Private Method Error

Ruby
1

Once again, more questions.

So this is pertaining to my implementation of the name picker app.
When I pick a random name, I then proceed to check if it matches any
name in the used_names file. However, I keep getting a private method
error when I first choose a random line.
ERROR
-----------------------------------------|
namePicker-cli.rb:24:in random': private methodchop’ called for
nil:NilClass (NoMethodError)
from namePicker-cli.rb:22:in open' from namePicker-cli.rb:22:inrandom’
from namePicker-cli.rb:44

CODE
----------------------------------------|
def random

 until @valid == true
   File.open(@input_file) do |f|                   # Open the file
     lines = f.readlines                            # Read the lines
     chosen_one = lines[rand(lines.size) + 1].chop  # Select a

random one
end
----------------------------------------|

I have no clue why I’m getting this, and I’m almost in tears because
my computer doesn’t like me. Help?

-------------------------------------------------------|
~ Ari
crap my sig won’t fit

2

Hi –

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007, Ari B. wrote:

  from namePicker-cli.rb:22:in `open'
  chosen_one = lines[rand(lines.size) + 1].chop  # Select a random one
end

----------------------------------------|

I have no clue why I’m getting this, and I’m almost in tears because my
computer doesn’t like me. Help?

Let’s say lines has 10 elements. rand(11) gives you a number between
0 and 10, inclusive. Adding 1 gives you a number between 1 and 11.
Since the last index of lines is 9, that means that if you get 10 or
11, you’re indexing nil (lines[10] or lines[11]).

So… you probably want lines[rand(lines.size)].

(You probably also want to do something to update @valie :slight_smile:

David

3

On Jun 25, 2007, at 7:43 PM, [email protected] wrote:

Let’s say lines has 10 elements. rand(11) gives you a number between
0 and 10, inclusive. Adding 1 gives you a number between 1 and 11.
Since the last index of lines is 9, that means that if you get 10 or
11, you’re indexing nil (lines[10] or lines[11]).

So… you probably want lines[rand(lines.size)].

Ahh! Okay! Thanks!

(You probably also want to do something to update @valie :slight_smile:
Don’t worry, I do. I didn’t want to show my code for fear of
violating something.

~ Ari
English is like a pseudo-random number generator - there are a
bajillion rules to it, but nobody cares.