select rand()

[greg252]

$query="select * from t_1 order by rand() limit 1";

Any reason this query would not select 1 random record.
It always selects the same record.

[Pig]

Couple reasons. I don't believe you can call a function that way. try seperating it out of the query:
"select * from t_1 order by". rand() . " limit 1";

Also, I don't think you can just call a column number that way. Even if you could, you haven't limited your rand(). rand could grab 8345, which I doubt you have as a valid column.

[greg252]

rand() is an SQL function. From the MAN:
"
SELECT FROM table_name ORDER BY RAND() This is useful to get a random sample of a set SELECT FROM table1,table2 WHERE a=b AND c<d ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1000. Note that a RAND() in a WHERE clause will be re-evaluated every time the WHERE is executed. RAND() is not meant to be a perfect random generator, but instead a fast way to generate ad hoc random numbers that will be portable between platforms for the same MySQL version.
"

but i get the same record EVERY time!

[nnichols]

It is best to seed the mysql RAND() function. It is quite a common question on the forum here.

check this thread - http://www.phpbuilder.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10231330&highlight=%2ARAND%2A