Question

I’m making an Android App for my friends and family based on the game Taboo. Basically, the game displays a main word, and then a list of restricted words. The object is to get your teammates to say the main word, but you cannot say any of the restricted words.

For this app, I would need several hundred main words, plus 7 restricted words for each main word.

My issue is how to store these so they can be accessed by a randomly by the app.

My initial thought was to use an XML resource using string arrays, but I do not know how I would reference these with a random generator.

I am open to any and all suggestions. I am working in Eclipse using the Android SDK.

Just to clarify, I am experienced in Java/C/C++, but this is my first Android App. I have the game framework almost complete, and this is my only major issue.

Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

You can use the xml method you said with a random. Something like this:

Lets say you have 1 string-array which contains the 8 words (1 correct and 7 restricted), you can have as many arrays with different names. They are saved in string.xml

Now in java create the Random and check what number you get, then if you get x number open x string-array.

Here’s an example:

<string-array name="a">
    <item>A</item>
    <item>B</item>
    <item>C</item>
    <item>D</item>
    <item>E</item>
    <item>F</item>
    <item>G</item>
    <item>H</item>
</string-array>

now in java:

Random r = new Random();
int i1 = r.nextInt(max - min + 1) + min;

then check your number:

if (i1 == 0){
//do your magic code here with string-array a
} else ...

or use any method you like, like switch…

Edit: or a trick can be to make names of string-array a# (Of curse # is a number) then do:

array = getResources().getStringArray(R.array.a+i1);

With this method you don’t need the if else or switch or whatever you want to use.

NOTE: this code is from my mind so it can have some writing errors.