Thread: Using random number function to change element of an array..

  1. #1
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    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    3

    Using random number function to change element of an array..

    Code:
    #include <stdio.h>
    #include <stdlib.h>
    #include <time.h>
    
    
    int main()
    {
    
    
        char board[10]="....X....";
        int match[10];
        int testMoveNumber(); /* generates random number between 1 and 9 */
    
    /* the section below numbers the match array keys to match the board arrays dots- the other moves will stay at zero so the computer can't select them */
    
    
        if (board[0]='.')
            match[1]=1;
        else if (board[1]='.')
            match[2]=2;
        else if (board[2]='.')
            match[3]=3;
        else if (board[3]='.')
            match[4]=4;
        else if (board[4]='.')
            match[5]=5;
        else if (board[5]='.')
            match[6]=6;
        else if (board[6]='.')
            match[7]=7;
        else if (board[7]='.')
            match[8]=8;
        else if (board[8]='.')
            match[9]=9;
    
    
    /* section below matches the random number with an empty board spot and hopefully loops through with another number until it can write to the board again and break the loop */
    
    
        int r=0;
        while(r!=1) {    
    
    
        int a=testMoveNumber();
    
    
        if (match[1]==a)
            {board[0]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[2]==a)
            {board[1]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[3]==a)
            {board[2]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[4]==a)
            {board[3]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[5]==a)
            {board[4]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[6]==a)
            {board[5]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[7]==a)
            {board[6]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[8]==a)
            {board[7]='0'; r++;}
        else if (match[9]==a)
            {board[8]='0'; r++;}
        else
            testMoveNumber();
        }
    
    /* just printing to test the resultant random move by the computer */
    
    
        printf("%c%c%c%c%c%c%c%c%c", board[0], board[1], board[2], board[3], board[4], board[5], board[6], board[7], board[8]);
    
    
    
    
    return 0;
    }
    
    
    int testMoveNumber()
    
    
        {
            const int lowestRandom = 1;
            const int highestRandom = 9;
        
            int randomNumber=-1;
            
            time_t seconds;
        
            time(&seconds);
        
            srand((unsigned int) seconds);
        
            randomNumber = rand() % (highestRandom - lowestRandom + 1) + lowestRandom;
            
            return randomNumber;
        }

    Hi everyone- I'm new to programming and am writing my first program. I am using what I have learnt so far to create a noughts and crosses game but I've got a bit stuck. I am having trouble writing the computers random move to the board array. Basically I'm trying to create a random number between 1 and 9- loop through the unselected board spaces that are numbered in the 'match' array, then writing the matching move back to the board array. I think it is because I am not understanding the regeneration of the random number to select an available space. I still don't know how to use pointers yet and it would be awesome at some point to have the program encapsulated in a few simple functions passing the array back and forth- but for now I'm building it this way I hope my description wasn't too confusing! many thanks, Joe

  2. #2
    Registered User TheBigH's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    426
    A few things:
    *the sections between lines 17 and 34, and between 47 and 64, could and should be done with a loop. Have you covered loops yet?
    *In line 66 you call testMoveNumber but you don't do anything with the result.
    *Use = to set things to be equal to other things. Use == to check for equality.
    Code:
    while(!asleep) {
       sheep++;
    }

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    3
    Hi I called testMoveNumber again to try to generate a new random number for if the loop needs it? Is that wrong?

  4. #4
    Registered User
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    Mar 2012
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    ^the second section is already in a while loop

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