RE: RANDOM function with COBOL400?

["Ray Harris" <rharris@xxxxxxxxxx>]

There is no random number function in cobol.  There are a couple of callable
cobol random number generators in a thread
http://www.as400network.com/Forums/Thread.cfm?CFApp=19&Thread_ID=17435&mc=3

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cobol400-l-admin@midrange.com
> [mailto:cobol400-l-admin@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Kelly Cookson
> Sent: Friday, August 24, 2001 8:10 AM
> To: COBOL400-L@midrange.com
> Subject: RANDOM function with COBOL400?
>
>
> Newbie question.
>
> I have to generate a list of randomly selected
> employees for drug testing.  I was thinking of using
> the RANDOM function.  Unless someone has a better
> idea! :)
>
> I can't seem to get the RANDOM function coded
> properly.  When I code the following line using SEU:
>
>      COMPUTE X = FUNCTION RANDOM.
>
> SEU highlights the line and gives the following error
> message:
>
> "ANS COBOL reserved word FUNCTION will be accepted as
> a nonreserved word. A period is required before
> RANDOM. Line rejected."
>
> I tried coding the variation:
>
>     COMPUTE X = RANDOM.
>
> and got the error message:
>
> "RANDOM not arithmetic expression. Line rejected."
>
> What am I missing here?  How do I use the RANDOM
> function in COBOL400?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Kelly
>
>
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