How can I select random records ?

[Fred]

Can someone please help ?...

I need to select a set number of random records from a
table in SQL using an Access database; any ideas ?!

Cheers.

 

[John Vinson]

Can someone please help ?...

I need to select a set number of random records from a
table in SQL using an Access database; any ideas ?!

You can use the Top Values property of a query, with help
from a little VBA. Put this little function into a Module:

Public Function RndNum(vIgnore As Variant) As Double
Static bRnd As Boolean
If Not bRnd Then
'Initialize the random number generator once only
bRnd = True
Randomize
End If
RndNum = Rnd()
End Function

Then add a calculated field to your Query by typing

Shuffle: RndNum([fieldname])

in a vacant Field cell, where [fieldname] is any field in
your table - this forces Access to give a different random
number for each record.

Sort the query by Shuffle, and set its Top Values property
to the number of records you want to see.