Generating a random number (GRX)

[Kenneth Brody]

On 5/12/2010 12:14 PM, Chris Sellitto wrote:
> filePro® version 5.0.14RN9
> Windows Server/XP environments.
>
> I am trying to generate a number between 1-20, and seem to be doing something wrong.  I keep generating the same number over and over.  Below is a small test I tried, and RN always displays as 2192.
[...]
>         ◄ If:      rn eq ""
>         Then: rn(4,.0)=rand("20")
> 225  -------   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
>         ◄ If:
>         Then: rn=rand(" ")
[...]

Re-read the documentation on RAND().  The code as-written will re-seed the 
PRNG with "20" every time, thereby giving you the same "random" number every 
time.

Also, RAND() returns a number from 0 to 32767 (inclusive).  To get a number 
from 1-20, you need to do something with the return value to get it into the 
range you want.  A simple MOD() of 20 and add 1 will get you close, though 
it will slightly favor 1-8 over 9-20.

-- 
Kenneth Brody