Generating random non repeating colors to labels in Visual Basic 6

Question

I want to call a random color between 8 different colors and display it in a label as its backcolor in Visual Basic. How can I display the colors without repeating a color that has been called out on a specific label?

For example, if color red is called out and displayed in labelA1, how can I make sure that color red won't be called out and displayed in labelB1, labelC1 or labelD1 but can be called out in labelA13 or labelB16?

Below is a picture to help understand the example above.

Possible duplicate of [Unique (non-repeating) random numbers in O(1)?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/196017/unique-non-repeating-random-numbers-in-o1) — Robert Kock, Oct 26 '18 at 13:31
Look at shuffle algorithm implementations. You don't want "random" you want a shuffle. — Bob77, Oct 27 '18 at 21:12

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 31 '18 at 11:45

Use this code to make a list of colors then knock them off the list every time one is used.

Private Function RandomizeLabelColors() As Integer
    Randomize()
    Dim listOfColors As List(Of Color) = {Color.Red, Color.Blue, Color.Green, Color.Orange}.ToList
    Dim labels As List(Of Label) = {Label1, Label2, Label3, Label4, Label5, Label6, Label7, Label8,
        Label9, Label10, Label11, Label12, Label13, Label14, Label15, Label16}.ToList
    Dim i As Integer = 0
    Do Until listOfColors.Count = 0
        Dim targetIndex As Integer = Int(Rnd() * listOfColors.Count)
        labels(i).BackColor = listOfColors(targetIndex)
        labels(i + 4).BackColor = listOfColors(targetIndex)
        labels(i + 8).BackColor = listOfColors(targetIndex)
        labels(i + 12).BackColor = listOfColors(targetIndex)
        listOfColors.RemoveAt(targetIndex)
        i += 1
    Loop
    Return 0
End Function

I have my labels in a 4x4 grid.

-Mg

Generating random non repeating colors to labels in Visual Basic 6

1 Answers1