Thread: assigning random value to a variable

  1. #1
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    Jul 2007
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    assigning random value to a variable

    I got this code from the FAQ section... I've edited the values because I only need values from 1-6.


    Code:
    #include <stdio.h> 
    #include <stdlib.h> 
    
    int GetRand(int min, int max);
    
    int main(void)
    {
      int i, r;
      
      for (i = 0; i < 1; i++)
      {
        r = GetRand(1, 6);
        printf ("Your number is &#37;d\n", r);
      }
      
      return(0);
    }
    
    int GetRand(int min, int max)
    {
      static int Init = 0;
      int rc;
      
      if (Init == 0)
      {
        srand(time(NULL));
        Init = 1;
      }
    
      rc = (rand() % (max - min + 1) + min);
      
      return (rc);
    }
    I don't understand how most of it works, especially the rand() and srand() functions, and the GetRand function. help?

  2. #2
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

  3. #3
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    oooh... i get it now...! i'm just not sure if i can change the Init variable

  4. #4
    Hurry Slowly vart's Avatar
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    Init is declared static - so it saves its value between calls.
    It is used to call srand only once per program run
    All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection,
    except for the problem of too many layers of indirection.
    – David J. Wheeler

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