Action conditional on random number

Hi,
I would like to execute actions conditional on some random number.
E.g. I have
Action #1
Action #2
Action #3
My Automator app should in the end randomly execute one of those 3 actions.
In php I would code as follows:
$r=rand(1,3);
if ($r==1)
action1();
else if ($r==2)
action2();
else
action3();
How can I do this within automator?
Thanks,
Tassilo

ok, thanks.
so it is 100% sure that I cannot start some specified action depending on a (random) variable?
another question:
sometimes my automator app gives an error dialog "watchmedo encountered an error".
this blocks the app to be restarted automatically (I schedule my apps on a repeated basis), as the app still open.
how can I suppress error dialogs like this? or can I quit the app once an error is encountered?
those error dialogs (which only go away by clicking OK) kill the possibility to restart the app automatically ...
thanks.

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How to define "leading" random number in Infoset fpr parallel processing

Hello,
in Bankanalyzer we use an Infoset which consists of a selection across 4 ODS tables to gather data.
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Unfortunately, the table that is selected by the framework is not suitable, because our
"leading" ODS table which holds most of our selection criteria is another one.
How to "convince" the parallel framework to select our leading table for the specification
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We even tried to assign "alternate characteristics" to the packnos we do not liek to use,
but it seems that note 999101 just fixes this for non-system-fields.
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Thanks in advance
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Well, it is a bit more complicated
ODS one, that the parallel framework selects for being the one to deliver the PACKNO
is about equal in size (~120GB each) to ODS two which has two significant field which cuts down the
amount of data to be retreived.
Currently we execute the generated SQL in the best possible manner (by faking some stats )
The problem is, that I'd like to have a Statement that has the PACKNO in the very same table.
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The job starts about 100 slaves
Each slave gets a packet to be processed from the framework, which is internaly represented
by a BETWEEN clause on this PACKNO. This is joined against ODS2 and then the selective fields
can be compared resultin in 90% of the already fetched rowes can be discarded.
Basicly it goes like
select ...
from
ods1 T_00,
ods2 T_01,
ods3 T_02,
ods4 T_03
where
... some key equivalence join-conditions ...
AND T_00.PACKNO BETWEEN '000000' and '000050' -- very selective on T_00
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I'd trying to change this to
AND T_01.PACKNO BETWEEN '000000' and '000050'
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This would be times 10 more selective on the driving table and due to the fact,
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It really boosts when I do this in sqlplus
Hope this clearyfies a bit.
Problem is, that I can not change the code either for doing the
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Need help with a JavaScript to generate random number

Hi
First things first. I don't know the J of JavaScript.
When I was thinking of some readymade solution to generate a random number in Captivate, I found this on a LinkedIn forum.
1) Add a user variable to your project called "randomNumber". It's value can be zero.
2) Add a Text Caption with "$$randomNumber$$" in it, to check whether your script is working.
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onButtonClick();
However, this is (as the poster in the forum warned) not working for Captivate 7. Can somebody please help?
I am open for any other methods of getting the same result.
Thanks in advance,
Sreekanth

Hi Sreekanth,
When testing, make sure you are testing from a web server where the web address begins with http or https. When setting the captivate variable "randomNumber" try this instead:
objCP.cpEISetValue('m_VarHandle.randomNumber', rand);
That will only work for SWF output. If you want it to work for both HTML5 and SWF output, try this code:
window.onButtonClick = function(){
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window.generateRandomNumber = function(min, max){
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window.setCpVariable = function (cpUserVariableName, variableValue) {
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window.onButtonClick();
Be sure to test this from a web server or else local security will prevent the javascript from executing.
Best,
Jim Leichliter

Lingo code to show a random number

I am learning Director and my partner and I are trying write
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quote:
Originally posted by:
graphics cat
I have rechecked the spelling and it's still not working.
Most of the time there is no error message, it just doesn't do
anything. Sometimes this error comes up - Script error:
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Please, could you post your code or even upload your file
somewhere we can download and check it out. This will help greatly
in trying to find the syntax error you are making.
In the meantime, here's a few links you can check out that
will facilitate learning Director:
http://www.furrypants.com/loope/index.htm
-- advanced lingo
http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/learning/director/
-- excellent tutorials
http://www.dreamlight.com/insights/07/
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http://www.andyw.com/director/
-- technical guide, tips n’ tricks
http://www.director-onine.com
-- articles and forum
http://www.mediamacros.com/
-- for scripts and more
http://www.xtrasy.com/ --
for xtras and links
http://www.updateStage.com/
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http://www.lingoworkshop.com/
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http://groups.google.ca/groups?hl=en&lr=&group=macromedia.director.lingo
http://groups.google.ca/groups?hl=en&lr=&group=macromedia.director.basics
http://www.zeusprod.com/
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http://www.proscenia.net/resources/tutorials/director/d1/index.html
http://www.shocknet.org.uk/
-- internet, XML, ASP/SQL, database connectivity
http://www.jmckell.com/ -- Math
Lingo
http://www.vtc.com/products/directormx2004.htm
-- free QT How To Videos
http://www.shockwave3d.com/
-- shockwave games
http://www.shocksites.com/
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http://www.noisecrime.com/
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http://www.chromelib.com/
-- shockwave 3D behavior library
http://www.shocksites.com/
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http://poppy.macromedia.com/~thiggins/
-- Thomas Higgins
http://multimediahelp.org/home/director.html?action=downloads
http://nonlinear.openspark.com/alpha/
-- James Newton’s site. Examples
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http://www.j-roen.net/diropener/
-- tools to extract media from dxr, dcr
http://www.macromedia.com/support/director/
-- official MM support site
http://www.robotduck.com/learning/introduction/introduction1.htm
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http://brennan.young.net/Edu/Lingvad.html
-- OOP & Space Invaders game
http://www.markme.com/mxna/index.cfm?category=Director
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http://www.macromedia.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_18629
http://martyplumbo.com/tutor/
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http://www.ullala.at/ -- IL
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Processing types in an action condition

Hi
Can I have two processing types for an action condition.
Like a Method Call and a Send email.
Thanks
Tarang

Hello, Tarang.
Yes, you can set a number of processing types for an action. For this go to an action defenition, then navigate to Processing Types and there choose 'New entry', in the field "Assignment" choose processing type using value help and enter details.
Hope this will help.

A simple question on random number generation?

Hi,
This is a rather simple question and shows my newbieness quite blatantly!
I'm trying to generate a random number in a part of a test I have.
So, I have a little method which looks like this:
public int getRandomNumber(int number){
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My problem is it always returns the same number. What am I missing here. I was under the impression that nextint(int n) was supposed to generate the number randomly!! Obviously I'm doing something wrong or not using the correct thing. Someone please point out my stupidity and point me in the right direction? Ta

I think the idea is that Random will generate the same pseudo-random sequence over and over if you don't supply a seed value. (The better to debug with, my dear.) When you're ready to put an app into production, the seed value should be the current system time in milliseconds to guarantee a new sequence with each run.
Do indeed move Random outside the loop. Think of it like a number factory - instantiate it once and let it pump out the random values for you as needed.

How do I assign images to grid cells based on their random number value?

Hello everyone!
     I need a good point (or shove) in the correct direction.
Background
     I've created (with previous help from this forum) a 12 x 9 random number grid which cycles through the numbers 1 to 9 a total of twelve times each. I've then created a button which shuffles the current grid's cells each time it is clicked. I now want to use 9 images that I have imported as individual symbols into the library (I have given them each their own class titled "skin1," "skin2," ... "skin9") as cell labels or the equivalent. I have also set the images up as individual movie clips (using the .Sprite class as the extended base class but keeping the actual image class names in line with their object name, i.e. the "skin1" image is the "skin1.as" class).
Question
     How do I assign these images to the grid cells based on their respective values (ranging from 1 to 9) and have them populate the grid each time I click the "shuffle" button? So for example, in my grid the numbers 1 through 9 randomly appear 12 times each. Every time the number 4 appears in a cell, I want it to be assigned to the image "skin4" (which is just a graphic that looks like a button and has a fancy number "4" printed on it). Below is a chunk of the code I am using to draw the grid cells with:
// Creates a grid cell when called by generateGrid().
private funciton drawCell(_numeral:int):Sprite
          This is the code I am currently implementing to populate the grids with (although I
          don't want to use text labels as I want to fill each grid with an image according
          to its numerical value (1 to 9).
     var _label:TextField = new TextField();
     _label.multiline = _label.wordWrap = false;
     _label.autoSize = "center";
     _label.text = String(_numeral);
     // Add numerical label to cell array.
     cellLabels.push(_label);
     var _s:Sprite = new Sprite();
     _s.graphics.lineStyle(2, 0x019000);
     _s.graphics.drawRect(30, 0, cellW, CellH);
     _s.addChild(_label);
     return _s;
     While the following isn't working code, it will hopefully demonstrate what I want to achieve inside this function so I don't have to use the above snippet for text labels:
     //This will "hopefully" create an array of all 9 images by calling their classes.      var _imageArray:Array = [skin1, skin2, skin3, skin4, skin5 , skin6, skin7, skin8, skin9];      // This is what I want to happen for each cell using the above image array:      for (i = 0; i < cells; i++)      {           if (_numeral == 1)           {                // Insert skin1 image for each instance of #1 in the grid.           }           if (_numeral == 2)           {                // Insert skin2 image for each instance of #2 in the grid.           }           ...           if (_numeral == 9)           {                // Insert skin9 image for each instance of #9 in the grid.           }      }
     Again, I don't want to use text labels. I have a custom skin graphic that I want to go over each number on the grid based on its numerical value (1 to 9). Any help with this is much appreciated!

kglad,
     Thank you for your help with this one. Using the code below, I have successfully populated my grid cells with the desired corresponding graphics. I noticed one thing though regarding my use of the shuffle button with this particular implementation: even though the numerical values residing in each cell get shuffled, the original images remain in the grid rather than being replaced by new ones. The first code snippet below is the revised cell drawing function including your help; the second snippet shows you my simple shuffle button function (where the problem lies, I think).
Snippet #1:
     // Creates a grid cell when called by generateGrid().
     private function drawCell(_numeral:int):Sprite
          var _label:TextField = new TextField();
          _label.multiline = _label.wordWrap = false;
          _label.autoSize = "center";
          // Creates a label that represents the numerical value of the cell.
          cellLabels.push(_label);
          var _s:Sprite = new Sprite();
          _s.graphics.lineStyle(2, 0x019000);
          _s.graphics.drawRect(30, 0, cellW, cellH);
          // Physically adds the labels to the grid.
          _s.addChild(_label);
          // Assigns a graphic class to a cell based on its numerical value.
          var _classRef:Class = Class(getDefinitionByName("skin" + _numeral));
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          var _image:* = new _classRef();
          // Lines the images up with the grid cells.
          _image.x = 30;
          // Physically adds a graphic on top of a cell label.
          _s.addChild(_image);
          return _s;
     So far so good (although I question needing text labels at all if they are just going to remain invisible underneath the images, but enough about that for now). This next part is the reason that the images won't shuffle with the cell values, I think.
Snippet #2:
     // When shuffleButton is clicked, this event shuffles
     // the number array and fills the cellLabels with the new values.
     private function onButtonShuffleClick(e:MouseEvent):void
          // Shuffles the number array.
          shuffle(numbers);
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          trace("After shuffle:", numbers);
          // Loop replaces old cellLabels with new number array values.
          for (var i:int = 0; i < cells; i++)
               cellLabels[i].text = String(numbers[i]);
     As you can see, it never replaces the original images that populate the grid. I tried using the _s.removeChild(image) function but that didn't work, nor would copying/pasting some of the code from snippet #1 directly into this function as it would cause another instance of the images to be placed over top of the existing ones rather than actually swapping them out. Any continued help here is greatly appreciated!
     PS Is there a quicker method for posting code into these forums without having to type it all out by hand again (i.e. copy/paste or drag/drop from my .fla or Notepad file directly into this thread)?

What algorithm does Excel 2010 use for Pseudo Random Number Generation (MT19937?)

Does Excel 2010+ use the Mersenne Twister (MT19937) algorithm for Pseudo Random Number Generation (PRNG), implemented by the RAND() function?
This has been a nagging question for some time now, with "hints" that it indeed does. However, a relatively thorough search turns up no definitive documentation. The most direct indication is perhaps given by Guy Melard [Ref 9] where
he tests Excel 2010's RAND() function using the Crush battery of tests in TestU01 by L'Ecuyer & Simard. Melard references a "semi-official" indication that Microsoft did indeed implement MT19937 for the RAND() function in
Excel 2010, but this reference no longer seems to be available. http://office.microsoft.com/enus/excel-help/about-solver-HP005198368.aspx?pid=CH010004571033.
The other references below [Ref 1-10] document the history of the statistical suitability of the PRNG and probability distributions in various versions of Excel. This includes the Wichmann-Hill PRNG implementations supposedly (arguably) used in
Excel 2003 & 2007 for random number generation. But still, we have no answer as to which PRNG algorithm is used in
Excel 2010 (and 2013 for that matter).
Microsoft indicates that RAND() has been improved in Excel 2010; Microsoft states, "...and the RAND function now uses a new random number algorithm." (see https://support.office.com/en-ca/article/Whats-New-Changes-made-to-Excel-functions-355d08c8-8358-4ecb-b6eb-e2e443e98aac).
But no details are given on the actual algorithm. This is critical for Monte Carlo methods and many other applications.
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
[Ref 1] B. McCullough, B. Wilson. On the Accuracy of Statistical Procedures in Microsoft Excel 97.
Computational Statistics & Data Analysis. Vol. 31 No. 1, pp 27-37. July 1999.
http://users.df.uba.ar/cobelli/LaboratoriosBasicos/excel97.pdf
[Ref 2]L. Knüsel. On the accuracy of the statistical distributions in Microsoft Excel 97. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis. Vol. 26 No. 3, pp 375-377. January 1998.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167947397817562
[Ref 3]B. McCullough, B. Wilson. On the Accuracy of Statistical Procedures in Microsoft Excel 2000 and Excel XP.
Computational Statistics & Data Analysis. Vol.40 No. 4, pp 713-721. October 2002.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222672996_On_the_accuracy_of_statistical_procedures_in_Microsoft_Excel_2000_and_Excel_XP/links/00b4951c314aac4702000000.pdf
[Ref 4] B. McCullough, B. Wilson. On the Accuracy of Statistical Procedures in Microsoft Excel 2003.
Computational Statistics & Data Analysis. Vol.49. No. 4, pp 1244-1252. June 2005.
http://www.pucrs.br/famat/viali/tic_literatura/artigos/planilhas/msexcel.pdf
[Ref 5] L. Knüsel. On the accuracy of statistical distributions in Microsoft Excel 2003. Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Vol. 48, No. 3, pp 445-449. March 2005.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167947304000337
[Ref 6]B. McCullough, D.Heiser. On the Accuracy of Statistical Procedures in Microsoft Excel 2007.
Computational Statistics & Data Analysis. Vol.52. No. 10, pp 4570-4578. June 2008.
http://users.df.uba.ar/mricci/F1ByG2013/excel2007.pdf
[Ref 7] A. Yalta. The Accuracy of Statistical Distributions in Microsoft<sup>®</sup> Excel 2007. Computational Statistics & Data Anlaysis. Vol. 52 No. 10, pp 4579 – 4586. June 2008.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167947308001618
[Ref 8] B. McCullough. Microsoft Excel’s ‘Not The Wichmann-Hill’ Random Number Generators. Computational Statistics and Data Analysis. Vol.52. No. 10, pp 4587-4593. June 2008.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016794730800162X
[Ref 9] G. Melard. On the Accuracy of Statistical Procedures in Microsoft Excel 2010. Computational Statistics. Vol.29 No. 5, pp 1095-1128. October 2014.
http://homepages.ulb.ac.be/~gmelard/rech/gmelard_csda23.pdf
[Ref 10] L. Knüsel. On the Accuracy of Statistical Distributions in Microsoft Excel 2010. Department of Statistics - University of Munich, Germany.
http://www.csdassn.org/software_reports/excel2011.pdf

I found the same KB article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/828795
This was introduced (according to the article) in Excel 2003. Perhaps the references in notes 2 and 3 might help.
The article describes combining the results of 3 generators, each similar to a Multiply With Carry (MWC) generator, but with zero carry. MWC generators do very well on the Diehard battery of randomness tests (mentioned in your references), and have
very long periods. But using zero carry makes no sense to me.
Combining the three generators only helps if the periods of the 3 are relatively prime (despite what the article implies). Then the period of the result will be the product of the 3 periods. But without knowing the theory behind these generators, I have
no idea what the periods would be. The formulas for MWC generators fail here.
Richard Mueller - MVP Directory Services

How to get a random number in a range?

as title
how to get a random number in a range?
like 2000~3000 thks :)

int between 10 and 20 with the method Math.random():
public class Rnd
     // Test
     public static void main(String[] args)
         int start=10, end = 30;
         for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
            int n = (int)(start + Math.random() * (end-start));
            System.out.println(n);
}best regards.

Creation of random number through system fields

Hi ,
I like to create a random number generation program.(apart form system time) .
I have noticed that system response time differs (minimal variation in terms of milliseconds) every time
when we execute a program .
In that case could i know how to get the system response time and interpretation time from system fields in program !
Note : I like to know the table in which these values can be retrieved (like TRDIR for other system fields)

use these function modules.
QF05_RANDOM
RANDOM_AMOUNT.

[JS CS3] Check the pattern of a random number given a specific data ?

Hi all,
I succeed getting a random number of this look : d.dd (8.73 for ex)
I use Math.random()*(max-min)+min;
I want to check that this number respect a specific given increment.
To be clear :
If I set min to 0 and max to 10 for example.
The script returns a number like 8.56
Now, I have a increment like 0.2
I want the script to give me a number that can be d,d.2,d.4,d.6,d.8
BUT NOT d.78 or d.1
I guess I may use a while command but have no idea of the checking operation.
Any idea ?
Thanks in advance.
Loic

Math to the rescue. You want a random integer div 5.
Math.floor(5*(Math.random()*(max-min)+min))/5 should do it.

How to generate a random number within a specified tolerance and control that tolerance.

I am trying to simulate data without using a DAQ device by using a random number generator and I want to be able to control the "range" of the random number generated though. On the front pannel, the user would be able to input a nominal number, and the random number generator would generate numbers within plus or minus .003 of that nominal number. The data would then be plotted on a graph. Anyone know how to do this? Or if it's even possible?
Just for information sake, the random number is supposed to look like thickness measurements, that's why I want to simulate plus and minus .003 because the data could be thinner or thicker than the nominal.
Thanks in advance!!
Solved!
Go to Solution.

You can create a random number with a gaussian probability profile using two equal distributed (0...1) random numbers and applying the Box Muller transform.
I wrote one many years ago, her it is. (LabVIEW 8.0).
Message Edited by altenbach on 04-12-2010 09:13 PM
LabVIEW Champion . Do more with less code and in less time .
Attachments:
BoxMuller.vi ‏10 KB

Is there any way to generate random number in CPO

Requirement : -
> I want to generate a random number from set of 1-9 numbers .is there any way in cpo ?
Thanks
Siva

I created a process that uses 3 steps, all of which happen inside the engine rather than having to span out to a script, so it runs a lot faster.
Technically, it's pseudo-random...
Predefine Output Variable "Random Number" as type "Numeric"
Step 1: Format Date
Format string: fffffff
(that's seven lower-case letters "f")
Original date: [Process.Start Time]
Step 2: Format Date
Format string: ff\0\0\0\0\0
Original date: [Process Start Time]
Step 3: Set Variable
Variable to update: [Process.Variables.Output.Random Number]
New value: ([Workflow.Format Date.Formatted Date]-[Workflow.Format Date (2).Formatted Date])/100000
This returns a basically random number between 0 and 1 (so you can mulitply it by your maximum value) based on the numeric fraction of a second of the start time of the process.

Problem with random number generation

hey forum, i wonder if anyone can help me out with a small problem with my university coursework (yep its homework!!!)
heres my problem, i am writing one of them 8 puzzle problems (the one based around sam lloyds 15 puzzler), i can successfully generate one random sequence of numbers with no duplicates, but whenever i call the random method again it keeps producing the same results
heres the code
in my main class file
if(e.getSource() == randomButton) {
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import java.util.Random;
import java.io.*;
public class RandomPuzzle
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        if (i < 0)
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    public int rand( int hi){
        int n = hi;
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    boolean valueExists( byte value ) {
        int i = b.length;
        boolean exists = false;
        for( int j = 0; j < i; j++ ){
            if( b[j] == value )
                exists = true;
        return exists;
    /** returns the actual string */
    public String randomString(int lo, int hi) {
        int n = rand( 9 );
        //boolean valueEntered = false;
        for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
            boolean valueEntered = false;
            byte temp = (byte)rand('0', '8');
            while( valueEntered == false ) {
                if( !valueExists( temp ) ) {
                     b[i] = temp;
                     valueEntered = true;
                else
                    temp = (byte)rand('0', '8');
        return new String(b, 0);
    /** calls above function */
    public String randomString() {
        return randomString(0, 8);
}i've tried for hours to work this out, but i am stumped. if anyone can point me in the right direction, maybe point out the problem code and give one or two tips i would be forever in your debt
thanx in advance
korbitz

thanx for the help paulcw, but when i removed the seed code it done the same
but i added this to my main class and now it works fine
if(e.getSource() == randomButton) {
               RandomPuzzle temp = new RandomPuzzle();
               System.out.println(temp.randState);
               //startStateString = new RandomPuzzle();
          }thanx again for your help

How to use a random number equal another number. (with my source code)

hi, i'm having trouble with this assignment.
3. Determine how many times a die must be rolled in order to
win a prize. (This represents one trial.) Print this value to a
text file.
4. Conduct at least 1,000 trials.
5. Read the data back in from all of the trials.
6. Calculate the average number of times a die must be rolled in order to win a prize.
7. Print the result to the screen
This is what I have so far.
But I get a "int cannot be dereferenced" error
* Write a description of class BottleCapPrize here.
* @author (your name)
* @version (a version number or a date)
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.PrintWriter;
import java.util.Scanner;
import java.util.Random;
import java.io.File;
public class BottleCapPrize
public static void main (String [ ] args) throws IOException
PrintWriter outFile = new PrintWriter(new File("bah.txt"));
Random randomGenerator = new Random();
int random = randomGenerator.nextInt(5);
int count = 0;
for (int loop = 1; loop <= 1000; loop++)
if(random.equals("3"))
outFile.println("Congratulations, both pairs matched.");
count++;
outFile.close ( );
}

And the random generator can only choose a 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5. This is then randomly chosen 1000 times like 400 2s and 200 5s for example.I think you have still to appreciate that the task is not to roll a dice 1000 times and see how many of each number you get.
Tackle it one step at a time:
3. A - Determine how many times a die must be rolled in order to win a prize. (This represents one trial.)
B - Print this value to a text file.
Even the first part of the problem can be broken down into two parts. I strongly suggest to get step 3A working correctly before you move any further. Notice that this step does not involve 1000 rolls of the dice. Rather it asks you to roll the dice as many times as needed until you get a three. Start there: write a method that does no more than report the number of times it had to roll the dice in order to get a three.
import java.util.Random;
public class BottleCapPrize
    public static void main (String [ ] args) throws IOException
        Random randomGenerator = new Random();
        int count = 0;
         * Your code here.
         * At the end of it count should be equal to the number of
         * dice rolls it took to get a three.
        System.out.println("It took " + count + "dice rolls to get a three");
}Once you have this method working correctly - that is you run it lots of times and it agrees with what you find experimentally with an actual dice - then you can move on to saving this result to a file (step 3B). The steps of the assignment provide a framework that makes sense - follow them one at a time.
but only thing is that the random number is all a certain number.That's a fairly major defect in a randomly generated number ;). Read the API documentation for the [nextInt(n)|http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/util/Random.html#nextInt(int)] method. It should be clear that this is the method that randomly generates a number. So if you want lots of randomly generated numbers (rather than one randomly generated number lots of times) then you have to call this method lots of times. A call to nextInt(n) is the programming equivalent to rolling a dice.

Action conditional on random number

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