How to not generate a stack overflow when a sub procedure calls itself? - vb.net

Question

This code generates a stack overflow. I'm aware it is caused by the procedure calling itself.
What can I do to avoid the stack overflow? Recalling the sub procedure and generating a new random number is the easiest thing to do, however it generates the overflow. The randomly generated number picks a random inventory item, then the if statement matches that number (random inventory item) with the quantity of that item from the deck inventory to make sure it isn't less than 1. If the inventory of that item is 0, the else plays and restarts the procedure, generating a new random number and doing the process all over again. In another procedure I have a function that if the deck's inventory becomes completely empty, then the discard pile replenishes the deck, making the discard pile empty, so there should never be a case where all randomly generated numbers can be associated item with a inventory of 0.
I wonder if I could somehow force the random number generator
Number = (DeckGroup(Rnd.Next(0, DeckGroup.Count)).ID)
not to generate numbers to inventory items DeckGroup(Number).QuantityInteger that are zero. By doing so I wouldn't even need to recall the function.
The random number is generated by a different branch in the same structure group.
Private Sub PlayElse()
Dim CardCheckBoxArray() As CheckBox = {CardCheckBox1, CardCheckBox2, CardCheckBox3, CardCheckBox4, CardCheckBox5}
'Reset Number Generator
Number = (DeckGroup(Rnd.Next(0, DeckGroup.Count)).ID)
Dim PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger As Integer
For PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger = ChecksDynamicA To ChecksDynamicB
If CardCheckBoxArray(TextBoxInteger).Checked = True And DeckGroup(Number).QuantityInteger > 0 Then
DeckGroup(Number).QuantityInteger -= 1
'Select the Player depending value of T
Select Case T
Case 0
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger += 1
Case 1
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger2 += 1
Case 2
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger3 += 1
Case 3
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger4 += 1
Case 4
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger5 += 1
End Select
CardTypeArray(PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger) = Player1HandGroup(Number).CardType
CardCheckBoxArray(TextBoxInteger).Text = Player1HandGroup(Number).CardNameString
NumberArray(PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger) = Number
Else
If CardCheckBoxArray(TextBoxInteger).Checked = True And DeckGroup(Number).QuantityInteger < 0 Then
Call PlayElse()
End If
End If
Next PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger
End Sub

Answer 1

You could use LINQ to weed out all the objects you never want to get first and then use the collection returned by the linq instead of your original collection.
Something like:
Private Sub PlayElse()
Dim CardCheckBoxArray() As CheckBox = {CardCheckBox1, CardCheckBox2, CardCheckBox3, CardCheckBox4, CardCheckBox5}
'Reset Number Generator
Dim temp As IEnumerable(Of LunchMoneyGame.LunchMoneyMainForm.Group) = From r In DeckGroup Where r.QuantityInteger > 0 Select r
If temp IsNot Nothing AndAlso temp.Any Then
Number = (temp(Rnd.Next(0, temp.Count)).ID)
' ** Edit **: This will ensure that you only got 1 object back from the LINQ which can tell you whether or not you have bad data. You *can* exclude this check but its good practice to include it.
Dim obj As LunchMoneyGame.LunchMoneyMainForm.Group = Nothing
Dim t = From r In temp Where r.ID = Number Select r
If t IsNot Nothing AndAlso t.Count = 1 Then
obj = t(0)
End If
If obj IsNot Nothing Then
Dim PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger As Integer
For PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger = ChecksDynamicA To ChecksDynamicB
' ** Edit **
obj.QuantityInteger -= 1
'Select the Player depending value of T
Select Case T
Case 0
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger += 1
Case 1
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger2 += 1
Case 2
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger3 += 1
Case 3
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger4 += 1
Case 4
Player1HandGroup(Number).QuantityInteger5 += 1
End Select
CardTypeArray(PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger) = Player1HandGroup(Number).CardType
CardCheckBoxArray(TextBoxInteger).Text = Player1HandGroup(Number).CardNameString
NumberArray(PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger) = Number
Next PlayerQuantitySubtractionInteger
End If
End If
End Sub

Answer 2

Pass through the list and determine only those that are valid. Then randomly pull from that set. Here is a simple version of it. You could use LINQ as well, but this should be clear enough:
Dim validDeckGroupsIndexes As New List(Of Integer)
For ndx As Integer = 0 to DeckGroup.Count - 1
If DeckGroup(ndx).QuantityInteger > 0 Then
validDeckGroupsIndexes .Add(ndx)
End If
Next ndx
Then use this:
Dim deckGroupNdx As Integer = Rnd.Next(0, validDeckGroupsIndexes.Count)
Number = DeckGroup(deckGroupNdx).ID