STL Sample for the random_shuffle Function

• The Standard C++ Library included with: - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, version 4.2

SUMMARY

The sample code below illustrates how to use the random_shuffle STL function in Visual C++.

MORE INFORMATION

Required Header

   <algorithm>

Prototype

   template<class RandomAccessIterator, class Predicate> inline
   void random_shuffle(RandomAccessIterator first,
                       RandomAccessIterator last,
                       Predicate pred)

Description

The random_shuffle algorithm shuffles the elements of a sequence [first..last) in a random order.

The predicate version uses the pred function to generate the indices of the elements to swap. The pred has to be a function object that takes a parameter n and returns an integral random number in the range 0 - (n - 1).

The predicate version of random_shuffle uses operator= to perform swaps.

Sample Code

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// Compile options needed: /GX
//
// random_shuffle.cpp: Illustrates how to use the predicate version
//                      of the random_shuffle function.
//
// Functions:
//
//    random_shuffle: Shuffle the elements in a random order.
//
      Rand: Given n, generates an integral random number in the
//          in the range 0 - (n - 1).
//
// Written by Kalindi Sanghrajka
// of Microsoft Product Support Services,
// Software Core Developer Support.
// Copyright (c) 1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// disable warning C4786: symbol greater than 255 character,
// okay to ignore

#include <iostream>
#include <algorithm>
#include <functional>
#include <vector>

// return an integral random number in the range 0 - (n - 1)
int Rand(int n)

    return rand() % n ;

void main()

    const int VECTOR_SIZE = 8 ;

    // Define a template class vector of int
    typedef vector<int, allocator<int> > IntVector ;

    //Define an iterator for template class vector of strings
    typedef IntVector::iterator IntVectorIt ;

    IntVector Numbers(VECTOR_SIZE) ;

    IntVectorIt start, end, it ;

    // Initialize vector Numbers
    Numbers[0] = 4 ;
    Numbers[1] = 10;
    Numbers[2] = 70 ;
    Numbers[3] = 30 ;
    Numbers[4] = 10;
    Numbers[5] = 69 ;
    Numbers[6] = 96 ;
    Numbers[7] = 100;

    start = Numbers.begin() ;   // location of first
                                // element of Numbers

    end = Numbers.end() ;       // one past the location
                                // last element of Numbers

    cout << "Before calling random_shuffle:\n" << endl ;

    // print content of Numbers
    cout << "Numbers { " ;
    for(it = start; it != end; it++)
        cout << *it << " " ;
    cout << " }\n" << endl ;

    // shuffle the elements in a random order.
    // the pointer_to_unary_function adapter converts a function to a
    // function object.
    random_shuffle(start, end, pointer_to_unary_function<int, int>(Rand));

    cout << "After calling random_shuffle:\n" << endl ;

    cout << "Numbers { " ;
    for(it = start; it != end; it++)
        cout << *it << " " ;
    cout << " }\n" << endl ;

Program Output is:

Before calling random_shuffle

Numbers { 4 10 70 30 10 69 96 100 }

After calling random_shuffle

Numbers { 10 30 4 70 96 100 69 10 }

REFERENCES

Visual C++ Books On Line: Visual C++ Books:C/C++:Standard C++ Library Reference.