Update a SQL Server Column with Random Numbers within a Range

Some time back, I had shared some code to Update a Column with Random Numbers in SQL Server

A SqlServerCurry reader mailed back asking me if it was possible to generate random numbers between a minimum and maximum range. Here’s a sample query that does that:

Test Data

DECLARE @TT table
(
ID smallint,
StudentID smallint,
DayAlloted smallint
)
-- Create Sample Data
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 101, 1, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 102, 2, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 103, 3, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 104, 4, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 105, 5, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 106, 6, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 107, 7, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 108, 8, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 109, 9, 0);
INSERT INTO @TT VALUES ( 110, 10, 0);

UPDATE @TT
SET DayAlloted = ABS(CHECKSUM(NEWID())) % 10 + 1

SELECT * FROM @TT

The query generates a random number between 1 and 10.

Similarly to generate a random number between 24 and 123, use this query:

UPDATE @TT
SET DayAlloted = ABS(CHECKSUM(NEWID())) % 100 + 24

There are other ways to generate the random number within a range and this is just one of them. If you too have a script, please share it in the comments section.

About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCSE, is the founder of DotNetCurry, DNC Magazine for Developers, SQLServerCurry and DevCurry. He has also authored a couple of books 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls and a new one recently at The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Suprotim has received the prestigous Microsoft MVP award for nine times in a row now. In a professional capacity, he is the CEO of A2Z Knowledge Visuals Pvt Ltd, a digital group that represents premium web sites and digital publications comprising of Professional web, windows, mobile and cloud developers, technical managers, and architects.

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