# Adding a little randomness
**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [August 27, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962 "2002-08-27T02:27:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Ryall](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Ryall)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/1 "2002-08-27T02:27:36Z")
currently I have an animation which continully repeats the letter i moving across the screen. It is reset when the i comes in contact with a MC called reset. Here is the code I am using:
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
if (this.hitTest(\_root.reset)) {
this.\_x = -410;
} else {
speed = .5;
this.\_x += speed;
}
}
Currently I have a dozen or so MCs at different sizes, alphas and y positions. I would like to modify this code so when they reappear they are randomly placed withing a y\_range, randomly given alpha values within a range (ie between 10% and 35%), and random speed values (ie between .1 and 1.9)… also if possible Id like to include random size (but this is not necessary.
Please help!!! 🙂 Thanks
Peace
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/2 "2002-08-27T04:03:36Z")
That is the power of Math.random().
for your \_y position it would look like
this.\_y = Math.random()\*400; (if the height of your movie is 400)
You can use this for all the properties that require numbers.
For your size problem, that would be \_xscale and \_yscale, to keep these the same, so there isn’t any oblong distortion you can do this…
mySize = Math.random()\*100 //maximum size you want to go
this.\_xscale = mySize;
this.\_yscale = mySize;
If it lands on 100, your graphic will be 100 x 100
NOTE: To have non-decimal numbers you will need to do this…
Math.round(Math.random()\*400);
I hope this helps at all.🙂
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/3 "2002-08-27T04:14:57Z")
thank you! one question…
if I want to get random alpha values between 0 and 45% I put
this.alpha=Math.random()\*45 right?, but what if I want values between 15% and 45%??? what then???
Peace
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 4:24am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/4 "2002-08-27T04:24:30Z")
Hmm, good question, I have never done anything like that. Possibly…
if (this.\_alpha \< 15) {
this.\_alpha = 15;
}
Maybe that will work:)
By The Way - you wrote it right
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/5 "2002-08-27T04:46:32Z")
thanks… I’ll let you know what works!!!
Peace
PS one more question… if I place the random function inside my if else loop wont it be given new values constantly until it hits the reset MC???
basiclly I dont want any values to change until reset, then I want those values to remain until once again hitting reset…hmmm???
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 4:56am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/6 "2002-08-27T04:56:22Z")
No, it should be given a constant value until hitting the reset clip. After it hits the reset clip it should be given new values.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/7 "2002-08-27T04:59:08Z")
I put it like this
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
if (this.hitTest(\_root.reset)) {
this.\_x = -410;
} else {
speed = Math.random()\*2;
this.\_x += speed;
}
}
this makes the MC fluctuate its speed constantly
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/8 "2002-08-27T05:07:40Z")
Try something like this…
```auto
onClipEvent (load) {
speed = Math.random()*2;
}
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
this._x += speed;
if (this.hitTest(_root.reset)) {
this._x = -410;
}
}
```
I just noticed everything was in a onEnterFrame, if you load the variables in the onLoad, everything should stay constant.
EDIT: This solution doesn’t solve it so that after it hits, the objects get new values. I will see what I can do about that.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/9 "2002-08-27T05:08:41Z")
ok now I think i have it
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
if (this.hitTest(\_root.reset)) {
this.\_x = -410;
speed = Math.random()\*2
} else {
this.\_x += speed;
}
}
but the only way I can make this work is if I start the MC off in contact with the MC reset. I’d like to assign a beginning value that gets dumped and randomized after the first reset? is there some null command I sould use… advice? Thanks
Peace
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 5:09am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/10 "2002-08-27T05:09:25Z")
using that will the value change every time it resets?
nevermind I got it using this code:
onClipEvent (load) {
speed = Math.random()\*2;
}
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
this.\_x += speed;
if (this.hitTest(\_root.reset)) {
this.\_x = -300;
speed = Math.random()\*2
}
}
now it starts with a random then EVERY time it resets it travels with a new random speed.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2002, 5:16am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/adding-a-little-randomness/4962/11 "2002-08-27T05:16:38Z")
HAHA, I fixed it that way too, I just didn’t get a chance to post beacuse I was talking to someone.