From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
From: Matt Lundin <mdl@imapmail.org>
Subject: Re: Feature Request: Assort a subtree randomly ?
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:42:05 -0500
Message-ID: <87lj23ai0y.fsf@fastmail.fm>
References: <AANLkTimRRrQNCGwaHon=k18GCZWFniDoTvDJtXWCcX0b@mail.gmail.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Return-path: <emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org>
Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=47489 helo=eggs.gnu.org)
	by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1PjC08-0001cQ-Q7
	for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:42:09 -0500
Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <lundin@fastmail.fm>) id 1PjC07-0002xv-Dd
	for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:42:08 -0500
Received: from out1.smtp.messagingengine.com ([66.111.4.25]:55144)
	by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71)
	(envelope-from <lundin@fastmail.fm>) id 1PjC07-0002xo-7d
	for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:42:07 -0500
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimRRrQNCGwaHon=k18GCZWFniDoTvDJtXWCcX0b@mail.gmail.com>
	(Alan E. Davis's message of "Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:51:52 +1000")
List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." <emacs-orgmode.gnu.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/emacs-orgmode>,
	<mailto:emacs-orgmode-request@gnu.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-orgmode>
List-Post: <mailto:emacs-orgmode@gnu.org>
List-Help: <mailto:emacs-orgmode-request@gnu.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/emacs-orgmode>,
	<mailto:emacs-orgmode-request@gnu.org?subject=subscribe>
Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org
Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org
To: "Alan E. Davis" <lngndvs@gmail.com>
Cc: org-mode <emacs-orgmode@gnu.org>

"Alan E. Davis" <lngndvs@gmail.com> writes:

> Let's say I have a subtree, of review materials, for example.=C2=A0 I wou=
ld
> like to randomize the order of the elements.=C2=A0 I would like to have t=
he
> option to randomize the subtree in some different ways:
>
> =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 1.=C2=A0 sort the members of one subtree that is a lis=
t, randomly.
> =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 2.=C2=A0 sort all the headlines, randomly.
> =C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 3.=C2=A0 sort the subtrees randomly, and the lists wit=
hin each
> sub-subtree also randomly, ad nauseum.
>
> I have written a sort routine in elisp.=C2=A0 It's been many long years a=
go,
> but I remember that the basis support for writing sorts is pretty
> general.
>
> Suppose I had time to do this.=C2=A0 What would I need to look at?
>

You can use the custom function in the sort command to supply org-sort
with a random number. When calling org-sort, note the function option
presented:

,----[ C-c ^ (org-sort)
| Sort %s: [a]lpha  [n]umeric  [p]riority  p[r]operty  todo[o]rder  [f]unc
| [t]ime [s]cheduled  [d]eadline  [c]reated
| A/N/T/S/D/C/P/O/F means reversed:
`----

You could thus write a quick function, using whatever amount of
randomness you want:

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
(defun my-org-random-sort ()
  (random 1000))
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

Then on the appropriate subtree/table/list, type:

C-c ^ f my-org-random-sort

> Of course, my need is today, to sort review materials for my students
> in random order.

Sorry this response comes a little to late. :)

Best,
Matt