random is not so random in my timer

John Kid

Delphi Developer

Sun, 11 Apr 2004 01:08:56 GMT

random is not so random in my timer

procedure TForm1.Timer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
var i,j : integer;
begin
if counter > ax then
begin
...
counter := 1;
empty b[];
and other stuff;
...
end
else
begin
randomize;
b[counter] := random(numberColors);
drawChip(image2,counter,1,b[counter]);
inc(counter);
end;
end;

It starts out fine, but after a short while the randomness disappears and
the numbers come out in sequence (1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3).
I first put randomize in the form create, but the same thing happened.

What is going on?

Bruce Robert

Delphi Developer

Sun, 11 Apr 2004 05:09:43 GMT

Re:random is not so random in my timer

Randomize should only be called once in the program. Remove the call from
your timer.

Ryan Style

Delphi Developer

Sun, 11 Apr 2004 20:03:36 GMT

Re:random is not so random in my timer

You need to call Randomize only once in your app instance. Call it from
FormCreate() or FormActivate() for better results.

Ryan

Quote

>procedure TForm1.Timer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
>var i,j : integer;
>begin
>if counter > ax then
> begin
> ...
> counter := 1;
> empty b[];
> and other stuff;
> ...
> end
>else
> begin
> randomize;
> b[counter] := random(numberColors);
> drawChip(image2,counter,1,b[counter]);
> inc(counter);
> end;
>end;

>It starts out fine, but after a short while the randomness disappears and
>the numbers come out in sequence (1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3).
>I first put randomize in the form create, but the same thing happened.

>What is going on?

Other Threads

1. Random where no random should be!

2. Random isn't random?

3. How random is the random number generator?

4. I am looking for a RANDOM function...

5. when autoincrement fail (RANDOM -> NOT IS OPCIONAL)

6. rand() is NOT random

7. random numbers

8. random seeds

9. help on RANDOM and converting int's to strings

10. Accessing Random File in Pascal