Random not very random

[JackDanIce]

Hi,

For a bit of fun, I have a list of quotes which when my main macro is run, automatically selects and displays one. Simplified code I'm using is:

Sub Randomi ()
 
Dim i as integer
i = (i * Rnd() + 1)
MsgBox i
 
End Sub

But everytime I first run this macro after first opening the workbook, i is always generated with the same value - does anyone know why this is and how to make it not do this? I have other code that bounds i between a minimum and maximum value but as said, above is very reduced as this is where in my code the problem is occuring.

Thanks,
Jack

 

[VoG]

Try this

Sub Randomi()
Dim i As Integer
Randomize
i = (i * Rnd() + 1)
MsgBox i
End Sub

 

[SteveO59L]

From the help on RND()

For any given initial seed, the same number sequence is generated because each successive call to the Rnd function uses the previous number as a seed for the next number in the sequence.

Before calling Rnd, use the Randomize statement without an argument to initialize the random-number generator with a seed based on the system timer.

 

[Weaver]

I think you have to issue a 'randomize' command first. I think the random number generator does operate along a (randomly seeded) sequence though - genuine randomness has always been an issue to the black and white world of binary coding.

HTH

 

[JackDanIce]

VoG thanks for the code modification,
Steve059L thanks for the explanation,
Weaver, CoG beat you to it, but thanks for your reply!

Cheers guys,
Jack