Random Programming for raffle stubs

[Balarao]

Hello Everybody,

I am still making my random program but this time my ticket stubs is also at random. i.e. I have a ticket numbered:

4000 - 4032
4075 - 4078
4135 - 4205
4313 - 4333
and so on...

Can I make a clipper program to handle random selection of winners using only tickets numbers like the once enumerated above?

Should I maintain a database of these numbers? If so, how could I make the random program pick the winning number?

I made a routine using DO WHILE loop to skip each record in the database, the problem is there's no wait state in my loop so I can't get it to pick a winning number. Is there a command that can interrupt a loop NOT in it's wait state?

Thank you so much for your help.

God bless,
Balarao

 

[acerrudo]

Put this in the loop, the loop will exit when you hit the ENTER key.


IF INKEY()=13
WINNING_NO = TICKET_NO
EXIT
ENDIF

 

[betoncu]

Balarao,
Try the routine described below.
You will need CA Tools III for the random() function
I hope this helps.

Good Luck.
Birol Betoncu.


private ticary:={}
aadd(ticary,{4000,4032})
aadd(ticary,{4075,4078})
aadd(ticary,{4135,4205})
aadd(ticary,{4313,4333})

x=0
do while x<>27 && exit when esc key pressed
n=len(ticary)
k=(random() % n) + 1 && gives a number 1..n
j=ticary[k,2]-ticary[k,1]+1
m=(random() % j) && gives a number 0..j-1
tic_num=m+ticary[k,1]
? trans(tic_num,'9999')
x=inkey(0)
enddo

 

[Balarao]

Dear Acerrudo,

This won't work as there is no wait state inside the loop to read the INKEY() Command.

Dear Betoncu,

Yes, it will work but I don't have CA Tools III.

What I did was to use the snippet below sent to me by one of our generous colleague:

STATIC FUNCTION Randomize( nMax )
* Generates random number

LOCAL nSeed, m := 100000000, b := 31415621

nSeed := IIF( nSeed == NIL, seconds(), nSeed ) // init_seed()

RETURN( nMax * ( ( nSeed := mod( nSeed*b+1, m ) ) / m ) )

I first generate a random number and use it's result as a record skipping counter in my DO WHILE loop.

Thank you, Acerrudo, Betoncu, for your time and generosity in extending a helping hand...

God Bless,

Balarao