Random number draw

[greggiles]

PHP Code:

//#CLIENTSIDE
function onCreated() {
 this.number = //5 or 10
} 


How do I make the client randomly pick from two numbers. In this case, I need it to pick either 5 or 10, but be random.

[scriptless]

PHP Code:

//#CLIENTSIDE 
function onCreated() { 
 this.number = int(random(1,2.9))*5;//5 or 10
} 


I used 2.9 because it generates a decimal number, so the occurance of 2 would be less if it was just 2.0

[greggiles]

PHP Code:
//#CLIENTSIDE
function onCreated() {
this.number = int(random(1,2.9))*5;//5 or 10
}
I used 2.9 because it generates a decimal number, so the occurance of 2 would be less if it was just 2.0

So if I were to be doing 1 or 3, itd be..

PHP Code:

this.number = int(random(1,3)); 


Just tried what I wrote above..It draws 2.
I'm not too familiar with random integer scripts but of what I know that's not right because the only number between 1 and 3 is 2.
I need it to only pick from 1 or 3.

[Starfire2001]

Originally Posted by greggiles

So if I were to be doing 1 or 3, itd be..

PHP Code:

this.number = int(random(1,3); 


No.

random(1,3) gives you a random number between 1 and 3 (though never the high number, in this case 3.) So for example, random(1,3) might give you 2.5, or 1.72, etc.

int() then rounds the number down to the nearest integer. (so 2.5 becomes 2, 1.99 becomes 1.)

So

PHP Code:

this.number = int(random(1,3)); 


Would randomly select either 1 or 2.

[scriptless]

Originally Posted by Starfire2001

No.

random(1,3) gives you a random number between 1 and 3 (though never the high number, in this case 3.) So for example, random(1,3) might give you 2.5, or 1.72, etc.

int() then rounds the number down to the nearest integer. (so 2.5 becomes 2, 1.99 becomes 1.)

So

PHP Code:

this.number = int(random(1,3)); 


Would randomly select either 1 or 2.

Ah I didn't remember if it did show the higher number. I was being safe.. also he said 1 or 3.. not 1 to 3.. ? so

PHP Code:

this.number = 1 + int(random(0,2))*2; 


Would do 1.. plus it resulted in 1.. it added 1*2.. so it was either 1 or 3.

[Starfire2001]

Originally Posted by scriptless

I was being safe.. also he said 1 or 3.. not 1 to 3.. ?

Indeed, was just explaining what random() and int() were actually doing.

[callimuc]

heres my input :P

PHP Code:

//all numbers which can be chosen; also strings possible
temp.number_possible = {3, 5, 8, 10, 4};

//check ph8's post for the int() and random() description
temp.number_display = temp.number_possible[ int(random(0, temp.number_possible.size())) ];

player.chat = temp.number_display; 


[cbk1994]

Those are some of the most weirdly complicated ways of doing this I've seen.

PHP Code:

function pickRandomNumber() {
  if (random(0, 1) < 0.5) {
    return 5;
  } else {
    return 10;
  }
} 


Usually the simplest solution is best. Code readability > tricky math. It's a lot easier to look at mine and see what it does than it is to stop and mentally parse out int(random(1,2.9))*5.

[BlueMelon]

PHP Code:

temp.number = (random(0, 1) < 0.5 ? 5:10); 


Edit:
For more information on the ternary operator.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ternary_operator

[DustyPorViva]

Originally Posted by BlueMelon

PHP Code:

temp.number = (random(0, 1) < 0.5 ? 5:10); 


I was going to post about ternary, but Chris obviously knows what it is and I think such a thing is lost on the level that Greggiles is scripting at. But if you're going to post it in the attempt of helping then you should explain what it is and why it's useful.

[scriptless]

Originally Posted by cbk1994

Those are some of the most weirdly complicated ways of doing this I've seen.

PHP Code:

function pickRandomNumber() {
  if (random(0, 1) < 0.5) {
    return 5;
  } else {
    return 10;
  }
} 


Usually the simplest solution is best. Code readability > tricky math. It's a lot easier to look at mine and see what it does than it is to stop and mentally parse out int(random(1,2.9))*5.

Bah, this is elementry level math. Nothing tricky about it.. Had it been more complicated, yes I would have done like chris showed however I prefer doing it as BlueMelon showed at that point. It was just kinda the first thing that poped into my head to help, without adding a bunch of lines to his script.

[BlueMelon]

@scriptless,

Its all about readability and efficiency.

[Crow]

Originally Posted by BlueMelon

@scriptless,

Its all about readability and efficiency.

And consistency. With a random float between 1 and 2.9, you have a higher chance to get a 1 out of it. That's not what you want.

[greggiles]

I was going to post about ternary, but Chris obviously knows what it is and I think such a thing is lost on the level that Greggiles is scripting at. But if you're going to post it in the attempt of helping then you should explain what it is and why it's useful.

I figured it out! And sorry, I'm really trying to learn.

[scriptless]

Originally Posted by BlueMelon

@scriptless,

Its all about readability and efficiency.

Then cbk's is more easily readable. However, I still prefer doing it the way you posted.

[BlueMelon]

Originally Posted by scriptless

Then cbk's is more easily readable. However, I still prefer doing it the way you posted.

I wouldn't agree, the ternary operator is easy to read if you use it properly.

@Crow,
Yes consistency is also key.

[scriptless]

Originally Posted by BlueMelon

I wouldn't agree, the ternary operator is easy to read if you use it properly.

@Crow,
Yes consistency is also key.

Assumming someone who know's nothing about scripting, they probably have a better chance of understanding cbk's before yours.. I didn't even know about the ternary operator untill about 2 years ago, or 3.. I forget.. and I have been scripting for 10 years now..

[Crow]

Originally Posted by scriptless

Assumming someone who know's nothing about scripting, they probably have a better chance of understanding cbk's before yours.. I didn't even know about the ternary operator untill about 2 years ago, or 3.. I forget.. and I have been scripting for 10 years now..

Your snippet doesn't make any logical sense, though, so it's not any better. I hope you realize that.

[xXziroXx]

Originally Posted by Crow

Your snippet doesn't make any logical sense, though, so it's not any better. I hope you realize that.

This.

[BlueMelon]

Originally Posted by scriptless

Assumming someone who know's nothing about scripting, they probably have a better chance of understanding cbk's before yours.. I didn't even know about the ternary operator untill about 2 years ago, or 3.. I forget.. and I have been scripting for 10 years now..

Are you serious? Do you know any other programming/scripting languages? The ternary operator is taught with all the basics of any language... -.-'

[DustyPorViva]

Originally Posted by BlueMelon

Are you serious? Do you know any other programming/scripting languages? The ternary operator is taught with all the basics of any language... -.-'

This is a thread attempting to help someone with something like random(). Ternary is just going to confuse them at this point.

[scriptless]

Originally Posted by BlueMelon

Are you serious? Do you know any other programming/scripting languages? The ternary operator is taught with all the basics of any language... -.-'

I never went to college to learn any languages. I started when I needed to learn a language to use to further my work with Reverse Engeneering Graal around the 2.x days. (Ending at 2.310). But I do however, know a little bit (enough to kinda follow along and figure stuff out) in Delphi/Pascal, C, C++, C#, and various web languages.

It would most likely confuse any new person who has yet to begin a class tho is what I was meaning. Someone that knows nothing yet would be more likely to read cbk's.

Originally Posted by Crow

Your snippet doesn't make any logical sense, though, so it's not any better. I hope you realize that.

True, tho it does work.

[BboyEatsbacon]

You all are making it so complex, but with GS2, you can tackle this problem simply.

PHP Code:

function onCreated() {
  this.possibilities = { "5", "10" };

  drawRandomNumber();
}

function drawRandomNumber() {
  this.number = randomstring(this.possibilities);
} 


While this is not good practice for other engines, GS2 supports inputting a string as an integer, so this script would work smoothly.

[xXziroXx]

Originally Posted by BboyEatsbacon

You all are making it so complex, but with GS2, you can tackle this problem simply.

PHP Code:

function onCreated() {
  this.possibilities = { "5", "10" };

  drawRandomNumber();
}

function drawRandomNumber() {
  this.number = randomstring(this.possibilities);
} 


While this is not good practice for other engines, GS2 supports inputting a string as an integer, so this script would work smoothly.

randomString() is not a good option. It's been bugged for a long time, and sometimes results in a blank result. With sometimes, I really mean fairly often.

[cbk1994]

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

randomString() is not a good option. It's been bugged for a long time, and sometimes results in a blank result. With sometimes, I really mean fairly often.

Stefan said he would fix it in Nov. 2011:

Originally Posted by Stefan

Ok will fix that behaviour of randomstring(), it was originally not made for getting arrays as input.

Not sure if it was ever fixed or not though.

[xXziroXx]

Originally Posted by cbk1994

Stefan said he would fix it on in Nov. 2011:



Not sure if it was ever fixed or not though.

It's not been fixed, I tried it a few days ago.

[BboyEatsbacon]

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

randomString() is not a good option. It's been bugged for a long time, and sometimes results in a blank result. With sometimes, I really mean fairly often.

Ah okay.

It's always worked for me, my apologies.