generate random numbers, and selects the algorithm to use. Valid values for
0 - Default for current
language dialect. This is algorithm
3 in the
-lang fb dialect,
4 in the
-lang qb dialect and
1 in the
-lang fblite dialect.
1 - Uses the C runtime library's
rand() function. This will give different results depending on the platform.
2 - Uses a fast implementation. This should be stable across all platforms, and provides 32-bit granularity, reasonable degree of randomness.
3 - Uses the Mersenne Twister. This should be stable across all platforms, provides 32-bit granularity, and gives a high degree of randomness.
4 - Uses a QB compatible function. This should be stable across all platforms, and provides 24-bit precision, with a low degree of randomness.
For good results, using a seed that is not quite predictable should be used - for example, the value returned from
Timer. This should not be done too frequently though, because for the non-QB algorithms the integer value is used, so the seed will only change once a second, and calling
Randomize with the same seed will reset the sequence.
When you call
Randomize in QB compatible mode, part of the old seed is retained. This means that if you call
Randomize several times with the same seed, you will
not get the same sequence each time. To get a specific sequence in QB compatible mode, set the seed by calling
Rnd with a negative parameter.