Is there a simple solution to select random strings in vb.net? I have a list of about twenty paragraphs where three need to go after each other and I want it to be random. Do I have to create a variable? Or is there a command that can be run on a button click?
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3 Answers
One (fairly easy way) to accomplish this would be to have a collection of the paragraphs you want to use, and then use PeanutButter.RandomValueGen from the Nuget package PeanutButter.RandomGenerators (it's open-source too)
RandomValueGen.GetRandomFrom takes a collection of anything and returns a random item from the collection. As a bonus, you can specify a params list of values not to pick, so you can ensure that your paragraphs aren't repeated.
Whilst the library is written in C#, it can obviously be used from any .NET project. There are a lot of other generator methods on RandomValueGen too, if you're interested.
Full disclosure: I'm the author.
If you have a normal list, this should work: If not, write what kind of list you have.
Dim rn As New Random
Dim selct As String = lst(rn.Next(0, lst.Count - 1))
selct is the output.
Replace lst with your list name.
12 Comments
daf
The only problem with this approach is that you'll get repeats of paragraphs. If that's not an issue for the OP, then no worries. If it is, my answer provides a zero-effort alternative.
BanForFun
Yes but you must download stuff
daf
install-package peanutbutter.randomgenerators -- less effort than you make it out to be.BanForFun
Where do you write that?
daf
Open the package manager console -- you can find it via the quick-search in visual studio (Ctrl-Q, I think? But you can see the text box at the very top-right of Visual Studio, and type in "package manager" -- you should get an option for the console). You could also use the GUI Nuget package manager -- I just prefer not to because it's so slow ):
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if you don't want to have a dependency or need to stay on 4.0 for some odd reason or reason X, you can always try this instead
Private rnd As New Random
Public Function GetRandom(input As IEnumerable(Of String), itemToGet As Integer) As List(Of String)
If input.Count < itemToGet Then
Throw New Exception("List is too small")
End If
Dim copy = input.ToList
Dim result As New List(Of String)
Dim item As Integer
While itemToGet > 0
item = rnd.Next(0, copy.Count)
result.Add(copy(item))
copy.RemoveAt(item)
itemToGet -= 1
End While
Return result
End Function
