So far as you can see below Ive got the program accessing the file and just reading the lines; Ive got the file set up like so...

What is the Answers?
A Do this
B Do that
C Dont do that
D Definitely this
A

So this method is set up that ive got 12 questions in this format stored in the file to display to the user....
BUT the requirements of what I need to do are to display 12 questions randomly each time from a block of say 100 questions which would be stored on the file. Ive a rough idea Id use the Random function in Pascal but am so far baffled.

(Obviously this section is a procedure ive lifted from a much bigger program so the recordtype isnt shown in case anyone was wondering)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Assign(Quizfile, 'S:\quizfile.dat');
       Reset(Quizfile);
       While not EOF (Quizfile) DO
         Begin
              For J:= 1 TO 5 DO
              Begin
                   Readln(Quizfile, line);
                   Writeln(line);
              End;
              Readln(Quizfile, line);
              Writeln('Please enter the letter you think is correct');
              Readln(answer);
              Writeln;
   
      IF UPCASE(answer) = line THEN
              Begin
                 Writeln('Correct');
                 Writeln;
                 UserList.List[i].Money := UserList.List[i].Money + 5;
                 UserList.List[i].Score := UserList.List[i].Score +1;
              End
               ELSE
                   Begin
                    Writeln('Wrong');
                    Writeln;
                    UserList.List[i].Money := UserList.List[i].Money - 5;
                    UserList.List[i].Score := 0+UserList.List[i].Score;
                   End;
         End;
         Close(Quizfile);
       End;
  End;

I might as well post the whole program to assist anyone reading this.... also I forsee a problem with the later procedure where I append the file with user created questions....

Again thanks to anyone who can help me...

Program PubQuiz;
  Uses Crt;
  CONST
    LIM =20;
    Type
        UserRecordType = RECORD
          Firstname, Surname : STRING;
          Money, Score : Integer;
    End;
        UserListType = Record
         List : Array[1..LIM] OF UserRecordType;
         MAX : Integer;
         End;
   
   
   
  Procedure Display_Menu(Var choice : Integer);
  Begin
     Writeln('**********************************');
     Writeln('*       "Pub Quiz Game"          *');
     Writeln('*        A Production            *');
     Writeln('*    by The Usual Suspects       *');
     Writeln('*       Copyright 2007           *');
     Writeln('**********************************');
     Writeln('* 1). New Question               *');
     Writeln('* 2). Play Game                  *');
     Writeln('* 3). Display Results            *');
     Writeln('* 4). Exit Game                  *');
     Writeln('**********************************');
     Writeln;
     Write('Please enter your choice : ');
     Readln(choice);
  End;
   
  Procedure CreateQuiz;
   
  VAR
     Reply        : CHAR;
     Quiz, ans, ansA, ansB, ansC, ansD, line :  string;
     QuizFile :  Text;
     I : Integer;
   
   
   
  BEGIN
       CLRSCR;
       ASSIGN( QuizFile, 'E:quizfile.DAT' );
       APPEND( QuizFile );
       REPEAT
             WRITELN('Please first type Bonus followed by a space then the Quiz question : ');
             READLN(Quiz);
           WRITELN('Please first type A followed by a space then Answer option : ');
             READLN(ansA);
             WRITELN('Please first type B followed by a space then Answer option : ');
             READLN(ansB);
             WRITELN('Please first type C followed by a space then Answer option : ');
             READLN(ansC);
             WRITELN('Please first type D followed by a space then Answer option : ');
             READLN(ansD);
             WRITELN('Please type the letter (in capitals) which contains the correct Answer : ');
             READLN(ans);
             WRITELN(QuizFile, Quiz);
             WRITELN(QuizFile, ansA);
             WRITELN(Quizfile, ansB);
             WRITELN(Quizfile, ansC);
             WRITELN(Quizfile, ansD);
             WRITELN(Quizfile, ans);
             WRITELN('Do you want to enter another question? Y or N');
             READLN(Reply);
       UNTIL      ( (Reply = 'n') OR (Reply = 'N'));
       CLOSE(QuizFile);
  END;
   
   
  Procedure GetUserData(VAR UserList : UserListType);
  Var
      Quizfile : Text;
      Line : String;
      answer,  Ch,Ch2, option : Char;
      Money, Score,  Ch_code, I, J : Integer;
      Firstname, Surname : String[20];
   
  Begin
       clrscr;
       Money := 0;
       Score := 0;
          Writeln('Please enter number of users (numerical response) ');
          Readln(UserList.MAX);
          FOR I := 1 TO UserList.MAX DO
              Begin
              Write('Type in your firstname : ');
              Readln(UserList.List[i].Firstname);
              Write('Type in your surname : ');
              Readln(UserList.List[i].Surname);
                  Ch2 := UserList.List[i].Firstname[1];
              IF (Ch2 >= 'a') AND (Ch2 <= 'z') THEN
                  Ch2 := CHR(ORD(Ch2) - 32);
                  UserList.List[i].Firstname[1] := Ch2;
                  Ch := UserList.List[i].Surname[1];
              IF (Ch >= 'a') AND (Ch <= 'z') THEN
                  Ch := CHR(ORD(Ch) - 32);
                  UserList.List[i].Surname[1] := Ch;
               Writeln;
               Readln;
       Assign(Quizfile, 'E:\quizfile.dat');
       Reset(Quizfile);
       While not EOF (Quizfile) DO
         Begin
              For J:= 1 TO 5 DO
              Begin
                   Readln(Quizfile, line);
                   Writeln(line);
              End;
              Readln(Quizfile, line);
              Writeln('Please enter the letter you think is correct');
              Readln(answer);
              Writeln;
              IF UPCASE(answer) = line THEN
              Begin
                 Writeln('Correct');
                 Writeln;
                 UserList.List[i].Money := UserList.List[i].Money + 5;
                 UserList.List[i].Score := UserList.List[i].Score +1;
              End
               ELSE
                   Begin
                    Writeln('Wrong');
                    Writeln;
                    UserList.List[i].Money := UserList.List[i].Money - 5;
                    UserList.List[i].Score := 0+UserList.List[i].Score;
                   End;
         End;
         Close(Quizfile);
       End;
  End;
   
  Procedure DisplayUserRes(UserList : UserListType);
  Var
     I : Integer;
     ResultFile : Text;
   
        Begin
  ASSIGN(ResultFile, 'E:\User.bin');
  REWRITE(ResultFile);
         For I := 1 to UserList.MAX DO
           Begin
              Writeln('Player Name :: ',UserList.List[i].Firstname,' ',UserList.List[i].Surname);
              Writeln('Money Won is £', UserList.List[i].Money);
              Writeln('Score is (inclusive of Bonus Questions Created) ', UserList.List[i].Score);
              Writeln(ResultFile, UserList.List[i].Firstname,' ',UserList.List[i].Surname);
              Writeln(ResultFile, UserList.List[i].Money);
              Writeln(ResultFile, UserList.List[i].Score);
              Readln;
              clrscr;
           End;
    CLOSE(ResultFile);
  End;
   
   
   
  VAR
     UserList : UserListType;
     Choice : Integer;
  Begin
  Repeat
  Clrscr;
        Display_Menu(choice);
         Case (choice) Of
           1 : CreateQuiz;
           2 : GetUserData(UserList);
           3 : DisplayUserRes(UserList);
        End;
     Until (choice=4);
     readln;
  End.

i haven't read your entire program because i'm in a hurry, but from what i figure it out , you only read from file the question. try to design a record structure for the question and answers. in this way you can read all from file into a array of records, and from there to randomize is not so dificult

best regards,

Thats a great idea, thanks. Really my problem is realising how to use the random function in pascal. I know you declare randomize near the start then use Random but have only seen examples using integers, would I have to link a number to each record or something like that?

Thats a great idea, thanks. Really my problem is realising how to use the random function in pascal. I know you declare randomize near the start then use Random but have only seen examples using integers, would I have to link a number to each record or something like that?

if you have an array, e.g:
ado array[1..100]of yourrecord then ado[1],ado[2] are elements of your array. i think it's obvious from now....

best regards,

Thanks kindly!

So far Ive got this for the random section...hopefully assigning each element of the array within this will work...

program random;
uses crt;
var a,b, i:integer;
begin
clrscr;
randomize;
for i:= 1 to 12 DO
begin
b:=random(100)+1; {this makes "b" a random number from 1 to 100}
writeln(b);
readln;
end;
end.

This what ive got so far with the questions in record form....

PROGRAM Quiz questions
USES CRT,DOS;

TYPE
    QuizType = STRING;
    QuizFileType = FILE OF QuizType;

    QuizDetailsType =
                       RECORD
                             Question  : STRING;
                             OptionA   : STRING;
                             OptionB   : STRING;
                             OptionC   : STRING;
                             OptionD   : STRING;
                             Answer    : STRING;
                       END;
    QuizDetailsTableType =
                            ARRAY [1..6] OF QuizDetailsType;


    QuizDetailsListType =
                           RECORD
                                 Length : INTEGER;
                                 Table  : QuizDetailsTableType;
                           END;

VAR
  QuizFile    : QuizFileType;
   a,b, i, Count,Money, Score, J : INTEGER;
   Question         : QuizType;
   OptionA          : QuizType;
   OptionB          : QuizType;
   OptionC          : QuizType;
   OptionD          : QuizType;
   Answer           : QuizType;
   Quizfile : Text;
   Line : String;
   answer : Char;


BEGIN
     Count := 0;
     ASSIGN( QuizFile, 'E:quizupdate.DAT' );
     RESET( QuizFile );

     WHILE( ( NOT EOF( QuizFile ) ) AND ( Count < 6 ) ) DO
     BEGIN
          Count := Count + 1;
          READ( QuizFile, Question );
          READ( QuizFile, OptionA );
          READ( QuizFile, OptionB );
          READ( QuizFile, OptionC );
          READ( QuizFile, OptionD );
          READ( QuizFile, Answer  );
          Writeln(Question);
          Writeln(OptionA);
          Writeln(OptionB);
          Writeln(OptionC);
          Writeln(OptionD);
          Writeln('Please enter the letter you think is correct');
            Readln(answer);
            IF UPCASE(answer) = line THEN
            Begin
               Writeln('Correct');
               Money := Money + 5;
               Score := Score +1;
            End
             ELSE
                 Begin
                  Writeln('Wrong');
                  Writeln;
                  Money := Money - 5;
                  Score := 0+Score;
                 End;
       Writeln('Money Won is £', money);
       Writeln('Score out of 12 questions is ', score);
       Readln;
       clrscr;
       End;
          BEGIN
               Success := FALSE;
               EXIT;
          END;

          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].Question := Question
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionA := OptionA
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionB := OptionB
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionC := OptionC
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionD := OptionD
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].Answer  := Answer
     END;
BEGIN
               Success := FALSE;
               EXIT;
          END;

          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].Question := Question
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionA := OptionA
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionB := OptionB
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionC := OptionC
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].OptionD := OptionD
          QuizDetailsList.Table[Count].Answer  := Answer

     END;

     IF Count = 6 THEN
     BEGIN
          Success := FALSE;
          EXIT;
     END;
     Success := TRUE;
     QuizDetailsList.Length := Count;
     CLOSE( QuizFile );
END;

And also Ive done the create question program...really just the Random part being inserted Im stuck on...

PROGRAM CreateQuiz;
USES CRT;

TYPE
    QuizType = STRING;
    QuizFileType = FILE OF QuizType;

VAR
   Reply        : CHAR;
   Question         : QuizType;
   OptionA          : QuizType;
   OptionB          : QuizType;
   OptionC          : QuizType;
   OptionD          : QuizType;
   Answer           : QuizType;
   QuizFile : QuizFileType;

BEGIN
     CLRSCR;
     ASSIGN( QuizFile, 'E:quizupdate.DAT' );
     REWRITE( QuizFile );
     REPEAT
           WRITELN( 'Enter question' );
           READLN( Question );
           WRITE( QuizFile, Question );
           WRITELN( 'Enter Option A' );
           READLN( OptionA );
           WRITE( QuizFile, OptionA );
           WRITELN( 'Enter Option B' );
           READLN( OptionB );
           WRITE( QuizFile, OptionB );
           WRITELN( 'Enter Option C' );
           READLN( OptionC );
           WRITE( QuizFile, OptionC );
           WRITELN( 'Enter Option D' );
           READLN( OptionD );
           WRITE( QuizFile, OptionD );
           WRITELN( 'Enter Answer' );
           READLN( Answer );
           WRITE( QuizFile, Answer );
    WRITELN( 'Do you want to enter another question?' );
           READLN( Reply );
     UNTIL( (Reply = 'n') OR (Reply = 'N') ;
     CLOSE( QuizFile );
END.

Arghhhhhhhh Im really stuck with this damn Random function...

Ive a rough idea that I would use the concept below...

program random;
uses crt;
var a,b, i:integer;
begin
clrscr;
randomize;
for i:= 1 to 12 DO
begin
b:=random(100)+1; {this makes "b" a random number from 1 to 100}
writeln(b);
readln;
end;
end.

........and link the b to the counter for my array of the quiz questions, so that a random quiz question is displayed 12 times.

Seriously if anyone can give me that final push for this I would be eternally grateful. As you can see Ive done a lot of work.

Its for a project and even tho my original program does what is asked I just thought Id be clever with the Random thing but have zero experience with it so what may be obvious to someone isnt to me.

Cheers anyway.

from i what i saw in your code you read from the file with questions and print the question on screen. now, why you don't read the entire file, built that array of records, apply the randomize and then put a question from that array?

e.g: ado is that array of records.

randomize;
cycle
put_question: ado[random(i)+a_value]
end_of_cycle

i hope you understand the principle.

best regards,

commented: very helpful and knowledgeable! +1

Yes I fully understand now, thanks for your help mate!

I'll go away and try this.
edit
Im pretty sure Cycle is a mac extension but Continue does exactly the same and the main reason was to understand your point for which Im grateful.

ok, i'm sorry for my mistake, i only tried to explain it in a pseudocode manner.

so,

e.g: ado is that array of records.

randomize;
cycle//this can be a while, repeat,ect. you must think until when this cycle is going.
put_question: ado[random(i)+a_value]
end_of_cycle

hope that now is more obvious

best regards,

Yep thats great, I totally get it and I thank you again for your help!

Yep thats great, I totally get it and I thank you again for your help!

this is the scope of a forum, to help between us. now i will ask you then when the program is finished to post it here so when a begginer will search the same thing to find it and learn from it

best regards,

Sure but its not going to be done for a while cos I have a big exam to study for and as I stated at the start my program already meets the project requirements so I'll just hand it in without the random function.

Although I plan to do the random feature after my exam (end of May) and when it is done I will happily post it up here.

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