Non-Repeating Random Numbers with Arrays - Tutorial

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Skillful
Skillful Coders
Skillful Coders
Posts: 969
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 10:07 am

Hello guys.
Here is my new tutorial.
Hope you like it! :D

Intro
Here is a simple tutorial to help pick six non-repeating numbers or any non-repeating elements you want to use. i.e. the Alphabet.

1. As always we start with the Dim statements
Code: Select all
Dim intNumber As Integer
Dim arrNumber(0 To 5) As Integer 
Dim i, x, y As Integer
There are only two controls needed on the form one is a Button and the other is a Label. In the Buttons Event Procedure is where all the code is placed to pick the random numbers and display the results in the Label. First make sure that the Label is empty.
Code: Select all
Label1.Text = ""
2. Now we need to set up a For / Next Loop to hold six numbers,
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For y = 0 To 5

Next x
So, our For / Next Loop will go around six times, but without some more code it will not be very interesting. What follows next is the code that will do the magic. You will notice that inside our For / Next x Loop we have a nested For / Next y Loop. This is the Loop that checks if the Random number has already been picked.

How? Well, first the random number is checked to see if it exists in our arrNumber(y), remember the tutorials on Arrays? So it looks at the first place in the array which first time the loop is entered is (0) in fact this is what the array looks like to start with.
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arrNumber(0) = 0

arrNumber(1) = 0

etc

arrNumber(5) = 0
After the y Loop has finished and no numbers in the arrNumber have been found it moves on to the last bit of code inside the x For / Next Loop so that we get, assuming our first Random Number was 19 the following arrNumber(0) = 19 once this is done off it goes again First y Loops to see if the second Random Number has been already been picked. Array y now looks like this
Code: Select all
arrNumber(0) = 19

arrNumber(1) = 0

etc

arrNumber(5) = 0
If the second Random Number is 38 then as it Loops through the y Array it will not find 38, so it moves on and places 38 in the x Array (Not Medical!) Off it goes again this time let's say the Random Number is 19 again, as the y Loop is performed it finds 19 in arrNumber (0) position so now it uses GoTo and jumps up to Start: where it picks another Random Number to try, it keeps doing this until all six places in the Array are filled with Non-Repeating Numbers.

See the code below.
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 For x = 0 To 5
Start:      Randomize()
intNumber = Int((49 * Rnd()) + 1
            For y = 0 To 5
                If intNumber = arrNumber(y) Then
Then GoTo
                    Start()
                End If
            Next y
            arrNumber(x) = intNumber
        Next x
The last stage is to place the numbers in to the Label
Code: Select all
For i = 0 To 5

Label1.Text = Label1.Text & (arrNumber(i)) & " , "

Next
The full code is here for you to Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V)
Code: Select all
Public Class Form1 ' Dimension the variables used in the programme  
    Dim intNumber As Integer 
    Dim arrNumber(0 To 5) As Integer  
    Dim i, x, y As Integer
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click 
 
        'Make sure the Label is clear  
        Label1.Text = "" 
        'We want a total of 6 Numbers (UK Lottery)  
        For x = 0 To 5
Start:      Randomize()
            intNumber = Int((49 * Rnd()) + 1) ' Random number 1 to 49
            For y = 0 To 5 ' Check arrNumber (y)
                'If intnumber has already been selected,
                'Then go and select another one.
                If intNumber = arrNumber(y) Then
 
Then GoTo Start  
                End If 
            Next y 
            'Place the next non-repeated number in the arrNumber(x).  
            arrNumber(x) = intNumber 
        Next x
 
        '----------------------------------------------------  
        For i = 0 To 5 
            Label1.Text = Label1.Text & (arrNumber(i)) & " , " 
        Next 
    End Sub 
End Class
And you are done!! :D
Hope you liked my tutorial!
If you like my tutorials then please give me +rep! :)

Credits : VBDotNetHeaven
Instead of LOL use this -
LSIBMHBIWFETALOL

Which means -
Laughing silently in between my head because it wasn't funny enough to actually laugh out loud!
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Scottie1972
Codenstuff Elite
Codenstuff Elite
Posts: 953
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 5:48 am

Original Thread: ( http://www.vbdotnetheaven.com/UploadFil ... omize.aspx )
Thread Created By: Graham August 02, 2006
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