Randomize Elements of an Array

[sgmailer]

Hi,

Let's just say that we've already assigned values to each element of an array. Is it possible to randomly mixed those elements up without losing any of the elements (in other words, keeping every element)?

If needed, I wonder if it's possible to store all of the elements in a text file and have the script read each line randomly?

Thanks for any help in advance.

[weaponx]

Search for shuffle:

#479925

[PsaltyDS]

Let's just say that we've already assigned values to each element of an array. Is it possible to randomly mixed those elements up without losing any of the elements (in other words, keeping every element)?

Doesn't sound hard. Loop through the array, using Random() to pick a new location for each element.

If needed, I wonder if it's possible to store all of the elements in a text file and have the script read each line randomly?

Certainly possible, but it sounds like more work than the suggestion above.

[Malkey]

My example is for a 2d array. It should be easy to alter to a single array. Similar to weaponx's example.

Theory is - Randomly swap all data in the array, one at a time. You randomly select the index of the array to choose which data is swapped.

;Randomize existing data in in array (matrix)   
Func RandomizeMatrixData($m)
    ; Shuffle
    Local $c, $rx, $ry
    Dim $irow= UBound($m), $icol = UBound($m, 2)    
        for $loop5 = 1 to 5
        For $x = 0 To $irow - 1 
           for $y = 0 to $icol -1
                $c = $m[$x][$y]                   ; swap
                $rx = Random (0,($irow -1),1)     ; Random x index
                $ry = Random (0,($icol -1),1)     ; Random y index
                $m[$x][$y] = $m[$rx][$ry]         ; swap
                $m[$rx][$ry] = $c                 ; final swap            
            Next
        Next    
        next
    return $m
EndFunc

There is an extra For - Next loop which runs through the swapping process 5 times to ensure it looks random