Ola Kristiansen ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

[Re: Intrinsics RAND1 and RAND2]

: I have a program written in COBOL calling these to
: intrinsics to generate random numbers.
: I have looked in the Intrinsics Reference Manual and done some searching
: in other sources without finding any documentation on the subject.
: Is there anybody out there who have heard of these intrinsics or
: can tell me where to find documentation ?

Perhaps you mean RAND and RAND1.  If so, you can find documentation
in the Compiler Library/XL Reference Manual, part number 32650-90029.
(I assume you are using an MPE/iX-based system.)

But if you are using COBOL II/iX, I suggest you consider using
the RANDOM function, which has been supported for several years
now.  It works just as well, and it's easier to use from COBOL,
because it doesn't require handling floating-point numbers.
Furthermore, it is standard COBOL, so your program will be
more portable and might be more maintainable in the future.

Walter Murray
Hewlett-Packard
Support Technology Lab
COBOL II/iX Project