Unity - Cannot generate random number within a class construct

Question

I have been trying to create my own class using C# in Unity but I've come across a small issue. Within my PlayerClass construct I want to generate a string of six random numbers using Random.Range (0, 9) use as a reference number. Currently, the line of code I am using to do this, looks like this:

refNum = Random.Range (0, 9) + Random.Range (0, 9) + Random.Range (0, 9) + Random.Range (0, 9) + Random.Range (0, 9) + Random.Range (0, 9);

I have created the variable refNum outside of the construct at the top of the class. Every time I run my game I get an error saying I cannot generate random numbers from within a class construct. Does anybody know a way around this?

Many Thanks,

Tommy

Not really a solution, but are you just summing 6 random numbers? As the result, you will have max 2 digit number. See https://stackoverflow.com/a/36104497/384674 also ;-) — Betlista, Jul 27 '17 at 12:55
Is this a monobehavior attached to an object? If so, use `Start()` or `Awake()` instead. — Draco18s no longer trusts SE, Jul 27 '17 at 13:36
@Betlista six dice rolled and summed do not have a uniform distribution. This may be important for the asker. — Draco18s no longer trusts SE, Jul 27 '17 at 13:37
I have tried using both Start and Awake but, because the script is not attached to an object, it still didn't work. @Draco18s — TommyE, Jul 27 '17 at 16:44
Is there any way I could call Start or Awake from the construct? @Draco18s — TommyE, Jul 27 '17 at 16:45
@TommyEaves No. MonoBehaviours are explicitly constructed through reflection magic and have limitations placed on them for a reason. — Draco18s no longer trusts SE, Jul 27 '17 at 17:13
@Draco18s My point was, that he mentioned he wanted to "generate a string of six random numbers", instead of that just summing 6 random numbers (which won't result in 6 characters long string)... — Betlista, Jul 27 '17 at 19:28
@Betlista Ah, yes, if it is supposed to be a *string* then it's definitely wrong. — Draco18s no longer trusts SE, Jul 27 '17 at 19:51

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 27 '17 at 17:26

1

To have a string containing six random digits (0-9) you need first be sure of which Random class you want to use (the one from UnityEngine or from System). If you are using the one from UnityEngine, you should do something like this:

string randomString = Random.Range(0, 9).ToString() + Random.Range(0, 9).ToString() + Random.Range(0, 9).ToString() + Random.Range(0, 9).ToString() + Random.Range(0, 9).ToString() + Random.Range(0, 9).ToString();

Or perhaps a more elegant way to do it:

string randomString = "";
    for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++)
        randomString += Random.Range(0, 9).ToString();

answered Jul 27 '17 at 17:26

grafo

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I have made a separate function within my PlayerClass which holds your second way of generating a random number. It works but I cannot call it through my constructor. Is there anyway that I can call this function each time I create a new variable of type PlayerClass from any other script? – TommyE Jul 27 '17 at 17:35
I have reproduced what you described without any errors. Have you ensured that you are declaring `using UnityEngine;` in the file that you are writing your `PlayerClass`? – grafo Jul 27 '17 at 18:36
Yes I am definitely using UnityEngine – TommyE Jul 27 '17 at 18:38
Could you include the error log in your question? It could be helpful – grafo Jul 27 '17 at 19:14
1

Never mind. I used this method then just called the function from the script where I was creating the new variable. Thank you! – TommyE Jul 28 '17 at 19:01

Unity - Cannot generate random number within a class construct

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