This looks interesting; I'll try it out this weekend. You obviously know more Java than jimberry and I combined. Yes, it took 2 of us to write the original Randomizer.bsh, which hasn't been touched since PowerBase 1.0.

So far I can't get the .bsh to run; it returns the following error after processing the first file.

java.lang.StringIndexOutOfBoundsException: String index out of range: -1

So my randomImage.js looks like this:

var imagePath = new Array()
 
var thumbnailPage = new Array()
 
imagePath[0]="slides\1800s Pyramid.jpg";

At first I thought it was choking on albumfiles.txt, but I renamed it to zalbumfiles.txt and it still errored out after the first file. The next photo alphabetically is "Bird by the Ocean.jpg" and there's nothing in the JAlbum System Console, probably because of the try/catch. I'm not sure what's causing the error.

Is this the bug with the new(7.2) feature "Clear the output directory when using MakeAlbum - All" ?

That can be fixed in a checkbox in Tools>Preferences, or by using "Make Album - Changes".

Alan,

The error is the result of the code I used to get the path to the thumbnail index pages.
I have rewritten the offending line of code and added a bit more documentation.
In essence I was looking for the sub-string "/slides" when I should have looked for "slides" (for images at the root level directory)
So the code
if (imagePath.toString().toLowerCase().indexOf("/slides") != -1) {
thumbnailPath = imagePath.substring(0, imagePath.toString().toLowerCase().indexOf("/slides")) + "/" + engine.getIndexPageName() + engine.getPageExtension() + "\"";

should be
if (imagePath.toString().toLowerCase().indexOf("slides") != -1) {
thumbnailPath = imagePath.substring(0, imagePath.toString().toLowerCase().indexOf("slides")) + engine.getIndexPageName() + engine.getPageExtension() + "\"";

I've tried various JAlbum configurations and they all now seem to work.
Can you give the new code (attached) a try and let me know how you get on?

Rob

Alan, I think this time I've got it right!
The attached is the updated file. I've tried it with a folder of images and a sub-folder of images, that is: folder test contains 4 images and a folder called other, which contains 2 images.
JAlbum was set to link to originals via scaled images and the Random Slide Show tool was set to include originals and slides images.

The output file is:
var imagePath = new Array()
var thumbnailPage = new Array()
imagePath[0]="1800s Pyramid.jpg";
Originals_thumbnailPage[0]="index.html";
imagePath[1]="Angry Clouds_copy.jpg";
Originals_thumbnailPage[1]="index.html";
imagePath[2]="Bird by the Ocean.jpg";
Originals_thumbnailPage[2]="index.html";
imagePath[3]="Coit Tower.jpg";
Originals_thumbnailPage[3]="index.html";
imagePath[4]="other/other 1.jpg";
NotSlides_thumbnailPage[4]="other/index.html";
imagePath[5]="other/other 2.jpg";
NotSlides_thumbnailPage[5]="other/index.html";
imagePath[6]="other/slides/other 1.jpg";
thumbnailPage[6]="other/index.html";
imagePath[7]="other/slides/other 2.jpg";
thumbnailPage[7]="other/index.html";
imagePath[8]="slides/1800s Pyramid.jpg";
thumbnailPage[8]="index.html";
imagePath[9]="slides/Angry Clouds_copy.jpg";
thumbnailPage[9]="index.html";
imagePath[10]="slides/Bird by the Ocean.jpg";
thumbnailPage[10]="index.html";
imagePath[11]="slides/Coit Tower.jpg";
thumbnailPage[11]="index.html";

ImageCount = 12;

var randomImage = Math.floor(Math.random() * (ImageCount - 1)) ; // The random image number;

slideshowContent = '<a href= "' + thumbnailPage[randomImage] + '"><img src="' + imagePath[randomImage] + '" /><br />Click on the image to go to its (home) thumbnails page</a><br />Image: ' + imagePath[randomImage];

function getNext() {;
window.location = "random_slide_show.html";
};

Sorry for the problems to date, let me know if this works on your system or not.

Sorry, I left in some debug code - working on it too late at night!
See next entry from me for the corrected file

Message was edited by: RobM

hi all
i like this tool very cool

i have it working on www.bfphoto.co.uk had to play about with the .js it generated a little as i am using it from a diffrent location

what i am trying to do now is to have it load mutiple random images in the left frame

i tried repeating the
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
document.write(slideshowContent);
document.close();
//-->
</script>
in the html file but end up with 2 copys of the same image

so i have tried doing the below

var randomImage = Math.floor(Math.random() * (ImageCount - 1)) ; // The random image number;
var randomImage2 = Math.floor(Math.random() * (ImageCount - 1)) ; // The random image number;
var randomImage3 = Math.floor(Math.random() * (ImageCount - 1)) ; // The random image number;

slideshowContent = '<a href= "' + thumbnailPage[randomImage] + '"target=mainFrame><img src="' + imagePath[randomImage] + '" />
</a>
Image: ' + imagePath[randomImage];

slideshowContent = '<a href= "' + thumbnailPage[randomImage2] + '"target=mainFrame><img src="' + imagePath[randomImage2] + '" />
</a>
Image: ' + imagePath[randomImage2];

slideshowContent = '<a href= "' + thumbnailPage[randomImage3] + '"target=mainFrame><img src="' + imagePath[randomImage3] + '" />
</a>
Image: ' + imagePath[randomImage3];

in the .js file
but still no joy

ok so as you can tell java is not my thing
any recomendations?

I'm glad you like the slide show tool and that you managed to get it working as you wanted it.
I've looked at your site, very nice pictures.
Although unlikely, you may get the same image twice in the left frame. If it becomes a problem you could try generating subsequent images a random number from the previous one, rather than a random image from the total. Or better, but harder, is to note which image(s) have been used and if the same one is chosen then select another before refreshing the screen.

I will try to update the file so that extra unique random images are an option - unless you beat me to it and would like to send me your code.

RobM