Add a new column to the given table containing random numbers. This differs from the Add Sequence node, as the numbers are random, not sequential.
How to Configure a Random Number Node
- Connect the Random Number node to the relevant table.
- From the node's Properties panel, go to the Random Number Node window and define the following fields
- New Column Name: enter the name of the new random number column.
- Min Value: set the minimum random number value.
- Max Value: set the maximum random number value.
- Seed: select this option if you want the random numbers to remain static when the preview is refreshed. See below for details.
- Value Type: select Is Decimal if you want the random numbers to contain a decimal point.
- Preview the node to see a preview of the table with the new random number column.
From Tables or Columns, ensure that the new random number column is visible (by selecting its check box) and is not assigned to a measure. This ensures that the column will appear as a hierarchy within the given dimension in Discover and can be added to the query.
Seed
By default, when the preview is refreshed or the ETL is run again, the numbers generated for each row by the Random Number node will be refreshed. This means that each time the ETL is run the number for each row will be changed, and this will be reflected in any existing data discoveries containing the random number column.
If you want the random number column to remain static whenever the ETL is run, enable Seed from the node's Properties panel. When the seed is enabled, it must be assigned a numeric value; the default value is 1, but you may enter any value here. When the ETL is run again, the numbers will not be refreshed as long as the seed value is not changed.
In this scenario, whenever the ETL is run, the numbers in each row of the Random Number column will remain static. If additional rows are added to the table, the existing rows will retain their original random number, and a new number will be assigned to each new row.