Rnd function

Returns a Single containing a random number.

Syntax

Rnd[(number)]

The optional numberargument is a Single or any valid numeric expression.

Return Values

If number is	Rnd generates
Less than zero	The same number every time, using number as the seed.
Greater than zero	The next random number in the sequence.
Equal to zero	The most recently generated number.
Not supplied	The next random number in the sequence.

Remarks

The Rnd function returns a value less than 1 but greater than or equal to zero.

The value of number determines how Rnd generates a random number:

For any given initial seed, the same number sequence is generated because each successive call to the Rnd function uses the previous number as a seed for the next number in the sequence.

Before calling Rnd, use the Randomize statement without an argument to initialize the random-number generator with a seed based on the system timer.

To produce random integers in a given range, use this formula:

Int((upperbound - lowerbound + 1) * Rnd + lowerbound)

Here, upperbound is the highest number in the range, and lowerbound is the lowest number in the range.

Note:  To repeat sequences of random numbers, call Rnd with a negative argument immediately before using Randomize with a numeric argument. Using Randomize with the same value for number does not repeat the previous sequence.

Query example

Expression	Results
SELECT ProductSales.ProductID, Rnd([Discount]) AS RandomNumbers FROM ProductSales;	Returns the Product ID along with random numbers in column RandomNumbers.

VBA Example

Note: Examples that follow demonstrate the use of this function in a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) module. For more information about working with VBA, select Developer Reference in the drop-down list next to Search and enter one or more terms in the search box.

This example uses the Rnd function to generate a random integer value from 1 to 6.

Dim MyValue
' Generate random value between 1 and 6.
MyValue = Int((6 * Rnd) + 1)