[SOLVED] I have no idea what else to do.

[czukoman20]

I've had this issue for a year now.. but finally went back to trying to fix it.

 

RANDOM

 

here is what i have

$data = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM users WHERE category LIKE '%$category%' ORDER BY rand()") or die(mysql_error());

 

The problem I HAVE ALWAYS had was .. The ORDER BY  rand() sux... What it does is it generates a random Order... but it will never generate a different random order after the first one..

 

its as if I am missing a refresh code that refreshes the rand() command.

 

Help is greatly appreciated

[pkedpker]

its always random man thats what random is!

 

even though its not real random its just a mathematical equation of dividing a irrational result so therefore it can be cracked if the seed is found.

 

you might try RAND(UNIX_TIMESTAMP()) which makes it much more harder.. but still cracked in online poker games but those were true hackers

[czukoman20]

I dont care if it gets hacked lol... its only used to randomly display listings on a pagination system, not to hide poker cards.

 

The problem is .. ITS NOT ALWAYS RANDOM

 

Its random once.

 

For some reason my listings will display in a random order... but the exact same random order every time.

thanks though .. it baffles me

 

 

[.josh]

hmmm...are you like, pulling the results from the db and storing them in an array and paginating based on the array (array being stored in a session or flatfile)?  Because if you are calling that on every page load, there's no reason it should not be returning different orders every time.  Post more code.

[schapel]

What happens to the $data variable after that line of code?

[czukoman20]

Ok.. I'll post the entire code

Warning.... Its big..

 

<?php
if (!(isset($pagenum)))
{
$pagenum = 1;
}
$data = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM users WHERE category LIKE '%$category%' ORDER BY rand()") or die(mysql_error());


$rows = mysql_num_rows($data);
$page_rows = 10;
$last = ceil($rows/$page_rows);
if ($pagenum < 1)
{
$pagenum = 1;
}
elseif ($pagenum > $last)
{
$pagenum = $last;
}
$max = 'limit ' .($pagenum - 1) * $page_rows .',' .$page_rows;
$data_p = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM users WHERE category LIKE '%$category%' $max ") or die(mysql_error());
while($values = mysql_fetch_array( $data_p ))
{
echo "";;
   $user = $values['username'];
   $company = $values['company_name'];
   $fname = $values['contact_firstname'];
   $lname = $values['contact_lastname'];
   $position = $values['contact_position'];
   $address = $values['address'];
   $city = $values['city'];
   $state = $values['state'];
   $zipcode = $values['zipcode'];
   $desc_mini = $values['description_mini'];
   $phone = $values['contact_direct_phone_normal'];
   
   
if($session->logged_in)
{
$sub = "submit2.php";
}else{
$sub = "submit2.php";
}

$types = array("jpg","gif","png","swf");
$dir = dirname(__FILE__)."/site-images/searchlogos/";
foreach($types as $type)
{
if(file_exists($dir.$user."_logo.".$type))
{
   {?> 
       HTML PAGINATED DATA I removed due to the bulk of the listing.
<?php}
}
}
}
echo "";
echo " --Page $pagenum of $last-- <p>";
if ($pagenum == 1)
{
}
else
{
echo " <a href='{$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']}?pagenum=1'> <<-First</a> ";
echo " ";
$previous = $pagenum-1;
echo " <a href='{$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']}?pagenum=$previous'> <-Previous</a> ";
}
if ($pagenum == $last)
{
}
else {
$next = $pagenum+1;
echo " <a href='{$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']}?pagenum=$next'>Next -></a> ";
echo " ";
echo " <a href='{$_SERVER['PHP_SELF']}?pagenum=$last'>Last ->></a> ";
}
?>

 

mmm...are you like, pulling the results from the db and storing them in an array and paginating based on the array (array being stored in a session or flatfile)?  Because if you are calling that on every page load, there's no reason it should not be returning different orders every time.  Post more code.

 

Its basically an array, i am not sure if its a session or flat file because one of my friends helped me write this code.

[czukoman20]

Thats exactly what happened when i tried the question in other forums.. I posted the code, and then Nothing.....

 

anybody out there?

[.josh]

okay so the problem is that you are NOT ordering your results randomly.  Not even the first time.  You have 2 queries in that script.  The first one you have order by rand() but that's pointless since all you are doing with it is finding out the row count for your pagination.  It's the 2nd query that you need to order by rand(), as that's the one you are actually getting the data from.

[czukoman20]

Ok i'll give that a try

[czukoman20]

THANK YOU soooo much!