AS3 : Random XML ?? I can only Trace! Help please...

Hi,

I'm trying to set up a Quizz using Flash Action Script 3.

For now I only have one Keyframe with Actions and one external XML file.

I have this XML for Questions

<questions>
	<question> Question 1
		<answer>Answer A 1</answer>
		<answer> Answer B 1</answer>
		<answer> Answer C 1</answer>
	</question>
	< question> Question 2
		<answer> Answer A 2 </answer>
		<answer> Answer B 2</answer>
		<answer> Answer C 2</answe >
	</question>
	<question> Question 3
		<answer> Answer A 3 </answer>
		<answer> Answer B 3</answer>
		<answer> Answer C 3</answer>
	</question>
	<question>Question 4
		<resposta1> Answer A 4</resposta1>
		<resposta2> Answer B 4</resposta2>
		<resposta3> Answer C 4</resposta3>
	</question>
</questions>

Code (markup):

And this is my AS3

function radomizeXML(source:XML, nodes:int = 4):XMLList
{
	if (source.*.length() < nodes) return source.*;
	var list:XMLList;
	var hash:Array = [];
	var randomPosition:int;
	var node:XML;
	do
	{
		node = source.*[(Math.random() * source.*.length()) >> 0];
		if (hash.indexOf(node.toXMLString()) < 0)
		{
			hash.push(node.toXMLString());
			list ? list += node : list = XMLList(node);
		}
	} while (list.length() < nodes)
	return list;
}

var xmlLoader:URLLoader = new URLLoader();
xmlLoader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, showXML);
xmlLoader.load(new URLRequest("perguntas.xml"));

function showXML(e:Event):void {
	XML.ignoreWhitespace = true; 
	
	var myQuestions = new XML(e.target.data);
	
	trace(radomizeXML(myQuestions).toXMLString()); // THIS WORKS!!!
	
	var myQuestionsRandom:XML = radomizeXML(myQuestions).toXMLString(); // THIS GETS ERROR!
	
	
	trace(myQuestionsRandom. question.length());
	
	var i:Number;
		for (i=0; i < myQuestionsRandom.question.length(); i++) { // ERROR HERE TOO! IF :XML not set.
			trace(" Q: "+ myQuestionsRandom. question[i].text());
			trace(" A1: "+ myQuestionsRandom. question[i].answer.text());
			trace(" A2: "+ myQuestionsRandom. question[i]. answer.text());
			trace(" A3: "+ myQuestionsRandom.question[i]. answer.text());
			trace(" ----- ");
		}
}

Code (markup):

My problem is that I can trace my Random XML Result.

But When I try to trace and loop results I get error!


Could you please help me on this?

Thanks.

 

Why not parse the XML results to strongly typed objects, put it in a custom collection, then put a method in that collection obj to pull a random item...

 

Sorry, I did not understand.


Could you please explain with some example code?

Thanks!

 

How I would build it is with an IAnswer, Answer, and Resposta1 as Value Objects and one interface. Answer and Resposta1 implement IAnswer and all that is in IAnswer is a getter called answer as a string.

Next create VO's for your Question Objects, then create a QuestionCollection object that holds the questions and has helper methods like getByID(id:int):QuestionVO

So, iterate top down next, iterate your xml nodes over every Question, build a Question Object with an ID (which should live in the XML... this will tie the answers to the Question).

Then, iterate over your answer xml and push it through a factory which object to create, an Answer or a Respota1 object. Then push that into the Question object array.

Arg... I could just do it for you for some cash, hehe... and you'd have a hella slick flash app