[SOLVED] Selecting random values from arrays

[ecopetition]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone can help me with the following array:

 

array(

'1' => '1',

'2' => '2',

'3' => '3',

'4' => '4',

'5' => '5',

'6' => '6',

'7' => '7',

'8' => '8',

'9' => '9',

'10' => '10',

'11' => '11',

'12' => '12',

'13' => '13',

'14' => '14',

'15' => '15',

'16' => '16',

'17' => '17',

'18' => '18',

'19' => '19',

'20' => '20',

'21' => '21',

'22' => '22',

'23' => '23',

'24' => '24',

'25' => '25',

)

 

Now, what I want to do is select a specified number of random values from this array, say 10, and arrange them like so:

 

5, 8, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25 (where a comma is the delimiter). The fact that the numbers are in order is not important but it is important that no number is repeated.

 

Also, every time the script is refreshed, it is important that the random values would be reselected.

 

I'd appreciate any help with this at all.

 

Thanks,

Peter

[kenrbnsn]

Use shuffle, array_slice, and implode

 

<?php
$nums = range(1,25);
shuffle($nums);
echo implode(', ',array_slice($nums,0,10));
?>

 

Ken

[ecopetition]

Thanks.

 

Now what if I was to do it so that the array was made of text rather than numbers, eg:

 

array(

'1'  =>  'cheese',

'2'  =>  'chocolate',

'3'  =>  'butter',

'4'  =>  'milk',

'5'  =>  'grapes',

'6'  =>  'bread',

'7'  =>  'wheat',

'8'  =>  'rice',

'9'  =>  'spice',

 

[etc]

 

)

[kenrbnsn]

Same thing. Try it. Just don't use the range function.

 

Ken

[flyhoney]

Simpler to use http://us2.php.net/array_rand

[flyhoney]

<?php
$stuff = array(
'1'   =>   'cheese',
'2'   =>   'chocolate',
'3'   =>   'butter',
'4'   =>   'milk',
'5'   =>   'grapes',
'6'   =>   'bread',
'7'   =>   'wheat',
'8'   =>   'rice',
'9'   =>   'spice'
);
$rand_key = array_rand($stuff);
$rand_element = $stuff[$rand_key];
?>

[ecopetition]

Ok thanks flyhoney.

[kenrbnsn]

Using array_rand does not guarantee that you won't get repeats. Using shuffle will guarantee that.

 

Ken