Creating Random Set Values For Each Cross Join from CTE

All we need is an easy explanation of the problem, so here it is.

I am trying to load up a table with values that are generated randomly based on another table. The issue is that the result set from the final Cross Join, is not unique (random) for each of the rows of the final cross joined table.

Deconstructed CTE
; with MinMax as   -- Step one get the range of values for each `DetailCategoryId`
(
     select distinct DetailCategoryId,
      min(DetailId) over(partition by DetailCategoryId) as [Min] 
    , max(DetailId) over(partition by DetailCategoryId) as [Max]
    from Ref.Detail
)

, RandProcess as   -- Step two pick a random number between the range for each
(
    select MM.DetailCategoryId
      ,   (MM.[Min] + FLOOR(RAND() * (MM.[Max] + 1 - MM.[Min]))) as Rando
    from MinMax MM
)

The final step is to create a cross reference table by Cross JOIN that will give the set of RandProcess into each item. .

select  PRJ.ProjectId, RD.DetailCategoryId, RD.Rando
from info.Project PRJ
CROSS JOIN RandProcess RD

The issue is that each set of data in the PRJ table is the same. Here is the first two rows of each set PRJ data.

10000   101 7
10000   102 10
...
10001   101 7
10001   102 10
...
10002   101 7
10002   102 10
Question

How can I get each of the PRJs sets to be different (random) for each of the PRJ’s rows?

10000   101 7
10000   102 10
...
10001   101 4
10001   102 11
...
10002   101 1
10002   102 14
Why

My goal is to insert these values into another table as test values for each of the PRJ data elements.

How to solve :

I know you bored from this bug, So we are here to help you! Take a deep breath and look at the explanation of your problem. We have many solutions to this problem, But we recommend you to use the first method because it is tested & true method that will 100% work for you.

Method 1

RAND() is evaluated once and hence you get the same value for all rows.

You can use newid() to simulate a random value. checksum() to convert it to integer and abs() to return absolute value. To get into the your required minimum and maximum range

(ABS(CHECKSUM(NEWID())) % (MM.[Max] - MM.[Min] + 1)) + MM.[Min]

Changes to your RandProcess cte

RandProcess as   -- Step two pick a random number between the range for each
(
    select MM.DetailCategoryId
      ,   (ABS(CHECKSUM(NEWID())) % (MM.[Max] - MM.[Min] + 1)) + MM.[Min] as Rando
    from MinMax MM
)

Note: Use and implement method 1 because this method fully tested our system.
Thank you 🙂

All methods was sourced from stackoverflow.com or stackexchange.com, is licensed under cc by-sa 2.5, cc by-sa 3.0 and cc by-sa 4.0

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