From: Sharon Phillips <phillipsds@...>
Date: 2007-07-22T16:02:46+09:00
Subject: Re: Method to return elements of an array in numeric 'rank'?

On 22/07/2007, at 1:59 PM, Jenny Purcell wrote:

> However, I just don't understand OO
> programming, my skills (such as they are) are procedural.

Ruby is an excellent place to get started with OO as it requires  
*much* less repetitious coding than, say, Java.

I've taken the liberty of changing your code slightly to use a Horse  
class and keep your horses in a collection 'horses'. I've tried to  
stay as true to the original code as possible, just changing what's  
required.
Basically, I've removed all the arrays into a Horse class which we  
can use to create new horses by calling its 'new' method with the  
line from the csv file (Horse.new calls Horse::initialize. I have not  
idea why the different names, just something to be aware know)

Cheers,
Dave

#! /usr/bin/env ruby

require 'csv'

# Written by Jenny Purcell based off starter code
# provided by Robbert Haarman

class Horse
   attr_reader :horse_name, :horse_info, :owners_initials, :best_result,
     :race_style, :best_time, :pre_points, :rolls, :score
   attr_accessor :new_pole

   def initialize(record)
     # Now we assign the appropriate fields of the record to
     # variables named after the fields in the CSV file.
     # Note that we need to call .to_i on the 6th field
     # to convert it from strings to integers.
     @horse_name = record[0]
     @horse_info = record[1]
     @owners_initials = record[2]
     @best_result = record[3]
     @race_style = record[4]
     @best_time = record[5]
     @pre_points = record[6].to_i

     # Roll the dice.
     # This generates an array containing five die rolls,
     # each die roll ranging from 1 to 6
     @rolls= (1..5).map { rand(6) + 1 }

     # Calculate score.
     # The score is the sum pre_points, and each of the die rolls
     @score= @rolls.inject(pre_points){|sum, i| sum+ i}
   end # initialize
end # Horse


# create an array to keep all our horses in
horses=[]

# For each record in the CSV file...
CSV::Reader.parse(File.open('horses.csv')) do |record|
   horses << Horse.new(record)
end # record

# Randomizing Post Position
Array.new(horses.size){ |m| m + 1 }.sort_by{ rand }.each_with_index  
do |pole, index|
   horses[index].new_pole= pole
end # pole, index

horses.each do |horse|
   puts CSV.generate_line([
     horse.pole_new,
     horse.horse_name,
     horse.horse_info,
     horse.owners_initials,
     horse.best_result,
     horse.race_style,
     horse.best_time,
     horse.pre_points]+
     horse.rolls+
     [horse.score])
     i = i + 1
end # horse

     # Features to add
     # Break ties.
     # Have it calculate race times
     # Have it calculate margins
     # Have it share out pre_points based on running style (adapt to
     # numbered "legs")
     # Have it export to basic HTML file (for archive/email results)
     # all sixes = possible NTR?
     # Two consecutive ones is a break in pace.