Arch Linux

sven

Member

Registered: 2005-02-01

Posts: 311

problems with bash and random numbers

I have a trouble getting bash to generate random numbers. I would like to make a function that would generate random numbers belonging to a certain range, like for example 300-1000. I have got this far with my function:

function rnumber()
{
#returns a random number between $1 and $2
#parameters:
#$1: floor
#$2: range
   let fin=$2-$1+1
   return $((RANDOM%$fin+$1))
}

Now with smaller numbers like 0-100 it works perfectly, but for some reason fails on big numbers - like 200-400.

awalk

Member

From: Perth, Western Australia

Registered: 2005-02-14

Posts: 40

Re: problems with bash and random numbers

The largest return value is 255.

echo the value instead of returning it, then use backquotes or $() to set the output to a variable.

sven

Member

Registered: 2005-02-01

Posts: 311

Re: problems with bash and random numbers

Thanks! That was it