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POHow can I insert random values into a SQL Server table?
 

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  1. POHow can I insert random values into a SQL Server table?
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    <p>I'm trying to randomly insert values from a list of pre-defined values into a table for testing. I tried using the solution found on this StackOverflow question:</p> <p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1289600/update-sql-table-with-random-value-from-other-table"><code>stackoverflow.com/.../update-sql-table-with-random-value-from-other-table</code></a></p> <p>When I I tried this, all of my "random" values that are inserted are exactly the same for all 3000 records. </p> <p>When I run the part of the query that actually selects the random row, it does select a random record every time I run it by hand, so I know the query works. My best guesses as to what is happening are:</p> <ul> <li>SQL Server is optimizing the <code>SELECT</code> somehow, not allowing the subquery to be evaluated more than once</li> <li>The random value's seed is the same on every record the query updates</li> </ul> <p>I'm stuck on what my options are. Am I doing something wrong, or is there another way I should be doing this? </p> <p>This is the code I'm using:</p> <pre><code>DECLARE @randomStuff TABLE ([id] INT, [val] VARCHAR(100)) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 1, 'Test Value 1' ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 2, 'Test Value 2' ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 3, 'Test Value 3' ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 4, 'Test Value 4' ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 5, 'Test Value 5' ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 6, null ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 7, null ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 8, null ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 9, null ) INSERT INTO @randomStuff ([id], [val]) VALUES ( 10, null ) UPDATE MyTable SET MyColumn = (SELECT TOP 1 [val] FROM @randomStuff ORDER BY NEWID()) </code></pre>
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    1. USDan Herbert
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    1. COThis question/answer may be useful: http://stackoverflow.com/a/9039661/47226
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      1. USAaron Hoffman
 

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