How to Randomize This?

• wyclef

• July 13, 2021 at 5:14 pm

Hey, have this ACF code that pulls the latest 2 entries and am wondering how to adjust this so it just pulls random entries instead. Thanks!

function getLatestPhotos() {
    if(get_field('photos', 34)) {
        $latestPhotos = '<ul class="photo-list">';
        $paperCounter = 0;

        while(has_sub_field('photos', 34) && $paperCounter < 2) {
            $latestPhotos .= '<a href="/photos/">';
            $latestPhotos .= get_image_with_alt('cover', get_the_ID(), '');
            $latestPhotos .= '<p>'.get_sub_field('title').'</p>';
            $latestPhotos .= '<span class="name">'.get_sub_field('name').'</span>';
            $latestPhotos .= '</a>';

            $paperCounter++;
        }

        $latestPhotos .= '</ul>';
    }
    return $latestPhotos;
}

• wyclef

• July 13, 2021 at 11:08 pm

Took out $paperCounter for now to try and get 1 random one pulled and have it functioning with the exception of the get_image_with_alt line. Any clue how I could pull 2 randoms, and adjust the line get_image_with_alt to be random? Feel like I am getting close but need a bit of help.

function getLatestPhotos() {
    if(get_field('photos', 34)) {
        $rows = get_field('photos', 34);
        $row_count = count($rows);
        $i = rand(0, $row_count - 1);

        echo $rows[$i]['sub_field_name'];

        $latestPhotos .= '<a href="/photos/">';
        $latestPhotos .= get_image_with_alt('cover', get_the_ID(), '');
        $latestPhotos .= '<p>'.$rows[$i]['title'].'</p>';
        $latestPhotos .= '<span>'.$rows[$i]['name'].'</span>';
        $latestPhotos .= '</a>';

    }
    return $latestPhotos;
}

• wyclef

• July 26, 2021 at 5:23 pm

Ok, I simplified this and got the random part to work but now it is pulling two identical random items vs. 2 different random items. How can I fix this?

function getLatestBooks() {
    if(get_field('books', 34)) {
        $rows = get_field('books', 34);
        $row_count = count($rows);
        $i = rand(0, $row_count - 1);

        echo $rows[$i]['sub_field_name'];

        $paperCounter = 0;

        while(has_sub_field('books', 34) && $paperCounter < 2) {
            $latestBooks .= '<p>'.$rows[$i]['cover'].'</p>';
            $latestBooks .= '<p>'.$rows[$i]['title'].'</p>';

            $paperCounter++;
        }

        $latestBooks .= '</ul>';
    }
    return $latestBooks;
}

• John Huebner

• August 4, 2021 at 6:46 pm

$rows = get_field('books', 34);
if (!empty($rows)) {
  $max_to_show = 2;
  $row_count = count($rows);
  $shown_rows = array();
  $i = 0;
  for ($loop=0; $loop<$max_to_show; $loop++) {
    // show 2 images
    if ($row_count > $max_to_show) {
      // only randomize if more than max to show
      $i = rand(0, $row_count - 1);
      while (in_array($i, $shown_rows)) {
        // make sure it's not duplicate
        $i = rand(0, $row_count - 1);
      }
      
    } // end if > max to show
      
    // ********************************
    // output row $i here
    // ********************************
      
    $shown_rows[] = $i;
    
    if ($row_count <= $max_to_show) {
      // increment value in cases rows is <= max to show
      $i++;
      if ($i >= $row_count) {
        // make sure that we don't exceed number of rows that exist
        break;
      }
    }
    
  } // end for
} // end if rows