I have an application which pulls in data (questions) via XML and randomizes them. Right now if there is 50 questions in the XML file, 50 questions are displayed and randomized in the application. I am trying to figure out how to limit the randomizing pool so that only 35 questions display(even when the XML file has 50 questions) or something like that. My current code which brings in the file and randomizes is below.
package exam {
import flash.net.* //to create URLRequest and load XML file
import flash.events.* //for Load events
//import flash.display.* //for testing purposes - remove when testing complete
//This class downloads the XML document, and then inserts info into arrays and variables.
//Also provides text of questions and correct answers when requested.
internal class XaMLDiplomat extends EventDispatcher {
//VARIABLES:
//for loaded XML doc
private var myXML:XML;
//for loading in XML
private var examLoader:URLLoader;
private var numQstns:Number; //count of total questions in a section
private var sectStart:Number;
//contains exam questions - ALL ARRAYS ARE ZERO RELATIVE -> actual question numbers = array index + 1
private var questions:Array;
//contain associated answer choices
private var choiceA:Array;
private var choiceB:Array;
private var choiceC:Array;
private var choiceD:Array;
private var choiceE:Array;
private var choiceF:Array;
//array of the correct answers
private var answers:Array;
//use custom Mixer class to randomize order
private var myMixer:Mixer;
//CONSTRUCTOR
public function XaMLDiplomat () { //NEED TO ADD ARGUMENTS (docLocation)
//create URLRequest from argument
var examSite:URLRequest = new URLRequest("protected/Questions.xml");
//create a loader for the XML
examLoader = new URLLoader();
//add listener for load completion
examLoader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, fullyLoaded);
examLoader.load(examSite);
//var ugly:Mixer = new Mixer(25);
}
//Load listener - creates XML object, and checks it for multiple sections. If multiple, it asks users
//which section they want - FIRST it needs to check database for any completed sections.
//If single, it goes ahead and starts array creation for first (& only) section
private function fullyLoaded (e:Event):void {
myXML = new XML(examLoader.data);
//myXML.prettyPrinting = false;
//still need to pull out SYSTEM data and pass it along...
var system:XMLList = myXML..SYSTEM;
var sysObj:Object = new Object();
sysObj.examTitle = system.TITLE.toString();
sysObj.totalMin = system.MINUTES.toString();
sysObj.retakePW = system.RETAKEPW.toString();
var numSections:Number = myXML..SECTION.length();
if (numSections == 1) {
generateArrays(1);
}
dispatchEvent(new MultiSectEvent(MultiSectEvent.SECTIONS, numSections, sysObj));
}
//Assigns arrays to instance variables for the selected section
internal function generateArrays (sectn:Number):void {
var whichSection:XMLList = myXML..SECTION.(@id == String(sectn));
var probList:XMLList = whichSection.PROBLEM;
numQstns = probList.length();
sectStart = Number(probList[0].@id);
questions = new Array();
choiceA = new Array();
choiceB = new Array();
choiceC = new Array();
choiceD = new Array();
choiceE = new Array();
choiceF = new Array();
answers = new Array();
for (var i:Number=0; i<numQstns; i++) {
var curProb:XMLList = probList.(@id == String(i+1));
if (curProb.QUESTION.hasSimpleContent()) {
questions* = curProb.QUESTION.toString();
}else {
//trace(curProb.QUESTION.toXMLString());
questions* = dropTags(curProb.QUESTION[0]);
}
choiceA* = curProb.CHOICE.(@letter == "a").toString();
choiceB* = curProb.CHOICE.(@letter == "b").toString();
choiceC* = curProb.CHOICE.(@letter == "c").toString();
choiceD* = curProb.CHOICE.(@letter == "d").toString();
choiceE* = curProb.CHOICE.(@letter == "e").toString();
choiceF* = curProb.CHOICE.(@letter == "f").toString();
answers* = curProb.CHOICE.(hasOwnProperty("@correct") && @correct == "true").@letter.toString();
}
myMixer = new Mixer(numQstns);//mixer commented out
/*
trace("Question: "+questions[3]);
trace("a: "+choiceA[3]);
trace("b: "+choiceB[3]);
trace("c: "+choiceC[3]);
trace("d: "+choiceD[3]);
trace("
answer: "+answers[3]); */
}
//method for external classes to acquire text of current exam question
internal function getQuestion (qnum:Number):Object {
var returnObj:Object = new Object();
var randomQ:Number = myMixer.getRandomNumber(qnum-1);
returnObj.q = questions[randomQ];
returnObj.ca = choiceA[randomQ];
returnObj.cb = choiceB[randomQ];
returnObj.cc = choiceC[randomQ];
returnObj.cd = choiceD[randomQ];
returnObj.ce = choiceE[randomQ];
returnObj.cf = choiceF[randomQ];
returnObj.num = qnum;
//trace(randomQ);
return returnObj;
}
private function dropTags (txt:XML):String {
var txtString:String = "";
for each (var child:XML in txt.*) {
if (child.nodeKind == "text") {
txtString += child.toString();
}else {
txtString += " " + child.toXMLString();
}
}
//trace(txtString);
return txtString;
}
/*
private function dropTags (txt:String):String {
var sliceStart:Number = txt.indexOf(">");
var sliceStop:Number = txt.lastIndexOf("<");
return txt.slice((sliceStart+1), sliceStop);
}*/
internal function getAnswer (num:Number):String {
return answers[num];
}
internal function getQCount ():Number {
return numQstns;
}
internal function getSectStart():Number {
return sectStart;
}
internal function getRealNum (num:Number):Number {
return myMixer.getRandomNumber(num-1);
}
}
}
