Randomized arrays

[Freshwreckage]

Hey all...

I am working with another partner who has taken a sudden sabbatical and left me with a task that is a might bit beyond me, but certainly not something that I am afraid to tackle... I have an app that uses 4 arrays. The interface is basically 4 picker wheels that one can use to select from a plethora of choices to form a 4 part answer.

But, I need to randomize these not unlike what urban spoon does short of the graphical aspect.

I just need to implement a button that will reach into the arrays and give me a random selection from each array.

Here is my code as it sits now...

import "DoubleComponentPickerViewController.h"

@implementation DoubleComponentPickerViewController

@synthesize doublePicker;
@synthesize firstTypes;
@synthesize middleTypes;
@synthesize lastTypes;

-(IBAction)buttonPressed
{
	NSInteger firstRow = [doublePicker selectedRowInComponent:kfirstComponent];
	NSInteger middleRow = [doublePicker selectedRowInComponent:kmiddleComponent];
	NSInteger lastRow = [doublePicker selectedRowInComponent:klastComponent];
	NSString *first = [firstTypes objectAtIndex:firstRow];
	NSString *middle = [middleTypes objectAtIndex:middleRow];
	NSString *last = [lastTypes objectAtIndex:lastRow];
	NSString *message = [[NSString alloc] initWithFormat:@"%@ %@ %@ test.",first, middle, last];
	UIAlertView *alert = [[ UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:@"Description:"
													 message:message
													delegate:nil
										   cancelButtonTitle:@"Cancel"
										   otherButtonTitles:nil];
	[alert show];
	[alert release];
	[message release];
}


- (void)viewDidLoad 
{
	NSArray *firstArray = [[NSArray alloc] initWithObjects:
			@"a",@"b",@"c",@"d",nil];
		self.firstTypes = firstArray;
		[firstArray release];
	
		NSArray *middleArray = [[NSArray alloc] initWithObjects:
			@"A",@"B",@"C",@"D",nil];
		self.middleTypes = middleArray;
		[middleArray release];
		
		NSArray *lastArray = [[NSArray alloc] initWithObjects:
			@"1",@"2",@"3",@"4",nil];
		self.lastTypes = lastArray;
		[lastArray release];
	
	
	[super viewDidLoad];
}

-(NSInteger)numberOfComponentsInPickerView:(UIPickerView *)pickerView
{
	return 3;
}


/* Ugly attempt at sizing font */
/*

- (UIView *)pickerView:(UIPickerView *)pickerView viewForRow:(NSInteger)row forComponent:(NSInteger)component reusingView:(UIView *)view 
{
	UILabel *pickerLabel = (UILabel *)view;
	// Reuse the label if possible, otherwise create and configure a new one
	if ((pickerLabel == nil) || ([pickerLabel class] != [UILabel class])) 
	{  //newlabel
		CGRect frame = CGRectMake(0.0, 0.0, 270, 32.0);
		pickerLabel = [[[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:frame] autorelease];
		pickerLabel.textAlignment = UITextAlignmentLeft;
		pickerLabel.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor];
		pickerLabel.font = [UIFont fontWithName:@"AmericanTypewriter" size:8];
	}			
	pickerLabel.textColor = [UIColor blackColor];
	return pickerLabel;	
}

*/


-(NSInteger)pickerView:(UIPickerView *)pickerView numberOfRowsInComponent:(NSInteger)component
{
	if (component == 0) 
	{
		return [self.firstTypes count];
	}
	
	if (component == 1) 
	{
		return [self.middleTypes count];
	}
	
	else 
	{
		return [self.lastTypes count];
	}
}

- (UIView *)pickerView:(UIPickerView *)pickerView viewForRow:(NSInteger)row forComponent:(NSInteger)component reusingView:(UIView *)view 
{
	UILabel *pickerLabel = (UILabel *)view;
	// Reuse the label if possible, otherwise create and configure a new one
	if ((pickerLabel == nil) || ([pickerLabel class] != [UILabel class])) 
	{  //newlabel
		CGRect frame = CGRectMake(0.0, 0.0, 270, 32.0);
		pickerLabel = [[[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:frame] autorelease];
		pickerLabel.textAlignment = UITextAlignmentLeft;
		pickerLabel.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor];
		pickerLabel.font = [UIFont fontWithName:@"AmericanTypewriter" size:8];
	}			
	pickerLabel.textColor = [UIColor blackColor];
	NSString*  text = nil;
	
	if (component == 0) 
	{
		text =  [self.firstTypes objectAtIndex:row];
	}
	else
		if (component == 1) 
		{
			text =  [self.middleTypes objectAtIndex:row];
		}
		else 
		{
			text =   [self.lastTypes objectAtIndex:row];
		}
	
	pickerLabel.text = text;
	
	return pickerLabel;	
}

/*
-(NSString *)pickerView:(UIPickerView *)pickerView
			titleForRow:(NSInteger)row forComponent:(NSInteger)component 
{
	if (component == 0) 
	{
		return [self.firstTypes objectAtIndex:row];
	}
	
	if (component == 1) 
	{
		return [self.middleTypes objectAtIndex:row];
	}
	
	else 
	{
		return [self.lastTypes objectAtIndex:row];
	}
	
	
}
*/

- (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning 
{
	[super didReceiveMemoryWarning];
}

- (void)viewDidUnload 
{
}


- (void)dealloc 
{
    [super dealloc];
}

@end

It works fine manually, but I want a randomize function and I am not sure where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Glnn]

You could generate a random number between 0 and the numbers of objects in your array.
And use those numbers to addObjectAtIndex in a new array.

Good idea?

[Freshwreckage]

Originally Posted by Glnn

You could generate a random number between 0 and the numbers of objects in your array.
And use those numbers to addObjectAtIndex in a new array.

Good idea?

Sounds good... Just unsure of the implementation. Like I said... Main guy has gone on an instant sabbatical. Unsure of when he will return.