If Then and controls [Resolved]

[teamdad]

I have hit a snag in a program I am trying to create. I came up with this program as a goal for myself in my efforts at learning VB.NET; I would like to finish the darn thing mainly to help myslef learn but also to help my mother's obsession with the lottery. Here's the code I have at the moment that throws all kinds of errors.

Private Sub Button1_Click_1(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click


        Dim Output = TextBox1.Text              ;Where the results are displayed in multiline
        Dim Rangeone = TextBox2.Text          ;Lowest number to randomize
        Dim Rangetwo = TextBox3.Text          ;Highest number to randomize
        Dim Picks = TextBox4.Text                 ;How many seperate rows of numbers is displayed
        Dim Plays = TextBox5.Text                 ;How many numbers per row are displayed
        Dim r As New System.Random()

        If Picks = "1" Then
            Output.Text = r.Next(Rangeone, Rangetwo + 1)
        Else : Picks = ""
            MsgBox("You must enter the number of picks")
        End If

        If Picks = "2" Then
            Output.Text = r.Next(Rangeone, Rangetwo + 1) & vbCrLf
        Else : Picks = ""
            MsgBox("You must enter the number of picks")
        End If

        If Picks = "3" Then
            Output.Text = r.Next(Rangeone, Rangetwo + 1)
        Else : Picks = ""
            MsgBox("You must enter the number of picks")
        End If
    End Sub

End Class

I need help showing the correct number of rows
as in the commented section of Dim Picks = TextBox4.Text

I need help formatting the code so that it will show the correct number of numbers per row
as in the commented section of Dim Plays = TextBox5.Text

The output of each number in each row needs to be seperated with a [ before each number and a ] after it too.

Example input for Rangeone = 1
Example input for Rangetwo = 12
Example input for Picks = 3
Example input for Plays = 6

Example of output would look like
[02] [10] [03] [06] [05] [09]
[07] [08] [04] [11] [01] [12]
[03] [02] [12] [01] [09] [06]

Pointers, thoughts and examples are appreciated but remember I am very new to VB.NET still.

[Pirate]

First off , why you are not specifiying the data type of the variables and use early binding . Like this :

Dim Output  As String= TextBox1.Text

[taxes]

Hi,

Most of your errors are caused by use od ";" as the comment indicator. You must use '

Referring to Pirate's response, looking at your code it is possible that you are intending to create references to texboxes rather than string variables. I say this because in

"Output.Text = r.Next(Rangeone, Rangetwo + 1)"

You have treated "Output" as if it is a Textbox, not a string variable. Please confirm your intentions in this respect and we can then comment on other coding innacuracies.

Meanwhile, you will find a Select Case more appropriate than the three If .... Then statements.

The following is a possible alternative to your code but please note that your random statements need further amendment. Not only will it not work, but you must use a variable seed number. One way is to make it depend on the current time. I will post again on this.

Dim Output As String = TextBox1.Text
        Dim Rangeone As String = TextBox2.Text        '         Lowest number to randomize
        Dim Rangetwo As String = TextBox3.Text           'Highest number to randomize
        Dim Picks As String = TextBox4.Text                 'How many seperate rows of numbers is displayed
        Dim Plays As String = TextBox5.Text                 'How many numbers per row are displayed
        Dim r As New System.Random
        Select Case vAL(Picks)
            Case 1
                Output = r.Next(Rangeone, Rangetwo + 1)
            Case 2
                Output = r.Next(Rangeone, Rangetwo + 1) & vbCrLf
            Case 3
                Output = r.Next(Rangeone, Rangetwo + 1)
            Case Else
                MsgBox("You must enter the CORRECT number of picks")
        End Select

[taxes]

HI,

I've tidied this up a bit.

Working on the assumption that you want your mother to have some effect on the choice of numbers I have got a running programme. Before I post it, I suggest you try yourself bearing in mind the following.

1. You don not need a Select Case nor a multiple If .. Then structure. Just one single If..Then..Else to cover incorrect entries by mother.

2. Your random number should be generated using a combination of the seed number entered by mother and the current time. (This will avoid exact repetition of denerted number sequences) As this could involve you in a long search the following is one way of doing this

Rand1 = New Random(Now.Millisecond + Val(Picks))
Output = Str(Rand1.Next(val(Range1), val(Range2)))


Hope to see your effort soon.

[teamdad]

All your suggestions have helped me with a lot of the errors I was getting but I don't have it working yet. Below is the GUI with some dummy data put in it to help explain what I need help with.



Under the Settings group box the "Numbers range from...To... is the range of numbers that the program will use to select the random numbers from starting lowest to highest.

Under the Settings group box the "Number of lines" tells the program how many lines in the Picks section will be displayed.

Under the Settings group box the "Numbers per line" tells the program how many individual numbers will be displayed per line **they are seperated with a [ before the number and a ] after the number and single numbers 0-9 must be preceeded by a 0 "zero"

When the button is pushed <<Here's where I need the help>> it will pick random numbers between the range of numbers that has been typed into the range fileds, the results will display in the Picks group box based on the number that is put in for the Number of lines and the number put in for the Numbers per line boxes. Any of the numbers under Settings can be any number of numbers.

My code looks scratchy mainly because I have tried to model my ideas in this program after a dice rolling game I found on the Internet; but also because it's harder to learn code from trial and error with hands on writing. I don't have the capabilities to read a book and apply what I read and have something come out a working model.

[taxes]

Hi,

OK. That has cleared up one matter. You don't want mother to influence the numbers generated. You have done a good job on the form design, it clearly indicated the underlying code required.

I'm not quite sure which part in which you now require help, so check your code with the following:

NOTE: My textbox names will vary from yours.

In the form declaration section
 
 Dim Output As String
    Dim Rangeone As String       '         Lowest number to randomize
    Dim Rangetwo As String           'Highest number to randomize
    Dim Picks As String                  'How many seperate rows of numbers is displayed
    Dim Plays As String                'How many numbers per row are displayed
    Dim Rand1 As System.Random
    Dim arrNumbers(1, 1) As Boolean
 
 
In the Button_Click event 
 
   Rangeone = TextBox2.Text      'lowest number permitted
        Rangetwo = TextBox3.Text      'highest number permitted
        Picks = TextBox5.Text         'number of numbers per line
        Plays = TextBox4.Text         'number of lines required
        ReDim arrNumbers(Val(Rangetwo) - Val(Rangeone) + 1, 1)
 
        If Val(Plays) = 0 Or Val(Plays) > 3 Then     'this puts a limit
                                                                           on the maximum
                                                                           number of Plays.
            MsgBox("You must enter the CORRECT number of Plays")
            Exit Sub
        Else
            Rand1 = New Random(Now.Millisecond)       'sets random generator in motion
            CalculateNumbers()                'calls number generation Sub
        End If
 
 
New Sub
 
 
 Private Sub CalculateNumbers()
        Dim iCount, iCount1, iCount2 As Integer
        For iCount = 1 To Val(Plays)    'controls number of lines requested
            For iCount1 = 1 To Val(Picks)   'controls number of selections per line
                Do
                    Output = Str(Rand1.Next(Val(Rangeone), Val(Rangetwo)))      'selects next random number
                    If arrNumbers((Val(Output) - Val(Rangeone)), 0) = True Then
                        MessageBox.Show(Output & "Duplicated")
                    Else
                        arrNumbers(Val(Output) - Val(Rangeone) + 1, 0) = True    'stores TRUE in selected number line of array
                        Exit Do
                    End If
                Loop
            Next
 
            'arrNumbers will now have the required number of numbers for one line
            'insert code to store them in the Picks listbox or whatever you are using.
            ' to do this iterate through arrNumbers checking for those which are set to TRUE
 
            For iCount2 = 0 To Val(Rangetwo)    're-set array
                If arrNumbers(iCount2, 0) = True Then
                    arrNumbers(iCount2, 0) = False
                End If
            Next
        Next
    End Sub

This is not the tidiest way to do it but is what I guessed is more likely to be nearer your effort.

As an improvement, you might try splitting the Sub into 2 or 3 shorter Subs, or even Functions.

Let me know how you get on.

[teamdad]

taxes,

I cleaned up

New Sub

 Private Sub CalculateNumbers()

so it now reads as below.  It cleared up some syntax errors.

End Sub

 Private Sub CalculateNumbers()

I changed my textboxes to match your example and it still won't function. It seems to be working in the respect that it throws the duplication message -I am assuming that this MessageBox gets thrown if a number is duplicated in the Outcome box?? but it never show's anything in Outcome.

Any other thoughts about what's going on?

[taxes]

HI,

Have you missed the code from your post?

[teamdad]

There were syntax errors with "New Sub" so I changed it to "End Sub" and started after it with the "Private Sub CalculateNumbers()
" statement.

It still don't function at all. I didn't understand your last reply about have I missed the code from my post.

[taxes]

Hi,

It is getting late over here so I am posting below the full code. It works completely and I have chosen my lottery numbers with it


In the form General Section

Dim Output As String
    Dim Rangeone As String       '         Lowest number to randomize
    Dim Rangetwo As String           'Highest number to randomize
    Dim Picks As String                  'How many seperate rows of
                                                    numbers is displayed
    Dim Plays As String                'How many numbers per row are
                                                   displayed
    Dim Rand1 As System.Random
    Dim arrNumbers(1, 1) As Boolean
 
 
    Private Sub ButtonStart_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button7.Click
 
Rangeone = TextBox2.Text      'lowest number permitted
        Rangetwo = TextBox3.Text      'highest number permitted
        Picks = TextBox5.Text         'number of numbers per line
        Plays = TextBox4.Text         'number of lines required
        ReDim arrNumbers(Val(Rangetwo) - Val(Rangeone) + 1, 1)
 
        If Val(Plays) = 0 Or Val(Plays) > 3 Then
            MsgBox("You must enter the CORRECT number of Plays")
            Exit Sub
        Else
            Rand1 = New Random(Now.Millisecond)       'sets random 
                                                                                 generator in 
                                                                                  motion
            CalculateNumbers()
        End If
 
    End Sub
 
 
    Private Sub CalculateNumbers()
        Dim iCount, iCount1, iCount2 As Integer
        Dim strSelection As String
        ListBox1.Items.Clear()
        Dim strTest As String
        For iCount = 1 To Val(Plays)    'controls number of lines 
                                                        requested
            strTest = ""
            For iCount1 = 1 To Val(Picks)   'controls number of 
                                                             selections per line
                Do
                    Output = Str(Rand1.Next(Val(Rangeone), Val(Rangetwo)))      'selects next random number
                    If arrNumbers((Val(Output) - Val(Rangeone) + 1), 0) = False Then
                        arrNumbers(Val(Output) - Val(Rangeone) + 1, 0) = True    'stores TRUE in selected number line of array
                        strTest = strTest & Output & "  "
                        Exit Do
                    End If
                Loop
            Next iCount1
            strSelection = ""
            For iCount2 = 0 To Val(Rangetwo)        'extract selected 
                                                                          numbers and re-
                                                                          set array
                If arrNumbers(iCount2, 0) = True Then
                    strSelection = strSelection & Str(iCount2) & ", "
                    arrNumbers(iCount2, 0) = False
                End If
            Next iCount2
            ListBox1.Items.Add(strSelection)
        Next iCount
    End Sub

I have rempved the messagebox showing duplicate numbers, which I included only to confirm that part was working OK.

Let me know how you get on (Especially if you win )

[teamdad]

A "BIG" thank you taxes for setting me straight.

[taxes]

Hi,

You're welcome. It made me write a program I ought to have done years ago.

By theway, to mark the thread "Resolved" you must edit your FIRST post.