PHP: Displaying random lines from text file

[eMonk]

I want to display thumb links randomly from a text file in php. here's a sample link:

<a href="../models/samantha/" class="tip thumb"><img src="../models/samantha/thumb.jpg" width="88" height="88"><span>Samantha</span></a>

text file will have a max of 50 lines of so. this is a temp solution until i start playing with mysql. right now im looking for a pure php solution. how can this be done?

[psili]

<?php
echo array_rand(file('../path/to/text.txt'));
?>

shit.
i suck.
thus a bump for you.

[NickSunshine]

<?
$a=file('filename.txt');
$b=array_rand($a);
print($a[$b]);
?>

[eMonk]

<?
$a=file('filename.txt');
$b=array_rand($a);
print($a[$b]);
?>

Error: Warning: array_rand() [function.array-rand]: First argument has to be an array.

Do I need anything special in my text file?

[NickSunshine]

Error: Warning: array_rand() [function.array-rand]: First argument has to be an array.

Do I need anything special in my text file?

sounds like it isn't reading the text file at all.

is the path correct?

try adding a print_r($a); after the file function to see whats in there.

[eMonk]

after adding print_r($a); it displays the thumb link but the error still remains... any ideas?

[NickSunshine]

sorry to ask:

is there a $ next to the a in the array_rand() function?

$b=array_rand($a);

short of that, no- i have no idea.

[psili]

Are you editing your text file of random lines on a windows box and pushing it to a unix box or vice-versa? Maybe your text file's all torqued up. Try something simple like just a line of:

a
b
c
d
e
f

and see what happens.

[eMonk]

Are you editing your text file of random lines on a windows box and pushing it to a unix box or vice-versa? Maybe your text file's all torqued up. Try something simple like just a line of:

a
b
c
d
e
f

and see what happens.

that worked but it's only displaying 1 letter at a time.. i want all displayed randomly side-by-side. why doesn't the txt like my a href links?

[fris]

<?

// urls.txt should be format of <a href="domain.com"><img src="domain.jpg"></a>
// 1 per line

$file = "urls.txt";
$fp = file($file);
srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
$urls = $fp[array_rand($fp)];
echo $urls;

?>

[NickSunshine]

that worked but it's only displaying 1 letter at a time.. i want all displayed randomly side-by-side. why doesn't the txt like my a href links?

this is my fault for not completely reading your first post.

for some reason i thought you only wanted one line...

<?

$a=file('textfile.txt');
array_shuffle($a);
for each($a as $line){
   print("<a href='../models/" . $line . "'><img src='../models/" . $line . "/thumb.jpg' />" . ucwords($line) . "</a>");
}

?>

[eMonk]

<?

// urls.txt should be format of <a href="domain.com"><img src="domain.jpg"></a>
// 1 per line

$file = "urls.txt";
$fp = file($file);
srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
$urls = $fp[array_rand($fp)];
echo $urls;

?>

displays one thumb at a time. how can we display them ALL side-by-side randomly?

[eMonk]

this is my fault for not completely reading your first post.

for some reason i thought you only wanted one line...

<?

$a=file('textfile.txt');
array_shuffle($a);
for each($a as $line){
   print("<a href='../models/" . $line . "'><img src='../models/" . $line . "/thumb.jpg' />" . ucwords($line) . "</a>");
}

?>

what should the txt file look like?

samantha thumb.jpg text here?

[psili]

displays one thumb at a time. how can we display them ALL side-by-side randomly?

Not sure about why the HREF's aren't display but try:

$deck = file('test.txt');
shuffle($deck);
echo implode(' ',$deck);

[NickSunshine]

what should the txt file look like?

samantha thumb.jpg text here?

samantha
jenny
debbie
susan
christy
...
...
julia

[eMonk]

Not sure about why the HREF's aren't display but try:

$deck = file('test.txt');
shuffle($deck);
echo implode(' ',$deck);

That worked... thanks!... nice & short too...

Thanks to everyone else that helped aswell! Much appreciated!

I just hope this phrases fast when 50 or so entries are added to the txt file...

[NickSunshine]

correction: use shuffle($a); not array_shuffle($a);

i invented a function i guess :D

[psili]

This eMonk thread should be pinned somewhere.

It's a very simple question that had a pretty simple solution. However, the communication between ALL involved just wasn't "right" which is the reason it took a while to solve.

There's a lesson here kids, and it's not about how to properly sniff your own ass crack, you crazy monkeys, you.

[eMonk]

thanks again... i'm still new to php... reading my way through, "PHP and MySQL Web Development 4th edition" which is a GREAT book btw, and I knew the method wouldn't be too much lines of code for this task. I also believe it's bad practice to use PHP to display HTML.

[NickSunshine]

I also believe it's bad practice to use PHP to display HTML.

in my opinion, it really depends on the situation.

sometimes you just gotta loop.

[Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE]

Easy peasy.

[Voodoo]

<?php include("myrandomtextfile.txt"); ?>

Then once a day or once a minute (Whatever you want), open myrandomtextfile.txt and replace the text in it randomly!

[eMonk]

<?php include("myrandomtextfile.txt"); ?>

Then once a day or once a minute (Whatever you want), open myrandomtextfile.txt and replace the text in it randomly!

lol voodoo..

[psili]

thanks again... i'm still new to php... reading my way through, "PHP and MySQL Web Development 4th edition" which is a GREAT book btw, and I knew the method wouldn't be too much lines of code for this task. I also believe it's bad practice to use PHP to display HTML.

Dude, keep learning and asking questions. My last post was geared toward the train-wreck posts about how a client / designer / coder was fucked over because they just didn't communicate.

If you get comfortable with a skill, can communicate with a client on how to apply that skill, and can get both you and a client to agree and understand terms on the skill you apply please let me know. :-)

[NickSunshine]

There's a lesson here kids, and it's not about how to properly sniff your own ass crack, you crazy monkeys, you.

monkey work

i learned a couple things...

a) read the first post COMPLETELY before you try to help.
b) array_shuffle() is not a function.
c) PHP and MySQL Web Development 4th edition is a GREAT book.

[psili]

monkey work

i learned a couple things...

a) read the first post COMPLETELY before you try to help.
b) array_shuffle() is not a function.
c) PHP and MySQL Web Development 4th edition is a GREAT book.

I re-read the original post and still would go for a solution of outputting a random one line of a text file. That's why this thread is so perfect in it's ability to illustrate how communication is so important; for all parties.

Regardless. I like my crab cioppino served with warm garlic bread.
Huh?

[Bro Media - BANNED FOR LIFE]

I re-read the original post and still would go for a solution of outputting a random one line of a text file. That's why this thread is so perfect in it's ability to illustrate how communication is so important; for all parties.

Regardless. I like my crab cioppino served with warm garlic bread.
Huh?

<?php
$lines = file('yourfile.txt');
$num = count($lines);
$r = rand(1, $num)-1;
echo $lines[$r];
?>

[eMonk]

Yeah, I could have been more clear in my original post. I never did mention to output ALL the links at once. Could have added more lines in the sample link aswell.

However this is great... GFY PHP Support Group!

[pornbling]

try this:

$fp=file('yourfile.txt');
shuffle($fp);
echo $fp[0];

This should do it. If you want to see more
echo $fp[1]; echo $fp[2]; ...

[quantum-x]

OK.
Seeing as noone else has solved this yet. (IE, haven't used the 'FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES | FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES' flags, meaning output would be fubar)

<?
$f = file('/path/to/names/names.txt',FILE_SKIP_EMPTY_LINES | FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES);
shuffle($f);
foreach($f as $k => $v) echo '<a href="../models/'.$v.'/" class="tip thumb"><img src="../models/'.$v.'/thumb.jpg" width="88" height="88"><span>'.strtoupper($v[0]).substr($v,1).'</span></a>'."\n";
?>

Renders:

<a href="../models/silvia/" class="tip thumb"><img src="../models/silvia/thumb.jpg" width="88" height="88"><span>Silvia</span></a>
<a href="../models/billy/" class="tip thumb"><img src="../models/billy/thumb.jpg" width="88" height="88"><span>Billy</span></a>
<a href="../models/jenna/" class="tip thumb"><img src="../models/jenna/thumb.jpg" width="88" height="88"><span>Jenna</span></a>
<a href="../models/adam/" class="tip thumb"><img src="../models/adam/thumb.jpg" width="88" height="88"><span>Adam</span></a>

With names capitalised as requested.