Minesweeper: Placing Mines in Grid?

[mpetersen]

I am writing a simple minesweeper game for a class project. It is a beginner levle with an 8x8 grid with 64 cells. The grid is done with a control array of 1 to 64 and Ive indexed two 2d arrays 1. for placement of mines and 2. for placement of flags.

My problem is that Im using randomization/rnd() and I am unable to place 10 mines ea time I reset the game. The number various due to the structure of rnd()?? Im stuck on this and am looking for either a new solution or revision of my current code to fix the problem.

Im new to VB so am learning this on the fly. So make the explanations as simple as possible. I have worked with java more but am by far not an expert.

Find below my current code:

Below is my code:
>condOdds is set in the global as
>Dim conOdds = 10/64 'ten mines in 64 squares(control array).
>
>Private Sub setmines()
>
> Dim i As Integer ' control outer for..next loop
>
> Dim j As Integer 'control inner for..next loop
>
> Dim intNum As Integer 'use in optional codemakes mines
> ' visible when debug
>
>
> Dim mines As Integer
>
>
> 'call randomize to initialize random number generator
> 'set global variable intCntr(declared in general section) to 0
>
> 'initialize intNum to 1. use set optional debug inf. about loc. mine
>
> Randomize
> intNum = 1
> intCntr = 0
>
>mines = 0
>
> 'use nested for..next loop to perform test on ea
> 'cell in minefield:
> 'compare return value of vbfunction Rnd to constant
> 'conOdds. if return value < constant = lay mine
> 'by setting blnMinesOn property to True. and add
> '1 to intCntr(counts mines).
> '"else"; if value returned > than constant
> 'set blnMinesOn property to False.
>
>
> For i = 1 To conSize
> For j = 1 To conSize
>
>
> If Rnd < conOdds Then
>
> blnMinesOn(i, j) = True
> 'keep below as use to debug the rand placement of
>mines
> lblMines(intNum).Caption = "MINE"
> intCntr = intCntr + 1
>'need
>to check this be sure is ok
> Else
> blnMinesOn(i, j) = False
>
> End If
> intNum = intNum + 1
> mines = mines + 1
>
>
>
> Next j
>
> Next i
>
>
>
>'use intCntr to display number mines set in lblNumMines:
>
>lblNumMines.Caption = Format(intCntr, "#0")
> mines = mines + 1
>
>End Sub


Thanks so much for your input and direction.

Mpetersen

[SapphireGreen]

You should declare the array of squares like this:
Dim square(7, 7) as Square 'Whatever

That means from 0 to 7 (eight squares).

For i = 0 to 7
 For j = 0 to 7
  If Int(Rnd * 10) + 1 = 3 Then
   square(i, j) = bomb 'whatever
  End if
 Next j
Next i

That puts a random amount of bomb scattered around. To make less bombs, Int(Rnd * 10) + 1 could be changed to Int(Rnd * 30) + 1 or something.

Hope that helps.

[SLH]

Not quite sure how you've done the grid exactly, but you should be able to adapt my code resenably easily.

Also, i think, from the way you coded the placement of the mines, you may not always get 10 mines placed.


Here is my suggestion (of the top of my head).

Dim i as Integer
Dim MineGrid(1 to 8,1 to 8) as Integer
Dim NumberOfMines as Integer
~~~~
Randomize
~~~~
For i = 1 to NumberOfMines
    MineGrid(Int(Rnd*8)+1,Int(Rnd*8)+1) = 1
Next i

[CornedBee]

Slight change of the above:

Dim r1, r2 as Integer
For i = 1 to NumberOfMines
    r1 = Int(Rnd*8);
    r2 = Int(Rnd*8);
    If(MineGrid(r1+1,r2+1) <> 1) Then
        MineGrid(Int(Rnd*8)+1,Int(Rnd*8)+1) = 1
    Else
        i = i - 1 'give it another try
    End If
Next i

This will remove the slight chance that the loop trys to put 2 mines on one field.