php functions

[EKsparky]

Hi all

ive been trying to learn php and mysql so I can make a quiz for my web site

My quiz will include 10 different categories each category will issue random questions from db

So far after much reading I managed to create a simply database with each table contain id question and  answer columns. (I could'nt smile wide enough when I executed quiz.sql in phpmyadmin and it worked  ) .

Much reading later and I ve managed to get a query that works

what I need to do now is make it in to a function so I can call question and answer from my main quiz page

I guess I will then make 10 functions in a functions.ini calling each table depending on category selected on main quiz page

 

#select a query
$sql = "SELECT * from my_table ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";

#excute query

$dbname = mysql_query ( $sql );

#write datal

while ( $row = mysql_fetch_array ( $dbname ) )
{

echo ( "question: " .$row["question"] );
	echo (" Answer: " .$row["answer"] );

}

I am probably way of and need to do much more reading

Thanks for any help

[keeB]

I am developing a solution right now.. give me about 5 minutes.

[keeB]

Ok I am done, let me explain what is about to follow.

 

I wrote this using a basic array structure the looks much like the following:

Array (
[category_a] => Array (
    [question_1] = answer1
    )
)

 

From here, I wrote 2 functions, getRandomCategory() and getQuestions() which both use the count function (returns the amount of items in an array) to execute the upper bound of the rand function.

 

Instead of explaining it further, I'll provide my code, and see if you have any questions. It should be easily adaptable to your current situation.

 

<?php

$items = array("category_a" => array("question_1" => "answer1"));


function getRandomCategory($items) {
//return sub-array with questions
$max_num = count($items);
return $items(rand(0,$max_num - 1));
}

function getQuestion($questions) {
//return random question
$max_questions = count($questions);
return $questions(rand(0, $max_questions - 1));	
}

print_r (getQuestion(getRandomCategory($items)));

?>

[EKsparky]

Thanks for such a speedy response

As I said am very new to php and am only 1/4 way though my book I bought

I've read your code and can sort of see where its going but not quite sure how I implement it with mine

If you could give me a ruff example I'll probably understand it further and be away

Again thanks for such a quick reply

[keeB]

The problem is with your current table structure, and without more knowledge in SQL I can't accurately give you information which would help.

 

I would have set the database up in the following manner:

 

CREATE TABLE categories (
categoryID int primary key auto_increment,
categoryName text
)

CREATE TABLE my_table (
id int primary key auto_increment,
categoryID int,
question text,
answer text
)

 

This solves the problem of trying to get a random category, since you can generate a random number by getting the amount of categories in your category table.

 

 

<?php
$count_sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM categories";
$category_count = mysql_fetch_array(mysql_query($count_sql));
#total amount of categories is stored in $category_count[0]
#now we need to generate a random number

$random_category = rand(1, $category_count[0]);

#next, incorportate findings in to main sql script
$sql = "SELECT * from my_table where categoryId = $randome_category ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";

#excute query

$dbname = mysql_query ( $sql );

#write datal

while ( $row = mysql_fetch_array ( $dbname ) )
{

echo ( "question: " .$row["question"] );
	echo (" Answer: " .$row["answer"] );

}

?>

 

The limitation is that you'll need at least 1 question/answer for every category. But, I think that's your intent anyway.

 

Edit: updated a problem in the rand() function.

[EKsparky]

Am totally lost now 

My mysql are set up like this and there are around 40 questions in each table

 

 
   CREATE TABLE my_table (
   ID INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
   question char(30) NOT NULL,
   answer char(30) NOT NULL,
   PRIMARY KEY (ID)
   );
   

 

And I thought I was getting there as the code I supplied in my first post would generate a different question and answer every time I refreshed the page.

So I thought I was close to creating my main quiz page and calling questions and then answer (just on a revel answer button)

I just thought I some how need to change my code in to 2 variables some how

ie

$row["question"] =$question

$row["answer"] =$answer

then somehow place all this into a function so I could just call the vars

obviously I have a long way to go yet and much more to read and more goggling to do

[keeB]

Well, keep in mind, what you're trying to throw in the loop is the notion of categories.

 

Your current script is working perfectly if:

- You don't need to generate a certain number of questions per category

 

With your current script, you have 2 options:

1. Modify it to do something like I did above, or

2. Keep your same script, and do all of the managing on the script side, which would be a huge pain.

 

Maybe I will write an article on the easiest way to accomplish this.

[EKsparky]

Look forward to your article

thanks for your help

I can see what you mean just unsure how to complete it yet but i will carry on till i get it done .

[per1os]

If you want a "reveal answer" button you want to use HTML/CSS/JS with the div tag and the style="display:none"; than an onclick on the link "reveal answer" sets the style for the div tag to be "display:block;" IE:

 

<html>
  <head>
  <script type="text/javascript">
      function displayDiv(myid) {
              var myDiv = document.getElementById(myid);
              myDiv.style.display = "block";
              return false;
       }
   </script>
<?php
#select a query
$sql = "SELECT * from my_table ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";

#excute query
$dbname = mysql_query ( $sql );

#write datal
$i=0;
while ( $row = mysql_fetch_array ( $dbname ) )
{

echo ( "question: " .$row["question"] . "<br />");
echo ('<div style="display:none;" id="answerDiv' . $i . '">Answer: ' .$row["answer"] . '</div> <a href="#" onClick="displayDiv(\'answerDiv'.$i++.'\');">Reveal!</a><br /><br />');

}
?>

 

That will allow you to reveal the answer when "Reveal!" is clicked.

[EKsparky]

thats what ive been tring to do I tried your code and no luck 

I found some javascriprt code thats works quite well the only problem i am having now

Is i created a function that i can call but the javascript has id any one got any ideas how i can change the id sc1 sc2 sc3 etc

 

<?php

function my_func ()
{
#select a query
$sql = "SELECT * from my_table ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";

#excute query
$dbname = mysql_query ( $sql );




#write data
while ( $row = mysql_fetch_array ( $dbname ) )
{

	$Q = (  $row["question"] );
	$A = ( $row["answer"] );
echo '<body><h3 onClick="expandcontent(\'sc1\')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer">'.$Q.'</h3>
<div id="sc1" class="switchcontent">Answer '.$A.'</div>';

}
}
?>

 

now if i call this function from anther page 

<?php

include 'includes/functions.php';
include 'javascript/open.js';



echo my_func ( ) ;
echo "<br>";
echo ten_korean ( ) ;


?>

Now this work fine if i use one call of my function but no more as i need to add sc1 to sc2 and so on poor call no more than 10 thou

 

Ii tried doing something like this but no luck

 

<?php

function my_func ()
{
#select a query
$sql = "SELECT * from my_table ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";

#excute query
$dbname = mysql_query ( $sql );

#need to make sc1 loop for javascript
for ($i = 1; $i <12; $i++);


#write data
while ( $row = mysql_fetch_array ( $dbname ) )
{

	$Q = (  $row["question"] );
	$A = ( $row["answer"] );
echo '<body><h3 onClick="expandcontent(\'sc'.$i.'\')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer">'.$Q.'</h3>
<div id="sc1" class="switchcontent">Answer '.$A.'</div>';

}
}
?>

that again works once any ideas would be great

[Barand]

Go with Keeb's advice and have 2 tables, qcategory and question

 

CREATE TABLE qcategory (
catID int primary key not null auto_increment,
category varchar(50)
)

CREATE TABLE question (
id int primary key not null auto_increment,
catID int,
question text,
answer text
)

 

Then you can get a random question from each category with

<?php
$sql = "SELECT *
         FROM (SELECT c.category, q.question, q.answer 
                  FROM question q
                  INNER JOIN qcategory c ON q.catID = c.catID 
                  ORDER BY c.catID, RAND()) as a
         GROUP BY category";
?>

 

 

[EKsparky]

Ive got it working just not calling as function

just using the code for the function multiable times adding a number to the id for the javascript button

Not the best way i no but working