# $rand() function?
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [March 19, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795 "2005-03-19T15:18:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@0x20](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/0x20)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795/1 "2005-03-19T15:18:46Z")
Hi,
First, thanks to the creators of mp3tag for such an excellent product. Goodbye Tag & Rename!
I have a question about the $rand() function. Is there a way to get it to return a random number within certain parameters? For example, I want to randomize the song order in a folder so i'd like to make an action to replace the track number with $rand($num\_tracks) or something.
However $rand() does not appear to work like a typical rand() function... it just returns an integer \> 0 with no upper limit, it seems. Usually in another language one would use something like int(rand($seed) \* $upper\_limit), but that's not an option here... or am I missing something? The help file doesn't want to tell me anything more.
Thanks again! 🙂
0x20
---
### Author:  [@Sebastian\_Mares](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Sebastian_Mares)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795/2 "2005-03-19T15:57:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Hi,
>
> First, thanks to the creators of mp3tag for such an excellent product. Goodbye Tag & Rename!
>
> I have a question about the $rand() function. Is there a way to get it to return a random number within certain parameters? For example, I want to randomize the song order in a folder so i'd like to make an action to replace the track number with $rand($num\_tracks) or something.
>
> However $rand() does not appear to work like a typical rand() function... it just returns an integer \> 0 with no upper limit, it seems. Usually in another language one would use something like int(rand($seed) \* $upper\_limit), but that's not an option here... or am I missing something? The help file doesn't want to tell me anything more.
>
> Thanks again! 🙂
> 0x20
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
As far as I know, you cannot set the boundaries for $rand().
If you want to randomize the track order in a folder and change the track numbers, click on the very first column (where the icons are) and then use the track numbering wizard [CTRL+K]. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@0x20](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/0x20)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795/3 "2005-03-19T16:00:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> As far as I know, you cannot set the boundaries for $rand().
> If you want to randomize the track order in a folder and change the track numbers, click on the very first column (where the icons are) and then use the track numbering wizard [CTRL+K]. 🙂
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
Cool, that is also good to know. I have a bigger idea for a script that could really use a $rand() with limits, but i can use that tip now. thanks Sebastian!
---
### Author:  [@dano](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dano)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795/4 "2005-03-19T16:03:22Z")
Try $num($left($rand(),2),2) as solution.
Do you also get the same numeres from the $rand() funktion?
41 18467 6334 26500 19169 15724...
---
### Author:  [@0x20](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/0x20)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795/5 "2005-03-19T18:05:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Try $num($left($rand(),2),2) as solution.
> Do you also get the same numeres from the $rand() funktion?
> 41 18467 6334 26500 19169 15724...
>
> \<{POST\_SNAPBACK}\>
that's a good idea, but still you could end up with track numbers higher than the total tracks in the album.
i suppose it's not a big deal... 😃
---
### Author:  [@DetlevD](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/DetlevD)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795/6 "2010-03-30T15:08:12Z")
> [@0x20](#):
>
> ... I have a question about the $rand() function. Is there a way to get it to return a random number within certain parameters? ...
Following example returns random numbers from 0 to 10:
$mod($rand(),11)
Following example returns random numbers from 1 to 11:
$add($mod($rand(),11),1)
Following example returns random numbers from 5 to 15:
$add($mod($rand(),11),5)
Following example returns random numbers from -5 to 5:
$sub($mod($rand(),11),5)
DD.20100330.1907.CEST
---
### Author:  [@system](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rand-function/1795/7 "2026-02-09T12:19:21Z")