$count--;
}

btanner

My advice is free, but my code costs $$$....

naw, Brandon's code should work fine.. looks good.. just use:

$count=count($ads);
instead of
$count=array_count_values($ads);

That might help.

Maybe you should learn some php though... hehe.

Anon

Answers to answers cost $$ too....So lets barter :-)

Movin' on down the road...... Next error now:

Fatal error: Call to unsupported or undefined function array_slice() in /php/SC/1-ads-indexpage.php on line 13

$count=count($ads);
while($count > 0)
{
Line 13: ***$output = array_slice ($ads, rand(0,$count - 1), 1); **
include($output[0]);
$count--;
}
Thanks for your help so far. Really appreciate it, if its worth anything to you :-)

Anon

I'm using PHP3. I plan to switch to PHP4 , but first I wanted this to work in PHP3 before I did.

brandonschnell

ah so your running php3 then.

array_count_values & array_slice are both php4 functions.

take a look at:

http://www.pert.dk/php/shuffletest.php3

for a way to handle this in php3