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How do I generate a random number between a specific range?

sravani27
Path Finder

Hi, How can I generate a random number between 1 to 20. I random() function doesn't allow to specify a range. please help

Tags (1)

PickleRick
SplunkTrust
SplunkTrust

One thing - in case of small ranges it might be negligible but if you want a random number from a big range (like between 0 and 1.5*2^30) performing a modulo on random() will not give you uniform distribution.

0 Karma

gbhatti
Engager

@PickleRick I was not aware of this. Thanks for pointing it out.

0 Karma

worshamn
Contributor

Building a bit on @richgalloway 's answer I believe this works and allows you to set the high and low range. I added just some extra fluff for testing, your eval line could just look line 4 with high and low replaced with your range:

| makeresults
| eval high = 100
| eval low = 10
| eval rand = round(((random() % high)/(high)) * (high - low) + low)
| eval inRange = if(rand <= high AND rand >= low, "True", "False")

gbhatti
Engager

@worshamn Kudos! Building on your solution I slightly simplified the math.

 

...
| eval rand = random() % (high - low + 1) + low
...

 

 

woodcock
Esteemed Legend

@ppablo_splunk , this one should get moderator-answered.

0 Karma

richgalloway
SplunkTrust
SplunkTrust

Try using the modulo operator. For example, ... | eval rand=(random() % 20) + 1 | ....

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If this reply helps you, Karma would be appreciated.
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