How to randomize a dictionary?
I am using a dictionary because I am using the keys in the dictionary so that I know a certain dialogue option corresponds to a type of item. I want to have the VALUES (NOT THE KEYS) of the array/dictionary to be picked at random but I keep getting an error saying " 'random' (interval is empty) "
Here is my code
local initialPrompts = {
["osv"] = "Hello there, one scoop of vanilla please.",
["osv"] = "Let me have one scoop of vanilla ice cream.",
["osc"] = "I'd like one scoop of chocolate ice cream."
}
local choicePrompts = {"Thanks", "Thank You", "Have a nice day", "Enjoy your day"}
local dialog = script.Parent.Brain.Dialog
local iceCreamChoice = script.Parent.icecreamchoice
enabled = true
if enabled == true then
enabled = false
math.randomseed(tick())
local chosenInitialPrompt = initialPrompts[math.random(1,#initialPrompts)]
print(chosenInitialPrompt)
enabled = true
end
0
1 answer
Careful: what you have written is not a valid dictionary. You cannot repeat keys. Lua will pick either the first "osv" or the secodn "osv" and use just one.
You can't use # on a dictionary. # tells how to find numeric indices, 1, 2, 3, ..., #list. But a dictionary has nothing at those indices.
Since math.random returns a number, you're not going to find anything if you try initialPrompts[math.random(...)] anyway.
The only random functionality in Lua is math.random() which is used to produce numbers.
A straightforward way to use math.random to get something other than numbers is to pick objects by their (numeric) index in a list:
function chooseFromList(list)
return list[math.random(#list)]
end
A dictionary is not a list. But from a dictionary we can make lists. We could make a list of the keys, pick a random key, then get the value at that key. Or we could just make a list of values, and pick a value.
local keys = {}
for key in pairs(dictionary) do
table.insert(keys, key)
end
local randomKey = chooseFromList(keys)
local randomValue = dictionary[randomKey]