Randomize name attribute

[Dag]

Hi,

I need to randomize name attribute and have a dict of names wich I have to randomize with.

Dict is as rob, car, ed.

The way I wanted to do it is like this but it does not work

if(name == "name", switch(int(rand($PT)*3), 0, "rob", 1, "car", 2, "ed"), "don")

How can I get a result I want?

Thanks!

D.

Edited April 6, 2023 by Dag

[Alain2131]

Hi,

You want to start with an array of names

string names[] = {"rob", "car", "ed"};

Then, you want a random number, which goes from zero to the amount of items in the array

float random_value = rand(@ptnum) * len(names);

You need an integer, so you can floor() the result

int random_id = floor(random_value);

This could be combined with the previous line, like so

int random_id = floor(rand(@ptnum) * len(names));

Then, you can fetch the corresponding index from your names array

string picked_name = names[random_id];

In the end, this is the result

string names[] = {"rob", "car", "ed"}; // Array of names
int random_id = floor(rand(@ptnum) * len(names)); // Random ID, from zero to the amount of items in the array
string picked_name = names[random_id]; // The name corresponding to the random ID

 

[Dag]

Thank you very much also for explaining the steps!!!

It works fine

Edited April 7, 2023 by Dag

[Ziyad]

Just adding a similar way of generating the random value without floor() 

int rand_id = (int)fit01(rand(@ptnum+1), 0, len(names));

 

[Dag]

Thank you.

what a benefit is it versus the floor version?

[Alain2131]

Essentially, both solutions are the same.
Speed isn't a concern, and it literally returns the same result (taking into consideration @ptnum+1).

Basically, use what makes sense to you, or what you like.

[Dag]

Thank you!