Of course, if it's truly "random", or even the "pseudo-random" variety
that we get from computers, duplications are not only allowed, but
expected a certain percentage of the time. Indeed, a system that actively
avoids duplication would not qualify as a random-selection system, and
could, depending on the use of the non-random selections, land the user
in hot water.

Steve

 -----Original Message-----
From: owner-hp3000-l [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 1997 4:21 PM
To: HP3000-L
Subject: Re: Random employee selection

We used to re-calculate everyone's 'check-digit' and select those ending
in a particular number avoiding dups from last year if need be.



>----------
>From:  Jesus Valdes[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent:  Tuesday, October 21, 1997 11:39AM
>To:    [log in to unmask]
>Subject:       [HP3000-L] Random employee selection
>
>Gentle listers:
>       I'm writing a COBOL program that will select a random sample of
>employees. Does anyone know of a random number generator function that
>will allow me to pick employees using employee id and date of birth? The
>selection should change from year to year.
>       Thanks in advance for your help.
>