random result

david s · August 29, 2002

Hello, this is my question:

i have one db with different record of two tipes: field1 can be A or B.

I need to perform a find that:

- display only the records with filed1 = A

- from the records with field1 = A it gets one in random mode

This is what i've tried and what i've discovered:

1. Findany doesn't perform a preliminary search but publish a random record (i have put a correct search link but findany find a random record despite of fields search)

2. I've set up a script named "random" wich make the db goes to the next record at every search in order to rotate the publishing with Find. Tried also with FindAll. But the web page publish only the first record even if the db goes to the next.

Any suggestion?

Thanks

Keith M. Davie · August 29, 2002

First off you have not said whether you are trying to achieve your publishing goals with Instant or Custom Web Publishing (but I get the feeling it is IWP).

Second, if you are using CWP, you really need to have the cdml reference database, available free from FMI.

Third, there are issues with running ScriptMaker in a browser solution. You can search these forums for such discussions. You can also visit my site for cautions about using ScriptMaker.

david s · August 30, 2002

You're right i didn't say i 'm publishing with Custom Web publishing.

I'll take a look to your site.

I don't need to run scriptmaker, it was only a test to find a solution.

Any idea?

The Bridge · August 30, 2002

Look at the -Skip tag to force FileMaker to return a record other than the very first one. If you can somehow populate this with a random number (using Javascript, I guess), you could get FileMaker to return a random record in which Field1 = A. Your link would look something like this:

FMPro?-DB=database.fp5&-Lay=layout&-Format=format.html&-Error=error.html&-Max=1&-Skip={random number here}&Field1=A&-Find

The danger here, of course, is that the random number generated could be more than the actual number of records in the database, so watch out for that.

Hope this helps.

david s · August 30, 2002

Great, i new there was a cdml that could help me but i couldn't remeber what... it was skip! !!! !!

Thanks a lot.

These are the news:

- Everything goes great with skip (if skip is major than the number of records i think it publish the last one)

And now....any suggestions? I'll try something i have in mind if you get an idea please write it.

Thanks

david s · September 2, 2002

Hello, i've tried but no solution for now.

How could i generate a random number with javascript or other method?

Thanks

The Bridge · September 2, 2002

This is untested and off the top of my head:

<body>

var i = Math.round(Math.random() * 100)

document.write("<a href="FMPro?-DB=database.fp5&-Lay=layout&-Format=format.html&-Error=error.html&-Max=1&-Skip=" + i + "&Field1=A&-Find">Click Here to Go to Random Record<//a>")

</script>

</body>

david s · September 2, 2002

thanks peter i'll try and then write back as reply.

david s · September 6, 2002

It works. Thanks again

One more question:

this is what i have set up:

the index page of my site is composed by two frame

the frame 2 (the main one where people navigate) perform the redirect to the search of fmp automatically...i need to put that javascript to that frame in order to perform the random search.

Is it possible without going to another page again (where i put the redirect again) or i need to redirect two times the visitors?

Thanks

The Bridge · September 11, 2002

Hi David,

Sorry for the late reply -- I'm glad my script worked for you.

To get your frameset to automatically load a random page into one of your frames, try this:

<html>

<head>

function GetRandomRecord() {

var i = Math.round(Math.random() * 100)

return "http://FMPro?-DB=database.fp5&-Lay=layout&-Format=format.html&-Error=error.html&-Max=1&-Skip=" + i + "&Field1=A&-Find"

}

</script>

</head>

</frameset>

</html>

I haven't tested this, so let me know how it works out.

david s · September 13, 2002

Hello, thanks for your time, but i doesn't work.

The only thing i see is the name of the function in the frame. It seems to me it doesn't run the javascript.

The Bridge · September 13, 2002

Hmm. You might want to replace the first <script> tag with <script language="JavaScript">

Failing that, here's a slightly different approach:

<html>

<head>

function GetRandomRecord() {

var i = Math.round(Math.random() * 100)

parent.MainFrame.location ="http://FMPro?-DB=database.fp5&-Lay=layout&-Format=format.html&-Error=error.html&-Max=1&-Skip=" + i + "&Field1=A&-Find"

}

</script>

</head>

</frameset>

</html>

Where blank.html is an empty HTML page. Again, I haven't tested this, and this is pushing the limits of my JavaScript ability; if someone else here sees any obvious problems (or better, solutions), feel free to jump in at any time!

Garry Claridge · September 13, 2002

You could try this for testing:

<script language="JavaScript">

function GetRandomRecord() {

var i = Math.round(Math.random() * 100) ;

alert ("The number is " + i) ;

parent.MainFrame.location ="http://FMPro?-DB=database.fp5&-Lay=layout&-Format=format.html&-Error=error.html&-Max=1&-Skip=" + i + "&Field1=A&-Find" ;

}

</script>

All the best.

Garry

david s · September 14, 2002

Ok these are the news:

I've set up a correct configuration of javascript and it works:

<html>

<head>

function GetRandomRecord() {

var i = Math.round(Math.random() * 100)

parent.main.location= "http://FMPro?-DB=database.fp5&-Lay=layout&-Format=index1.html&-Error=error.html&-Skip=" + i + "&field1=a&-Find"

}

</script>

</head>

</frameset>

</html>

The error was in the-- frame src="javascript:parent.GetRandomRecord()"-- that must be without the '.

THANKS TO ALL for your help.

Note: on a win browser everything is ok. On mac browser (same as win) i'm finding problems whith links to this page (the one of the code above) Sometimes the page, after the click on the link, is blank so when i refresh it's ok... any ideas?

Have a nice week end.

David

The Bridge · September 14, 2002

Excellent! I'm glad to hear that my meagre (but growing) JavaScript skills have helped you out. And thanks again for identifying the problematic syntax. I've made a note of it.

As for the link problem, try implementing it in a non-framed page and look at the address that appears. Is i populated with a value? If i is greater than the number of records, does the link work?

Now that I think about it, the Math.random() function returns a number between 0 and 1... perhaps this will help:

var i = Math.round(Math.random() * 100) + 1

...that is, if the problem lies in -Skip=0.

Hope this helps!

david s · September 16, 2002

hello,

i've inserted the new math function you suggested. But i think the problem isn't there.

This is the eviroment where i find the error:

After going to the main page with the javascript i navigate into the next page, i've set up a link at the bottom to go to the main page. With IE 5.1 for mac os 9 i click the link to go to the main page and it seems to me that the javascript doesn't run. I have a blank page as result. So when i write the domain name again it works.

Very strange.

The link to go to the main page is something like: http://ipadress/index.html where index.html is the page I set up with your script.

This problem doesn't occur on win machines. Could it be a problem with IE 5.1 on mac?

Thanks

david s · September 17, 2002

After a lot of tests i've found out that the error was simply in the type of link.

I needed to put a full link and not a relative path.

Now all is ok.

I want to thank all who helped me in the solution of my problem, and i hope that this post will be of help for future visitors who have the same problem.

Have a nice day to all.

David

The Bridge · September 17, 2002

I'm glad it worked for you, David!

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