Adding the PHP rand function to this code

Question

How would I go about making these items appear in a random order every time??

            <?php
            for($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
            $nameN = "name{$i}";
            $$nameN = get_post_meta(get_the_ID(), "ch_client_name{$i}", TRUE);
            // or $name[$i], if you can
            ?>

           <li data-id="<?php the_ID(); ?>" class="<?php echo $clientterms; ?> portfolio-item" data-type="<?php echo $clientterms; ?>">
               <?php echo $$nameN; ?> 
           </li>

           <?php
           } ?>

Variable variables? Why? There is nearly no place for those in PHP, seriously. Why not just use normal arrays - it's less hacky overall... — null
– null, Commented Feb 25, 2012 at 17:36

Shad · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-25 17:32:47Z

1

<?php
$numbers = array(1,2,3,4,5);
for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
  $r = rand(0, count($numbers) - 1);
  $nth = $numbers[$r];
  unset ($numbers[$r]); 
  array_unshift ($numbers, array_shift ($numbers)); 
  //Other part of the code

should work. It basically picks a random not-shown item, and removes it from array. $nth will store which is the real number of item.

edited Feb 25, 2012 at 17:32

Shad

15.5k2 gold badges24 silver badges34 bronze badges

answered Feb 25, 2012 at 7:36

axiomer

2,1261 gold badge17 silver badges26 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Slawek · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-25 09:08:32Z

0

Why do you add each client to different meta value ? You can add all clients to one meta value - ch_client_name - it will be array. This will simplify your structure.

If you change your structure, I suggest firstly get meta values as array, then use shuffle and iterate through array.

$clientNames = get_post_meta(get_the_ID(), "ch_client_name");
shuffle($clientNames);

foreach ($clientNames as $clientName){....

edited Feb 25, 2012 at 9:08

answered Feb 25, 2012 at 8:18

Slawek

5833 silver badges9 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Adding the PHP rand function to this code

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related