CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phprandomdirectory
marck
marck

Reputation: 143

Random file from folder (no repetition)

So I'm using the following code to pull a random file from a folder and I would like to make it so there is never a chance of pulling up the current file again (ie: seeing the same image/document twice in a row).

How would I go about this? Thanks in advance!

function random_file($dir = 'destinations')
{
    $files = glob($dir . '/*.*');
    $file = array_rand($files);
    return $files[$file];
}

Upvotes: 0

Views: 374

Answers (4)

Mark Eirich
Mark Eirich

Reputation: 10114

Store the last viewed filename in a cookie or in the session.

Here's how to do it with a cookie:

function random_file($dir = 'destinations') {
    $files = glob($dir . '/*.*');
    if (!$files) return false;
    $files = array_diff($files, array(@$_COOKIE['last_file']));
    $file = array_rand($files);
    setcookie('last_file', $files[$file]);
    return $files[$file];
}

Upvotes: 1

KarlP
KarlP

Reputation: 5201

If you want to present a fixed set of files in random order, then read all file names into an array, shuffle the array and then just use the array from start to end.

Upvotes: 0

MDrollette
MDrollette

Reputation: 6927

$picker = new FilePicker();
$picker->randomFile();
$picker->randomFile(); // never the same as the previous

--

class FilePicker
{
    private $lastFile;

    public function randomFile($dir = 'destinations')
    {
        $files = glob($dir . '/*.*');

        do {
            $file = array_rand($files);
        } while ($this->lastFile == $file);

        $this->lastFile = $file;

        return $files[$file];
    }
}

Upvotes: 1

sandradev
sandradev

Reputation: 355

Essentially: store the name of every file used in an array; every time you pull a new name, check whether it already exists in the array.

in_array() will help you with that. array_push() will help fill the "used files" array.

You could make the array a static one to have the list available whenever you call the function (instead of using global variables).

Upvotes: 0

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