>No... not at all...
>
>RAND() works fine, even with the additional test for uniqueness. I was just wondering if there was an internal function to achieve the same thing.

Well, you can use the sys(2015) to get unique keys. Of course, you can convert chars to digits. This will give you unique numbers, but not random numbers. I wouldn't use this!

Vlad

>>As I said: if it's random, then it's not unique. So, it doesn't matter what method you use to get random numbers, you must test them to be sure you choose each number only once.
>>
>>Why? Why is RAND() not good? Too slow?
>>
>>Vlad
>>
>>>Is there another way to shuffle a list of phone numbers so that they are random?
>>>
>>>thx
>>>
>>>>If it's unique, it's not random! And if it's random than it's not necessary unique! :)
>>>>
>>>>Vlad
>>>>
>>>>>Yeah, I was just hoping for something like RAND(,U) <-- a unique parameter.
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm told that C++'s RAND() function returns unique numbers...
>>>>>
>>>>>Oh well, I did the SEEK to verify uniqueness and it works fine.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks
>>>>>
>>>>>>This is normal. Random numbers are not unique.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Each time you generate a new number you must do a SEEK and add it only if it is not already in your table.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Vlad
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I fill a file having 12000 records with 'random' numbers. Index on number unique
>>>>>>>shows only 7550 unique numbers
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>What's the problem? Ie: What doesn't work?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Vlad
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>We are using RAND() to create a random sampling of a phone number file so
>>>>>>>>>we need unique numbers so we don't re-use phone numbers
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Any way?