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Real random strings

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    #1

    Real random strings

    This has probably been posted before, but I can't find it.

    I've tried using rand_string() to generate two random characters, but every time I run it, I get "OF" ... not random enough for my purposes!

    So is there a way to get actual random characters?

    Pat
    Pat Bremkamp
    MindKicks Consulting
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Real random strings

    Maybe a v10 bug?

    V5 and V8 don't repeat the string.

    Code:
    ? rand_string(2)
= "yh"
? rand_string(2)
= "nz"

? rand_string(2)
= "rc"

? rand_string(2)
= "si"

? rand_string(2)
= "xm"
    There can be only one.

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Real random strings

      V9 with V10 beta gives

      Code:
      ? rand_string(2)
= "im"

? rand_string(2)
= "ld"

? rand_string(2)
= "qv"

? rand_string(2)
= "wr"
      in the interactive window.

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Real random strings

        V10 full release

        Code:
        ?rand_string(2)
= "qi"

?rand_string(2)
= "xj"

?rand_string(2)
= "fl"
        Tom Baker

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Real random strings

          I'm glad to know it works in those situations; I hadn't tried them.

          But, if you try it in the BeforeValidateNewRecords event of a V10 Beta grid as
          DataSubmitted.prefix = upper(rand_string(5))
          it always produces "AOFVP"
          Pat Bremkamp
          MindKicks Consulting

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Real random strings

            Pat,

            Many of us here in the Desktop section have no familiarity with the

            BeforeValidateNewRecords event
            There can be only one.

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Real random strings

              :)
              Last edited by Tom Cone Jr; 10-05-2009, 04:19 PM.

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Real random strings

                Pat, its probably caching the initial results and redisplaying. I have had to clear the cache after making programming changes in order to have my new code produce and display a new result. In fact, I wanted to suggest to Alpha they add a Do Not Cache option which we would turn on during development, and then off when going live.
                Steve Wood
                See my profile on IADN

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Real random strings

                  This problem is specific to web apps. We've identified the cause and arte working on a fix.

                  -Lenny

                  Lenny Forziati
                  Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
                  Alpha Software Corporation

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Real random strings

                    Originally posted by Steve Wood View Post
                    Pat, its probably caching the initial results and redisplaying. I have had to clear the cache after making programming changes in order to have my new code produce and display a new result. In fact, I wanted to suggest to Alpha they add a Do Not Cache option which we would turn on during development, and then off when going live.
                    Steve, have you seen Response.NoCache() - This is a new method that sets a number of response headers which indicate to the client, and any proxy servers, that this response should never be cached. This method simplifies previous techniques that required multiple lines of Xbasic to accomplish the same result. This is recommended for use in any page that displays sensitive data that should not remain in a client or proxy cache due to security concerns.

                    It wouldn't exactly be automatic for your application, but you could use an include to add/remove this on all your pages based on where you are publishing to.

                    Lenny Forziati
                    Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
                    Alpha Software Corporation

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Re: Real random strings

                      Stan and Tom,

                      Don't tell the web people (just our secret), but I think you desktop people are more familiar with functions that they are, and I thought this was a function problem, not a web problem!

                      Lenny, thanks for checking it out so quickly.

                      Pat
                      Pat Bremkamp
                      MindKicks Consulting

                      Comment

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