Using Razor script to randomly pick a page node in Umbraco - macros

Question

The following code displays a testimonial item on the homepage of http://www.keelycattschoolofdance.co.uk which works nicely:
#using umbraco.MacroEngines;
#inherits umbraco.MacroEngines.DynamicNodeContext
#{
var numberOfItems = 1;
DynamicNodeList pages = #Model.Children.Where("umbracoNaviHide != true").Take(numberOfItems).OrderBy("UpdateDate");
}
<div>
#foreach (DynamicNode page in pages)
{
<h2>#page.Name</h2>
<p>#page.GetProperty("introText")</p>
<p>Read more...</p>
<p><strong>#page.GetProperty("personsName")</strong></p>
}
</div>
I would like to take this little script a stage further by selecting a random testimonial. How should I go about doing this?

Answer 1

try
var r = new Random();
var numberOfItems = 1;
List<DynamicNode> pages = new DynamicNode(Model.Id).Descendants().Items.Where(x => x.Visible).OrderBy(x => r.Next()).Take(numberOfItems).ToList();

Answer 2

I prefer the method of using Linq to generate random meta data and then sorting by it.
IPublishedContent containerNode = Umbraco.TypedContent(1144);
IPublishedContent randomlySelectedChildNode = containerNode.Children.OrderBy(n => Guid.NewGuid()).FirstOrDefault();
There is also a built-in Umbraco extension you can use:
var randomNode = containerNode.Children.RandomOrder().FirstOrDefault();

Answer 3

Try the ElementAt() Linq method:
Random r = new Random();
int max = 10; // set your own max
var items = #Model.Content.AncestorOrSelf(1).Descendants("SomeNode").First().Descendants("SomeChildNode").First().Children;
var item = items.ElementAt(r.Next(0, max)); // use linq ElementAt to retrieve your random node