Re: Re: Random Select query

Find the number or rows first. then get a random number between 1 and the number or rows. then use the limit statement to limit the rows you select to one. make the offset the random number you generated. that will produce one random row. then do it three more times. Limit works different for different dbs so look up limit in your db docs. something like: SELECT * FROM TABLE LIMIT 1,randomOffsetValueGoesHere Matt. ----- Original Message ----- From: "_lallous" <elias_bachaalany@yahoo.com> To: <php-general@lists.php.net> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 8:34 AM Subject: [PHP] Re: Random Select query > SELECT * FROM TABLE WHERE catid=XXX ORDER BY RAND() > > > "Peter Allum" <develop@connectu.co.uk> wrote in message > news:20011107132734.46277.qmail@pb1.pair.com... > > Hi there, > > > > I am building a website to run tests for people I have a question bank of > > about 1000, split into 10 categories, Every time the test is taken I would > > like to randomly select 4 questions from each category. > > > > The site is being built using PHP4 & Mysql running on Apache. > > > > It is really just the query that I run I need help on though. > > > > Thank you in advance for your help. > > > > > > -- > > Regards, > > > > > > > > > > Peter Allum > > > > > > > > > > -- > PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > To unsubscribe, e-mail: php-general-unsubscribe@lists.php.net > For additional commands, e-mail: php-general-help@lists.php.net > To contact the list administrators, e-mail: php-list-admin@lists.php.net > > >