Randomly Position MoveClip without Overlapping?

I'm using AS 3 and Flash CS 6.

I'm using this code to randomly place movie clips from the library in a container on the stage:

Code:

---

var container:Sprite = new Sprite();
addChild(container);
container.x = 300;
container.y = 200;

var food:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food);
food.x = Math.random()*450;
food.y = Math.random()*350;

var food1:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food1);
food1.x = Math.random()*450;
food1.y = Math.random()*350;

---

There are actually eight movie clips I am adding to the stage but just pasted the code from two.

Unfortunately they are overlapping, which isn't what I want.

Is there a way to ensure they don't overlap?

Many thanks.

You could use a timer to position the a movieclip and test whether it overlaps by using hitTestObject(object). You let the timer run changing x and y until there is no overlap and then stop it. However, this is ok if you have two or may be 3 clips. When the number is higher you have to test all of them against each other and then it gets complicated.

Thanks for the reply.

There would be about 6-8 objects I want to place on the stage so a timer, like you say, might be too intensive.

Is there a way I could use a grid type system and assign each object to its own grid (or area) on the stage.

The select at random, which objects to display?

That way there would be no chance of overlapping as each objects would only have one possible place it could be located, which would be unique to that object.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Here is a class (GridMaker) that creates a grid
http://www.flashscript.biz/flashas3/biz/index.html
However, usually you can only make a grid from one type of object. So one possibility is to create a grid of containers.

Thanks, I will have a look.

I should point out that I still need that in random positions, despite being placed on a grid.

Then you need to have the random x and y max not larger not to overlap with any neighbor image.

Thanks, can you point me in the right direction for finding the AS for that?

Would I be setting the numbers here with min and max values?:
food.x = Math.random()*450;
food.y = Math.random()*350;

What would that look like?
food1.x = Math.random()*< 100 > 500;
food1.y = Math.random()* < 100 > 500;

food2.x = Math.random()*< 501 > 1000;
food2.y = Math.random()* < 501 > 1000;

Or something else entirely?

Thanks.

If an x bigger than 100 would cause overlap, I would set the limit as 100 (Math.random()*100). I don't think you can have the smaller exception unless you do an if statement. Another possibility is to create an array with numbers and then use Math.random on the array. Then you can control easily the lower and upper limit.

I'm not really sure what would cause the overlap in terms of size. The objects (is that the right word?) are 155 x 69 pixels in terms of size.

I have uploaded my rough file if you want to have a look. Ignore the blue fish, its the orange fish that appear that are randomised.

The code to make them appear is:

Code:

---

var container:Sprite = new Sprite();
addChild(container);
container.x = 300;
container.y = 400;

var food:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food);
food.x = Math.random();
food.y = Math.random();

var food1:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food1);
food1.x = Math.random()*200;
food1.y = Math.random()*200;

var food2:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food2);
food2.x = Math.random()*300;
food2.y = Math.random()*300;

var food3:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food3);
food3.x = Math.random()*475;
food3.y = Math.random()*350;

var food4:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food4);
food4.x = Math.random()*475;
food4.y = Math.random()*350;

var food5:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food5);
food5.x = Math.random()*475;
food5.y = Math.random()*350;

var food6:food_mc = new food_mc();
container.addChild(food6);
food6.x = Math.random()*475;
food6.y = Math.random()*350;

---

and is in frame 40.

Do you know where I could find someone who could sort this out for me and how much it might cost?

Thanks for your help.

I found someone on Odesk to do this for me.

I'm attaching the fla file in case anyone else wants to know how to do this.

Attachment 74027