Print random value from modulescript

Help and Feedback Scripting Support
#1

How would I print a random value from this modulescript

local Cards = {
	Card_1 = "Explode.", 
	Card_2 = "Dance."
}

return Cards
How to get a random value from a module script?
#2

You could copy the dictionary as an array, then chose a random value from there:

local Cards = {
	Card_1 = "Explode.", 
	Card_2 = "Dance."
}

--converts a dictionary to an array
function toArray(dictionary)
	local result = {}
	--do not use ipairs
	for _, v in pairs(dictionary) do 
		table.insert(result, v)
	end
	return result 
end

local array = toArray(Cards) 

local index = math.random(1, #array)
local chosen = array[index]
print(chosen)
3 Likes
#3 
local function GetTableSize(t)
  local a = 0
  for i,v in pairs(t) do
    a += 1
  end
  return a
end

local function GetRandValue(t)
  local rand = math.random(GetTableSize(t))
  local a = 0
  for i, v in pairs(t) do
    a += 1
    if i == rand then
      return v
    end
  end
end

or just a lot simplier and performant do what @NyrionDev mentioned

Or

Just make the table an array

local Cards = {
	[1] = "Explode.", 
	[2] = "Dance."
}
#4

Use this:

CardsDictionary = {
	Card_1 = "Explode.", 
	Card_2 = "Dance."
}

CardsTable = {
	"Card_1",
	"Card_2",
}

local randomCard = CardsDictionary[CardsTable[math.random(1, #CardsTable)]]
print(randomCard)
#5

You could use math.random to select a random value out of the table as the ModuleScript returns a table that can be used in other scripts. However, due to the structure of your module, you’ll need to use a method to change your dictionary into an array, as @NyrionDev mentioned.

A simple method from the solution to this ScriptingHelpers post can be seen below:

---> services
local ServerScriptService = game:GetService("ServerScriptService")

---> const
local cardsModule = require(ServerScriptService:WaitForChild("CardsModule")) -- change to the path of your module

-- change dictionary into array
local cards = {}
for card,_ in pairs(cardsModule) do
	table.insert(cards,card)
end
 
local randomCard = cards[math.random(1,#cards)]
print(randomCard)

The solution to this post may also be useful to you:

#6

Usually randomized values should use arrays. Your setup there can use some improvement:

local Cards = { --  This is now an array
    {
        CardNumber = "Card_1",
        Name = "Explode",
    },
    {
        CardNumber = "Card_1",
        Name = "Explode",
    },
}

local randomCard = Cards[math.random(1, #Cards)] -- Picks a random card from the array

Try to avoid dictionaries if you don’t need them.