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random(C)


random -- generate a random number

Syntax

random [ -s ] [ scale ]

Description

The random command generates a random number on the standard output. and returns the number as its exit value. By default, this number is either 0 or 1 (that is, scale is 1 by default). If scale is given a value between 1 and 255, then the range of the random value is from 0 to scale. If scale is greater than 255, an error message is printed.

When the -s, ``silent'' option is given, the random number is returned as an exit value but is not printed on the standard output. If an error occurs, random returns an exit value of zero.

Limitations

This command does not perform any floating point computations.

See also

rand(S)
© 2003 Caldera International, Inc. All rights reserved.
SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 -- 11 February 2003