i am creating a batch file that requires me to read a random line in a .txt file.
for example it WOULD find the random line in file.txt and display it onscreen.
i need to search through a 200-line .txt file and pull a random line.
then it would be echoed onscreen.
i figured someone would have a fancy FOR script for this.@echo off
REM test.txt is a file of 200 lines
REM this script will select a line at random
REM and echo it on screen

set linecount=200
set /a number=(%random% %% %linecount%)+1
For /f "skip=%number% delims=" %%L in ('type test.txt') do set line=%%L & goto next
:next
echo %line%




YES, it can be done in a Batch file. Do you intend to invoke it from another program or batch file?
Here is a very simple program to do only ten lines of text.
Code: [Select]echo please wait..
echo off
:loop
set num=%randOM%
if %num% GTR 5 goto loop
if %num% LSS 1 goto loop
echo number %num%
if %num%==1 goto goblin
if %num%==2 goto wolf
if %num%==3 goto cat
if %num%==4 goto girl
if %num%==5 goto dragon
:goblin
echo Goblin creature is attacking you!
goto EXIT
:wolf
echo Wolf creature is attacking you!
goto exit
cat:
echo Cat creature is attacking you!
goto exit
girl:
echo Girl creature is attacking you!
goto exit
:dragon
echo Dragon creature is attacking you!

:exit
OK, that is not what you asked for, but it is a start.
edit: My code does not use a FOR loop.
The Salmon Trout code is MUCH better.Quote from: Geek-9pm on July 30, 2013, 10:59:47 AM

Girl creature is attacking you!