random number

itworks

i'm passing entries from one table to another, how do i create a random number to store in the new table for the entries i'm passing.

not a random number for each, i need the number to be the same for all the entries i'm passing.

thanks in advance!

Sphynx

srand((double)microtime()*1000000); // random seed
$randomvalue = rand(0,100);  // assign randomvalue between 0 and 100

itworks

thanks a lot, i'm greatful for your help, this code is what i was looking for.

but maybe someone can explain it a bit so that i understand it and not just copy/paste the code, 'cause i'm gonna have to insert this number into the database and if i understand it'll be easier than asking how to do it each time i have something similar to do.

thanks a lot!

dalecosp

Well, the comments Sphynx provided explain it pretty well. The variable $randomvalue is being set between 0 and 100 by the rand() function. Vary the starting and ending values to change the range of numbers. In setting up a random array, I have found array_rand() to be quite helpful. As to srand(), the PHP manual insists that you will only get true randomness if you "seed" the rand() function first by using the srand() call, as Sphynx has shown. Most of us just accept that....

HTH,

diego25

It is worth noting though that after PHP 4.2.0 it is not necessary to seed the random number generator anymore.

Diego

dalecosp

Woo-hoo! I wish I could just read the manual all the time (not that I'm implying that's what you do)...it seems like so much stuff happens that I'm not aware of---thanks for the pointer!!

Sphynx

Originally posted by diego25
It is worth noting though that after PHP 4.2.0 it is not necessary to seed the random number generator anymore.

Diego

SWEET
Thanks dude! 🆒

itworks

thanks a lot to all of you!!

i'm happy too, to know that it isn't needed anymore, but i'm even more happy that i learned what it does before i start not using it, you've been more than helpful and i must tell u that it fited pretty good on my function.😃