RAND()

Class

Numeric Data

Purpose

Function to return a random number

Syntax

RAND([<expN>])

See Also

GETPID(), TMPNAM(), SET COMPATIBLE, SYS()

Description

The RAND() function returns a number in the range 1 to 2147483647. Subsequent calls to RAND() will produce different numbers, but the sequence of numbers will be the same each time.

With SET COMPATIBLE set to FOXPRO | FOXBASE | VFP the number range is between 0 and 1 and a seed can be specified in <expN>. Using the same positive value in <expN> and omitting it in subsequent calls to the RAND() function will return the same sequence of numbers. Using a negative value in <expN> creates a seed based on the system clock, so subsequent RAND() calls will produce a different sequence of values.

Example

? rand()
     31466
 
set compatible to foxpro
? rand(-1)
      0.66
? rand()
      0.73

Products

Recital Database Server, Recital Mirage Server, Recital Terminal Developer