[SOLVED] while loop random order

[almightyegg]

can you order the out put of a while loop randomly?

so one time it will show table values:

1

5

6

3

8

9

and next time it might show

5

7

3

2

8

1

etc...

 

Is it possible??

[MadTechie]

from what source ?

File  = (not sure)

Database = ORDER BY RAND();

Array = shuffle()

 

?

[almightyegg]

$clut = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM clutch");

while($clutch = mysql_fetch_array($clut)){

So that would be:

$clut = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM clutch ORDER BY rand()");

while($clutch = mysql_fetch_array($clut)){

 

???

[MadTechie]

yep that will work

 

 

how large is the database as using

ORDER BY rand()

is a quick dirty method

 

 

[almightyegg]

It will eventually have 100+ rows BUT I've just realised, using rand() would mean pagination wouldn't work because it randomise every page so chances are some will be listed twice and some won't be listed at all on the pages....is there a way around that??

[$cripts]

get all values put them into an array then output them using shuffle

[MadTechie]

oow not a 'nice way' that i can think of,

 

unless you return only the ID's and store them in array and then use something like 'where  ID in ('.explode($storedID's, ",").') ' but thats tacky

 

would have to be a session,

 

 

 

storing a 100+ records in a array to be passed page to page is more tacky

[almightyegg]

Oh....Well, for now, as I don't really want to put myself into something difficult I will use rand() and not paginate thanks guys

[$cripts]

u can still use pagination simply do it like this

$query  = mysql_query('SELECT ....... LIMIT 5,20');
while(.........)
{
$array[$id] = $idortext;
}
shuffle($array);
foreach($array ...... )
{
echo ......;
}

the only thing about using shuffle is if you need to keep the array keys they will be changed