>Correct! But you can generate random numbers to pick records from the table. As soon as a record is picked, you flag it or delete it... :)
>
>Don't take me seriously here! I'm only joking! You don't need to use the long way if you know the short one. :)
>
>Vlad
>
>>A quick test of SYS(2015) gave me:
>>
>>_RQ91824UH
>>_RQ91824UI
>>_RQ91824UJ
>>_RQ91824UK
>>_RQ91824UL
>>_RQ91824UM
>>_RQ91824UN
>>_RQ91824UO
>>
>>This appears to be unique but sequential, so if I then sort on this number, the result is not randomized. In fact the order may not change at all...
>>
>>thx
>>
>>>>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
>>>>>
hi,

>>>>>>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?

hi,
the way is to make unique or primary index in the table,
generate random number and replace it into table. If you move from this
record, unique type of index causes error event, so you shouldn't seek for
this random (but potentially non-unique) number. This way is better, especially
if you want to share table with another users (or using buffering)!.

Peter