Quick PHP question: rand()

[Dynix]

Hi,

Trying to make a script to randomly choose between variables that I set in the script. Ideally I'm after something similar to this:

<?php

	$1 = '1';
	$2 = '2';
	$3 = '3';
	$4 = '4';
	$5 = '5';
	
	$pick = rand($1, $5);
	echo $pick;

?>

Is this possible? Obviously this doesn't work, but it's basically what I'd like to do.

Cheers

 

[meghatronic]

$pick = round(rand(1, 5));

should work.

Remember you can't have a variable starting with a number...

 

[Dynix]

Ah I'm such a dummy, managed to solve it myself:

<?php

	$pick = rand(1, 5);
	$tmp = $pick;
	switch($tmp)
	{
		case 1:
			echo 'one';
			break;
		case 2:
			echo 'two';
			break;
		case 3:
			echo 'three';
			break;
		case 4:
			echo 'four';
			break;
		case 5:
			echo 'five';
			break;
	}

?>

Cheers for helping non-the-less, jdickerson

 

[meghatronic]

Or:

<?
	$a1 = 'this is one';
	$a2 = 'this is two';
	$a3 = 'this is three';
	$a4 = 'this is four';
	$a5 = 'this is five';
	
$pick = ${a.(round(rand(1, 5)))};

echo $pick;
?>

less lines

 

[Dynix]

Much easier / nicer than mine

Perfect, thanks mate, really appreciated

Or:

<?
	$a1 = 'this is one';
	$a2 = 'this is two';
	$a3 = 'this is three';
	$a4 = 'this is four';
	$a5 = 'this is five';
	
$pick = ${a.(round(rand(1, 5)))};

echo $pick;
?>

less lines

 

[marc2003]

less lines?

<?php
$a = array(1 => 'one', 'two', 'three', 'four', 'five');
echo $a[rand(1,5)];
?>

 

[Jaffa_Cake]

OR

$vals = Array('1', '2', '3', '4', '5');
shuffle($vals);
echo $vals[0];

Oh so many methods!

 

[Beansprout]

Or:

<?
	$a1 = 'this is one';
	$a2 = 'this is two';
	$a3 = 'this is three';
	$a4 = 'this is four';
	$a5 = 'this is five';
	
$pick = ${a.(round(rand(1, 5)))};

echo $pick;
?>

less lines

But lots of duplication of 'this is '

 

[meghatronic]

But lots of duplication of 'this is '

I'd assume they'd be different you sarcy sausage

e.g. 1 = cats, 2 = dog etc...

And he didn't mention arrays, so I didn't use them.

 

[marc2003]

And he didn't mention arrays, so I didn't use them.

strange logic there? if you have php then it's not as if any particular function is unavailable...

 

[meghatronic]

strange logic there? if you have php then it's not as if any particular function is unavailable...

No, but given the fact the original format was used, I tried to stick to it.

Plus it is (marginally) easier to edit than an array.

 

[psyr33n]

Jaffa_Cake's method is my favourite, another way is

<?php

$a = array(
	'a',
	'b',
	'c',
	'd',
	'e'
);

echo $a[rand(0, count($a) - 1)];

?>

 

[meghatronic]

Jaffa_Cake's method is my favourite, another way is

<?php

$a = array(
	'a',
	'b',
	'c',
	'd',
	'e'
);

echo $a[rand(0, count($a) - 1)];

?>

I'd personally say yours was the best.