Randomly generate an element from an array VB

Question

I am trying to create a program to randomly generate a name from a cake rota array. I cannot seem to get it to work. Currently, the message box shows a random number rather than the name stored in the array. Help please!

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim strNames(18) As String
        Dim frances, emma, piotr, jake, jess, jonah, john, flynn, will, nick As String

        strNames(0) = "frances"
        strNames(1) = "emma"
        strNames(2) = "piotr"
        strNames(3) = "jake"
        strNames(4) = "jess"
        strNames(5) = "jonah"
        strNames(6) = "john"
        strNames(7) = "flynn"
        strNames(8) = "will"
        strNames(9) = "nick"


        Dim rnum As Integer
        Dim temp As String
        For i = 0 To 18
            strNames(i) = i
        Next i

        Randomize()
        For i = 0 To 9
            rnum = Int(Rnd() * (UBound(strNames) - LBound(strNames) + 1) + LBound(strNames))
            temp = strNames(i)
            strNames(i) = strNames(rnum)
            strNames(rnum) = temp
        Next i


        For i = 0 To 9
            MessageBox.Show(strNames(i))
        Next i

    End Sub

You don't appear to be picking a random name from an array, you appear to be shuffling the array, in a weird and probably wrong way (the key difference is that rnum has to depend on i). Please see how to shuffle array in VB? or Shuffling an array of strings in vb.net. — GSerg
– GSerg, Commented Sep 21, 2016 at 15:56

Malcor · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-21 15:46:47Z

2

The line

    For i = 0 To 18
        strNames(i) = i
    Next i

is setting the values of strNames to a number.

Taken out and it appears to work

    Dim strNames(18) As String
    Dim frances, emma, piotr, jake, jess, jonah, john, flynn, will, nick As String
    frances = "frances"
    emma = "emma"
    piotr = "piotr"
    jake = "jake"
    jess = "jess"
    jonah = "jonah"
    john = "john"
    flynn = "flynn"
    will = "will"
    nick = "nick"
    strNames(0) = frances
    strNames(1) = emma
    strNames(2) = piotr
    strNames(3) = jake
    strNames(4) = jess
    strNames(5) = jonah
    strNames(6) = john
    strNames(7) = flynn
    strNames(8) = will
    strNames(9) = nick


    Dim rnum As Integer
    Dim temp As String


    Randomize()
    For i = 0 To 9
        rnum = Int(Rnd() * (UBound(strNames) - LBound(strNames) + 1) + LBound(strNames))
        temp = strNames(i)
        strNames(i) = strNames(rnum)
        strNames(rnum) = temp
    Next i


    For i = 0 To 9
        MessageBox.Show(strNames(i))
    Next i

answered Sep 21, 2016 at 15:46

Malcor

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1 Comment

fox Over a year ago

Thank you very much

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