Re: Select a random record in SQL

On 2/15/06, Raul A. Jager W. <raul@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> SELECT rand(), field1, field2,...,fieldn from MY/FILE
>     ORDER BY rand()
> Read the first 2000 (they will be randomly ordered)
>
> If you need aproximately 2000, you can use a "WHERE rand() < 0.02" and
> order by one of your fields


Very nice.  In my test of this, I didn't see the RAND() in the Select and I
used:
    Select * from dblib1/cumas
      where ORPD > 20050101 and ORPD < 20050731
      order by RAND()
This gave what appeared to be a random list (the file is, physically, in
ORPD [Post Date] order).  Can I trust this?  Or should I specify RAND() in
the Select clause?  ("Select *, RAND() from..." won't work.)

Thanks!
Dan