RE: Pulling Random Records from a file

If it were me, I'd simply generate 30 random numbers from 1 to (n=number of
records in file).  Then just chain to the file based on RRN.

Now if you need the code to do a random number in RPG, check the archives.
I'd be willing to bet someone has already posted it.

If nothing else, you could use C calls.

HTH,
Charles


> -----Original Message-----
> From: JMBauman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:JMBauman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 10:25 AM
> To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Pulling Random Records from a file 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Wanted to get some feedback about possible options to pull 
> random records
> from a file.   I am dealing with an invoice file for a date 
> (one day) for
> multiple locations.  I need to pull thirty random bills from 
> this file for
> a date and the number of bills I pull for a location must be 
> proportionate
> to that location's number of bills compared to number of 
> bill's for all
> locations.  With that being said, my quandary is how to pull 
> these bills
> randomly.  My first attempt at this, I read through the file 
> and selected a
> record every "random" number of seconds.  This was not random 
> enough as I
> was always grabbing my bills from the first hundred records for every
> location (about 500 records per location).  Any thoughts 
> would be greatly
> appreciated.
> 
> John M. Bauman
> Project Manager - Lead Programmer/Analyst
> Ward Trucking
> Second Avenue & Seventh Street, Greenwood
> Altoona, PA 16603
> 
> Direct Voice (814) 947-1284
> Fax (814) 944-5470
> www.wardtrucking.com
> 
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