RE: [PHP] retrieving random data from mysql database

When you say, Order by RAND() I would think the "Order by" construct expects a column name. In your case, it gets a decimal value. How does "Order by" treat decimal values? Oh, I just checked the manual: In MySQL Version 3.23, you can, however, do: SELECT * FROM table_name ORDER BY RAND() I still don't understand how does "Order by" work with a decimal value!!! David Freeman <dfreeman@outbackqld.net.au> wrote: > can you teach me how to retrieve random data from my > database? like for example...i have a list of names on my > database and i'd like to retrieve only one name at a > time..randomly. how do i go about this? This is really a database question rather than a php question and you haven't said which database you're using so it's hard to give a definitive answer. In MySQL you'd do something like this: Select * from some_table where some_condition order by RAND() limit 1; That would select one random row out of all rows that meet "some_condition". CYA, Dave -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes