Random numbers

[Birol Gezici]

Hello everybody.

I have 5 different numbers. I want to choose them randomly. For example; I have 1-2-3-4-5. I want my button to chose randomly as 3-5-2-4-1 or something like this.

How can I do this?

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Random numbers

Search code archive forum for

lotto

-- tom

[Birol Gezici]

RE: Random numbers

Thank you Tom,
I know "lotto" but they are very complex.

I want a simple solution.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Random numbers

Birol,

The problem is more complicated than you may be thinking.

Another approach would be to build a table that has all the 5 number combinations already stored in it. You could use the Rand() function to get a record number, and then retrieve the corresponding string.

-- tom

[Melvin Davidson]

RE: Random numbers

Birol,

Tom was referring to my Lotto demo app in the code archive.
It shows how to do exactly what you want!

Depending on how many numbers to draw from (1 to 70),
the 'Do it' script while pick from that set.

The simplified code for want you want is
-----------------------------------------
RANDNUM = int( 1+rand() * 5)
---------------------------------------
RANDNUM while be a rand integer between 1 & 5

IOW, look at the rand function in the
Xbasic Reference Manual

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Random numbers

Melvin,

Perhaps Birol should clarify his question.

Does he want a unique single digit ranging from 1 to 5 on each button press?

Does he want a unique 5 digit string that contains all 5 numbers in random order each time he presses the button (without using any one number more than once)?

From his initial question I've assumed it's the latter.

-- tom

[Birol Gezici]

RE: Random numbers

"Does he want a unique 5 digit string that contains all 5 numbers in random order each time he presses the button (without using any one number more than once)? "

Yes Tom, that's exactly what I need

[Stan Mathews]

RE: Random numbers

A variation of an earlier function to generate five digits. Use = rndstr() where you want to assign the five digit character string to a variable, etc. = val(rndstr()) where you want to assign a five digit number.....

'Date Created: 08-Oct-2003 01:24:11 PM
'Last Updated: 10-Dec-2003 07:55:29 AM
'Created By :
'Updated By :
FUNCTION rndstr AS C ( )
rndstr = ""
test = "12345"
for t = 1 to 5
loops = val(right(str(int(toseconds(time()))),3))
for i = 1 to loops;mynum = ceiling(rand()*10);next i
goback:
on error goto 0
if mynum = 0 .or. mynum > len(test)
on error goto retry
error_generate()
end if
allchar = substr(test,mynum,1)
test = stritran(test,allchar,"")
rndstr = rndstr + allchar
next t
END FUNCTION

end

retry:
loops = val(right(str(int(toseconds(time()))),3))
for i = 1 to loops;mynum = ceiling(rand()*10);next i
resume goback

[Melvin Davidson]

RE: Random numbers

"Does he want a unique 5 digit string that contains all 5 numbers in random order each time he presses the button (without using any one number more than once)? "

Yes Tom, that's exactly what I need "

In that case, here is a much simpler script.
=========================================================
'mk_5_digits
DIM NUMARRAY(5) AS N
DIM CTR AS N

FOR CTR = 1 TO 5
RETRY:
RANDNUM = int( 1+rand() * 5)
NUMARRAY[CTR] = RANDNUM
NEXT CTR

NUMSTRING = ""
FOR CTR = 1 TO 5
NUMSTRING = NUMSTRING + ALLTRIM(STR(NUMARRAY[CTR]))
NEXT CTR

DIGIT5 = VAL(NUMSTRING)
ui_msg_box("5 Digits as Requested :) ", STR(DIGIT5))
=========================================================

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Random numbers

Melvin,

Will your script prevent duplicate numbers appearing within the 5 digit string?

Birol doesn't need an assortment of 5 random numbers. He needs a string that contains all 5 numbers, once each, arranged in a random sequence.

This is harder than he imagines.

-- tom

[Stan Mathews]

RE: Random numbers

That's what my function does........


returns "a string that contains all 5 numbers, once each, arranged in a random sequence"

[Melvin Davidson]

RE: Random numbers

In that case, he should just modify the "Do It" script from the "Lotto" application in the code archive. It does exactly that. That was the whole purpose of the application and it is exactly what lotto is.

My app lets you pick Y amount of numbers out of Y numbers. and none will be duplicated.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Random numbers

Right. That's where I pointed him initially, but he didn't like my recommendation. -- tom

[Melvin Davidson]

RE: Random numbers

Thanks Tom.

BTW, using all 5 digits is not truly random, as there are only 25 possible combinations. Whereas, a the function as I described previously will generate digits from
11111 -> 55555, or 44445 combinations :).

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Random numbers

Melvin,

this isn't my field, but I think you're underestimating the count.

Here are 15 and they all start with 1

12345
12354
12543
12534
12435

13452
13425
13245
13254
13245
13542

14235
14253
14523
14532
14325
14523

There would be "lots and lots" (that's a statistical term, sorry for the jargon) more.

-- tom