Update #2: Okay, I'm pretty sure my error in update #1 was because of indexing out of bounds over the array (I'm still not used to JS indexing at 0). But here is the new problem... if I write out the different combinations of the loop manually, setting the page index to 1 in moveItem() like so:
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[0][0], 1);
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[0][1], 1);
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[0][2], 1);
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[1][0], 1);
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[1][1], 1);
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[1][2], 1);
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[2][0], 1);
...
...I don't get any errors but the items end up on different pages! What is going on?
Update #1:: Using Sandy Good's answer as well as a script I found at this WordPress blog, I have managed to get closer to what I needed. I believe Sandy Good misinterpreted what I wanted to do because I wasn't specific enough in my question.
I would like to:
Get all items from a page (section header, images, question etc)
Put them into an array
Do this for all pages, adding these arrays to an array (i.e: [[all items from page 1][all items from page 2][all items from page 3]...])
Shuffle the elements of this array
Repopulate a new form with each element of this array. In this way, page order will be randomized.
My JavaScript skills are poor (this is the first time I've used it). There is a step that produces null entries and I don't know why... I had to remove them manually. I am not able to complete step 5 as I get the following error:
Cannot convert Item,Item,Item to (class).
"Item,Item,Item" is the array element containing all the items from a particular page. So it seems that I can't add three items to a page at a time? Or is something else going on here?
Here is my code:
function shuffleForms() {
var itemsArray,shuffleQuestionsInNewForm,fncGetQuestionID,
newFormFile,newForm,newID,shuffle, sections;
// Copy template form by ID, set a new name
newFormFile = DriveApp.getFileById('1prfcl-RhaD4gn0b2oP4sbcKaRcZT5XoCAQCbLm1PR7I')
.makeCopy();
newFormFile.setName('AAAAA_Shuffled_Form');
// Get ID of new form and open it
newID = newFormFile.getId();
newForm = FormApp.openById(newID);
// Initialize array to put IDs in
itemsArray = [];
function getPageItems(thisPageNum) {
Logger.log("Getting items for page number: " + thisPageNum );
var thisPageItems = []; // Used for result
var thisPageBreakIndex = getPageItem(thisPageNum).getIndex();
Logger.log( "This is index num : " + thisPageBreakIndex );
// Get all items from page
var allItems = newForm.getItems();
thisPageItems.push(allItems[thisPageBreakIndex]);
Logger.log( "Added pagebreak item: " + allItems[thisPageBreakIndex].getIndex() );
for( var i = thisPageBreakIndex+1; ( i < allItems.length ) && ( allItems[i].getType() != FormApp.ItemType.PAGE_BREAK ); ++i ) {
thisPageItems.push(allItems[i]);
Logger.log( "Added non-pagebreak item: " + allItems[i].getIndex() );
}
return thisPageItems;
}
function shuffle(array) {
var currentIndex = array.length, temporaryValue, randomIndex;
Logger.log('shuffle ran')
// While there remain elements to shuffle...
while (0 !== currentIndex) {
// Pick a remaining element...
randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * currentIndex);
currentIndex -= 1;
// And swap it with the current element.
temporaryValue = array[currentIndex];
array[currentIndex] = array[randomIndex];
array[randomIndex] = temporaryValue;
}
return array;
}
function shuffleAndMove() {
// Get page items for all pages into an array
for(i = 2; i <= 5; i++) {
itemsArray[i] = getPageItems(i);
}
// Removes null values from array
itemsArray = itemsArray.filter(function(x){return x});
// Shuffle page items
itemsArray = shuffle(itemsArray);
// Move page items to the new form
for(i = 2; i <= 5; ++i) {
newForm.moveItem(itemsArray[i], i);
}
}
shuffleAndMove();
}
Original post: I have used Google forms to create a questionnaire. For my purposes, each question needs to be on a separate page but I need the pages to be randomized. A quick Google search shows this feature has not been added yet.
I see that the Form class in the Google apps script has a number of methods that alter/give access to various properties of Google Forms. Since I do not know Javascript and am not too familiar with Google apps/API I would like to know if what I am trying to do is even possible before diving in and figuring it all out.
If it is possible, I would appreciate any insight on what methods would be relevant for this task just to give me some direction to get started.
Based on comments from Sandy Good and two SE questions found here and here, this is the code I have so far:
// Script to shuffle question in a Google Form when the questions are in separate sections
function shuffleFormSections() {
getQuestionID();
createNewShuffledForm();
}
// Get question IDs
function getQuestionID() {
var form = FormApp.getActiveForm();
var items = form.getItems();
arrayID = [];
for (var i in items) {
arrayID[i] = items[i].getId();
}
// Logger.log(arrayID);
return(arrayID);
}
// Shuffle function
function shuffle(a) {
var j, x, i;
for (i = a.length; i; i--) {
j = Math.floor(Math.random() * i);
x = a[i - 1];
a[i - 1] = a[j];
a[j] = x;
}
}
// Shuffle IDs and create new form with new question order
function createNewShuffledForm() {
shuffle(arrayID);
// Logger.log(arrayID);
var newForm = FormApp.create('Shuffled Form');
for (var i in arrayID) {
arrayID[i].getItemsbyId();
}
}
Try this. There's a few "constants" to be set at the top of the function, check the comments. Form file copying and opening borrowed from Sandy Good's answer, thanks!
// This is the function to run, all the others here are helper functions
// You'll need to set your source file id and your destination file name in the
// constants at the top of this function here.
// It appears that the "Title" page does not count as a page, so you don't need
// to include it in the PAGES_AT_BEGINNING_TO_NOT_SHUFFLE count.
function shuffleFormPages() {
// UPDATE THESE CONSTANTS AS NEEDED
var PAGES_AT_BEGINNING_TO_NOT_SHUFFLE = 2; // preserve X intro pages; shuffle everything after page X
var SOURCE_FILE_ID = 'YOUR_SOURCE_FILE_ID_HERE';
var DESTINATION_FILE_NAME = 'YOUR_DESTINATION_FILE_NAME_HERE';
// Copy template form by ID, set a new name
var newFormFile = DriveApp.getFileById(SOURCE_FILE_ID).makeCopy();
newFormFile.setName(DESTINATION_FILE_NAME);
// Open the duplicated form file as a form
var newForm = FormApp.openById(newFormFile.getId());
var pages = extractPages(newForm);
shuffleEndOfPages(pages, PAGES_AT_BEGINNING_TO_NOT_SHUFFLE);
var shuffledFormItems = flatten(pages);
setFormItems(newForm, shuffledFormItems);
}
// Builds an array of "page" arrays. Each page array starts with a page break
// and continues until the next page break.
function extractPages(form) {
var formItems = form.getItems();
var currentPage = [];
var allPages = [];
formItems.forEach(function(item) {
if (item.getType() == FormApp.ItemType.PAGE_BREAK && currentPage.length > 0) {
// found a page break (and it isn't the first one)
allPages.push(currentPage); // push what we've built for this page onto the output array
currentPage = [item]; // reset the current page to just this most recent item
} else {
currentPage.push(item);
}
});
// We've got the last page dangling, so add it
allPages.push(currentPage);
return allPages;
};
// startIndex is the array index to start shuffling from. E.g. to start
// shuffling on page 5, startIndex should be 4. startIndex could also be thought
// of as the number of pages to keep unshuffled.
// This function has no return value, it just mutates pages
function shuffleEndOfPages(pages, startIndex) {
var currentIndex = pages.length;
// While there remain elements to shuffle...
while (currentIndex > startIndex) {
// Pick an element between startIndex and currentIndex (inclusive)
var randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * (currentIndex - startIndex)) + startIndex;
currentIndex -= 1;
// And swap it with the current element.
var temporaryValue = pages[currentIndex];
pages[currentIndex] = pages[randomIndex];
pages[randomIndex] = temporaryValue;
}
};
// Sourced from elsewhere on SO:
// https://stackoverflow.com/a/15030117/4280232
function flatten(array) {
return array.reduce(
function (flattenedArray, toFlatten) {
return flattenedArray.concat(Array.isArray(toFlatten) ? flatten(toFlatten) : toFlatten);
},
[]
);
};
// No safety checks around items being the same as the form length or whatever.
// This mutates form.
function setFormItems(form, items) {
items.forEach(function(item, index) {
form.moveItem(item, index);
});
};
I tested this code. It created a new Form, and then shuffled the questions in the new Form. It excludes page breaks, images and section headers. You need to provide a source file ID for the original template Form. This function has 3 inner sub-functions. The inner functions are at the top, and they are called at the bottom of the outer function. The arrayOfIDs variable does not need to be returned or passed to another function because it is available in the outer scope.
function shuffleFormSections() {
var arrayOfIDs,shuffleQuestionsInNewForm,fncGetQuestionID,
newFormFile,newForm,newID,items,shuffle;
newFormFile = DriveApp.getFileById('Put the source file ID here')
.makeCopy();
newFormFile.setName('AAAAA_Shuffled_Form');
newID = newFormFile.getId();
newForm = FormApp.openById(newID);
arrayOfIDs = [];
fncGetQuestionID = function() {
var i,L,thisID,thisItem,thisType;
items = newForm.getItems();
L = items.length;
for (i=0;i<L;i++) {
thisItem = items[i];
thisType = thisItem.getType();
if (thisType === FormApp.ItemType.PAGE_BREAK ||
thisType === FormApp.ItemType.SECTION_HEADER ||
thisType === FormApp.ItemType.IMAGE) {
continue;
}
thisID = thisItem.getId();
arrayOfIDs.push(thisID);
}
Logger.log('arrayOfIDs: ' + arrayOfIDs);
//the array arrayOfIDs does not need to be returned since it is available
//in the outermost scope
}// End of fncGetQuestionID function
shuffle = function() {// Shuffle function
var j, x, i;
Logger.log('shuffle ran')
for (i = arrayOfIDs.length; i; i--) {
j = Math.floor(Math.random() * i);
Logger.log('j: ' + j)
x = arrayOfIDs[i - 1];
Logger.log('x: ' + x)
arrayOfIDs[i - 1] = arrayOfIDs[j];
arrayOfIDs[j] = x;
}
Logger.log('arrayOfIDs: ' + arrayOfIDs)
}
shuffleQuestionsInNewForm = function() {
var i,L,thisID,thisItem,thisQuestion,questionType;
L = arrayOfIDs.length;
for (i=0;i<L;i++) {
thisID = arrayOfIDs[i];
Logger.log('thisID: ' + thisID)
thisItem = newForm.getItemById(thisID);
newForm.moveItem(thisItem, i)
}
}
fncGetQuestionID();//Get all the question ID's and put them into an array
shuffle();
shuffleQuestionsInNewForm();
}
A complex question :
I've got this code (not the complete code, but the essentials for the question, I think) :
var $pmm:String;
var $pms:String;
var $bmm:String;
var $bms:String;
function get haute1():String { return $pmm; };
function get haute2():String { return $pms; }
function get basse1():String { return $bmm; };
function get basse2():String { return $bms; };
accueil.todayHaute_txt.htmlText = haute1;
accueil.todayBasse_txt.htmlText = basse1;
accueil.todayHauteSecond_txt.htmlText = haute2;
accueil.todayBasseSecond_txt.htmlText = basse2;
"haute1" is an hour (in 24h format). Something like "13h25".
It changes everyday.
Question : How can put them in ascending order in AS3 ?
Example : If haute1 = 15h20, haute2= 6h00, basse1= 11h and basse2 = 17h, the function would put them in this order :
"haute2", then "basse1", then "haute1" and finally "basse2".
Thx
EDIT
I add this code that I have. is it helping you ?
/ Assigns hours and tidal heights
$pmm = convdateheure($tpbs[1 + $deltapm]);
$pms = convdateheure($tpbs[3 + $deltapm]);
$bmm = convdateheure($tpbs[2 - $deltapm]);
$bms = convdateheure($tpbs[4 - $deltapm]);
function convdateheure($valeur:Number):String
{
var $heure:Number = Math.floor($valeur);
var $minute:Number = Math.floor(Math.floor(($valeur - Math.floor($valeur)) * 100) * 0.6);
var hoursLabel:String = "", minsLabel:String = "";
if ($heure == 24) $heure = 0; // Check if at the 24 hour mark, change to 0
if ($heure < 10) hoursLabel += "0" + $heure.toString(); else hoursLabel = $heure.toString();
if ($minute < 10) minsLabel += "0" + $minute.toString(); else minsLabel = $minute.toString();
return hoursLabel + ":" + minsLabel;
}
If you want to order some dates written in some String format:
One way would be, depending on you date string format, just to push them into array and sort them as strings, then read them all.
Another way would be to first parse those strings into Date instances, and push their Date.time property to array, sort it, then do reverse: parse all time values from sorted array into new Date instances then use Date.toString or similar.
Assuming that $valuer is a numerical value:
var timesArray:Array = new Array();
var convertedTimesArray:Array = new Array();
function sortTimes():void{
timesArray.push($valuer);
timesArray.sort(Array.NUMERIC);
}
function convertTimes():void{
convertedTimesArray = []; // clear the array
for (var i:int = 0; i < timesArray.length; i++){
var s:String = convdateheure(timesArray[i]);
convertedTimesArray.push(s);
}
}
That should give you one array of actual times, sorted in numerical order, and one array sorted in the same numerical order, but converted to String values using your function.
I am using a forEach loop that adds movieclips to the stage for each node in my XML. How does one give these movieclips unique instance names as their being added in the loop?
Here is my parseList function which contains the forEach loop mentioned and the syntax I'm using which isn't working for me.
private function parseList():void {
//use Number variables to keep track of current x and y properties as list display is generated
var titleField:TextField = TextField(listItem);
var itemY:Number = 503;
var itemX:Number = 0;
var artistTracker:String = Playmaster_Jukebox.currArtist;
var artID = 0;
var albID = 0;
var itemID:Number=0;
for each (var listItemData:XML in mainXML.artist[artID].album[albID].track) {
var listItem:MovieClip = new ListItem(itemTitle);
listContainer.addChild(listItem);
listItem.name = "itemID" + " " + albID + " " + itemID;
itemID++;
listItem.y = itemY;
listItem.x = itemX;
TextField(listItem.listItemTitleField);
itemY += listItem.height + 10;
}
}
I am a beginner with the forEach loop and don't understand it yet so comments are appreciated!
If I understand your question correctly; then you're asking how to store the "listItem" MovieClips as you read them from the XML document.
To do this you're probably going to want to use either an Array or a Map:
Using an Array ie:
var listItemArray:Array = new Array();
for each (var listItemData:XML in mainXML.artist[artID].album[albID].track) {
var listItem:MovieClip = new ListItem(itemTitle);
listContainer.addChild(listItem);
listItemArray.push(listItem);// adds the item to the array
}
Using a Map ie:
var listItemMap:Object = {};
for each (var listItemData:XML in mainXML.artist[artID].album[albID].track) {
var listItem:MovieClip = new ListItem(itemTitle);
listContainer.addChild(listItem);
listItem.name = "itemID" + " " + albID + " " + itemID;
listItemMap[listItem.name];// adds an item by the .name you created for it.
}
The map will allow you too look up the items by the names you've given the different items. ie: listItemMap["name"] would find the element with named "name".
The array will allow you to loop through them in order. ie: listItemArray[0] would find the first element.
It's up to you to decide which would be better for your purposes.
let's say you're passing an object to a function
{title:"my title", data:"corresponding data"}
how can I get the function to know what the names of the items/sub-objects are (title and data) without specifying them?
You can use a for loop as follows:
for (var key:String in obj) {
var value:String = obj[key];
trace(key + ": " + value);
}
Or use the introspection API.
The Flex 3 Help page on Performing Object Introspection has a good overview of these.
You can use a for(String in Object) loop like so:
var i:String;
for(i in object)
{
var key:String = i;
var value:Object = object[i];
// do stuff with key/value
}
PS it would make more sense obviously to use key in the loop, my example is done for the sake of demonstration.
Why was this downvoted.. Because I didn't do a function?
function findKeys(obj:Object):Array
{
var ar:Array = [];
var i:String;
for(i in obj)
{
ar.push(i);
}
return ar;
}
var ob:Object = {things:"value", other:5};
trace(findKeys(ob)); // other,things
This is my grid of nodes:
I'm moving an object around on it using the A* pathfinding algorithm. It generally works OK, but it sometimes acts wrongly:
When moving from 3 to 1, it correctly goes via 2. When going from 1 to 3 however, it goes via 4.
When moving between 3 and 5, it goes via 4 in either direction instead of the shorter way via 6
What can be wrong? Here's my code (AS3):
public static function getPath(from:Point, to:Point, grid:NodeGrid):PointLine {
// get target node
var target:NodeGridNode = grid.getClosestNodeObj(to.x, to.y);
var backtrace:Map = new Map();
var openList:LinkedSet = new LinkedSet();
var closedList:LinkedSet = new LinkedSet();
// begin with first node
openList.add(grid.getClosestNodeObj(from.x, from.y));
// start A*
var curNode:NodeGridNode;
while (openList.size != 0) {
// pick a new current node
if (openList.size == 1) {
curNode = NodeGridNode(openList.first);
}
else {
// find cheapest node in open list
var minScore:Number = Number.MAX_VALUE;
var minNext:NodeGridNode;
openList.iterate(function(next:NodeGridNode, i:int):int {
var score:Number = curNode.distanceTo(next) + next.distanceTo(target);
if (score < minScore) {
minScore = score;
minNext = next;
return LinkedSet.BREAK;
}
return 0;
});
curNode = minNext;
}
// have not reached
if (curNode == target) break;
else {
// move to closed
openList.remove(curNode);
closedList.add(curNode);
// put connected nodes on open list
for each (var adjNode:NodeGridNode in curNode.connects) {
if (!openList.contains(adjNode) && !closedList.contains(adjNode)) {
openList.add(adjNode);
backtrace.put(adjNode, curNode);
}
}
}
}
// make path
var pathPoints:Vector.<Point> = new Vector.<Point>();
pathPoints.push(to);
while(curNode != null) {
pathPoints.unshift(curNode.location);
curNode = backtrace.read(curNode);
}
pathPoints.unshift(from);
return new PointLine(pathPoints);
}
NodeGridNode::distanceTo()
public function distanceTo(o:NodeGridNode):Number {
var dx:Number = location.x - o.location.x;
var dy:Number = location.y - o.location.y;
return Math.sqrt(dx*dx + dy*dy);
}
The problem I see here is the line
if (!openList.contains(adjNode) && !closedList.contains(adjNode))
It may be the case that an adjNode may be easier(shorter) to reach through the current node although it was reached from another node previously which means it is in the openList.
Found the bug:
openList.iterate(function(next:NodeGridNode, i:int):int {
var score:Number = curNode.distanceTo(next) + next.distanceTo(target);
if (score < minScore) {
minScore = score;
minNext = next;
return LinkedSet.BREAK;
}
return 0;
});
The return LinkedSet.BREAK (which acts like a break statement in a regular loop) should not be there. It causes the first node in the open list to be selected always, instead of the cheapest one.