The old method was to grab the primary keys of all the records, then putting them into an array, count the array and pick a random number using the system random function. This random number is the array index, so then you can pull the primary key from the array and use it to retrieve the random record.

In other words, a pain in the ass.

I just found out, thanks to SQL Team, that you can do this:
SELECT TOP X whatever
FROM sometable
ORDER BY newid()

As stupid as it seems, the damn thing works! X is the number of records that you want. newid() returns a GUID. When the query runs, a column with GUIDs is created and the results are sorted before the X records are retrieved.

Works like a charm.

1. Relational
2. ability to store hundreds of thousands(nay millions) of records per table.
3. VERY fast. Users search the DB, and return grouped/sorted results. Normal people don’t like to wait.

this website has alot listed, but only marketing information.

So does anyone have any experience with any of these?

–Eric

So I was checking the total number of minutes used on my mobile phone for the month and thought it would be wonderful if they provided an RSS feed update each day of the total minutes left, how much extra time I’ve used, the last phone numbers called, etc. I could subscribe to this feed (password protected, of course), and see, very easily what the status of the phone is.

This could be expanded to other utilities as well — your long distance carrier, electric company, water company, bank accounts, credit accounts.

We have a few grocery stores locally that require you to have a “membership card” to get the best prices on their products. The most famous around here is Kroger’s “Plus Card”. Apparently they keep track of the things you buy. I’d love to have a feed with how much I’ve spent at Kroger’s for the month, year, quarter, etc… maybe even what items I buy most, etc.

I love data and statistics, and I want more of it!

I found this nice little article on how to create a self-signed digital signature that can be used to sign your VBA projects. Quite Handy. What would be even better is if I could use my already existing PGP/GnuPG key that has been signed my many people. Then it could REALLY be trusted… but of course those keys don’t show up as part of the Crypt store in windows.

iTunes is sexy. iTunes is simple. iTunes keeps track of how may times I play a song. I can sort my lists on that. iTunes keeps track of whcih songs I like best by voting. I can sort on that too. iTunes has Smart Playlists! iTunes doesn’t croak when I load my 14,0000 song collection into it. iTunes is F-A-S-T!

Smart lists are beautiful. I can’t wait for Outook 2003’s Smart Folders. I have a smart list that contains any song that I’ve rated a 3 or above — essentially my favorite songs. Granted, I haven’t rated all of my songs yet, but I will, eventually. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

iTunes will make my music manageable. it will make it enjoyable again, and will enable me to actually USE all the music I have.

Thank you, Apple.

Now all I need is a Mac.