RE: Select a random record in SQL

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I get random effects whether the rand() call is in the field list or not.
On another point, while "SELECT *, RAND() FROM MYFILE" won't work, the
syntax "SELECT MYFILE.*, RAND() FROM MYFILE" does work.

Joe

> From: Dan
> 
> 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.)