Fill table with random values

[RobV]

I'm trying to fill a database with some testdata:

update mgMainScore set Score = (rand() * 5) + 1

But all the rows in the table have the same value. Any help?

Thnx,
Rob.

 

[Bernadette]

Hi Rob

The reason the random number is not changing is you have to change the seed(starting value) that the random function uses to generate the random number. The random number is not truly random as it is based on a seed.

This example uses a seed (@counter) and generates 5 random numbers, each time through the loop it adds 1 to @counter thus changing the seed.


DECLARE @counter smallint
SET @counter = 1
WHILE @counter < 5
BEGIN
SELECT RAND(@counter)
SET @counter = @counter + 1 -- CHANGING THE SEED VALUE
END
GO


Hope this Helps
Bernadette X-)

 

[ColinM]

I getter better (more random) results if the seed is removed, in the above example