Random Number

[MarushA]

I need to create a variable which's number randomaly changes. It must go between 1 and 10, no lower or higher.

At the moment ive been using:

onClipEvent(enterFrame){
variable++
variable++
variable++
etc...
if(variable==10){
variable=0
}


This works fine, but it goes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, etc. I need it to go anything like: 2,4,3,2,2,3,4,6,7,8,5,6,7,8,8,5,4,3,5,6,10,8. The numbers must just come up randomally. Possible? Please?

[Mathrim]

code:

---

onClipEvent(enterFrame){

variable=Math.round(Math.random()*10)

}

---

or:

code:

---

onClipEvent(enterFrame){

variable=random(10)+1

}

---

The first one is recommended though.

[MarushA]

Stunning mate!! Thanks very much, works exactly how i want it

[jbum]

Math.random() returns a value which is >= zero and < one. It might be zero, but it will never ever be one (although it might be .9999999).

Math.round() will round in either direction. Math.floor() always rounds down, and Math.ceil() always rounds up.

Because of this, Math.round(Math.random()*10) will occasionally give you a zero. It also has an uneven distribution like so:

0 5%
1 10%
2 10%
3 10%
4 10%
5 10%
6 10%
7 10%
8 10%
9 10%
10 5%

Better to use either of the following, which deliver 1-10 with even distribution:

a) Math.floor(Math.random()*10)+1
b) random(10)+1

a and b are exactly the same, but b is more readable. b is "deprecated" however I use it all the time, and I seriously doubt it will ever go away - it's just too darn convenient.

A lot of folks on this board will tell you to use this one:

c) Math.ceil(Math.random()*10)

It seems simpler because it doesn't have a "+1" and if you test it, it will appear to have identical results to methods a and b.

HOWEVER, it actually has a VERY slight chance (something like 1 in a billion) of producing zero as well (because Math.random() may return zero, and Math.ceil(0) is zero.

Finally, if you are using random numbers and arrays a lot, you will find it easier to name your movieclips starting from 0, rather than starting from 1. This way you can just use this:

d) random(10)

and it will refer to objects 0 thru 9 with even distribution.


- Jim

[mm.exe]

That's all good and well but I also want a code that will go something along the lines of

If variable = 1 {gotoAndPlay(3)}
If variable = 2 {gotoAndPlay(5)}

Any help?

[catbert303]

The frame number is always double the variable value + 1? If so you might use,

myVar = 1;
gotoAndPlay((2 * myVar) + 1); // goto frame 3

if you wanted to test for different values and then send the movie to a different frames you could do something like this,

if (myVar == 1) {
    gotoAndPlay(3);
} else if (myVar == 2) {
    gotoAndPlay(5);
} else {
    gotoAndPlay("wherever");
}

[mm.exe]

... Ca you put in the whole code and explain every part of it because I am only 14 and I don't know what your talkin about and I don't see a random number generator code in what you just gave me.

[catbert303]

to get the random number you would use one of the methods posted by jbum,

for example,

var myVar = Math.floor(Math.random()*10) + 1; // myVar will be a random number between 1 and 10

then you could use this value to send the movie to a different frame,

gotoAndPlay((2 * myVar) + 1); // if myVar was 2 this would send the movie to frame 5

[mm.exe]

Close but not what I'm looking for. I want to have it gotoAndPlay if myVar equals a certain number.

[catbert303]

if you wanted to test for different values and then send the movie to a different frames you could do something like this,

if (myVar == 1) {
    gotoAndPlay(3);
} else if (myVar == 2) {
    gotoAndPlay(5);
} else {
    gotoAndPlay("wherever"); // or don't do anything if it should only goto a frame for certain values
}

[mm.exe]

It won't work. It says that and Identify is expected.

[catbert303]

Try the attached file

[mm.exe]

I'm sorry but I couldn't understand that...

[mm.exe]

Could you simplify it?