How would I update a column with a random date in the past 2 weeks using MySQL?
For example (code doesn't actually work):
UPDATE mytable
SET col = sysdate() - rand(1, 14);
How would I update a column with a random date in the past 2 weeks using MySQL?
For example (code doesn't actually work):
UPDATE mytable
SET col = sysdate() - rand(1, 14);
You can get a random integer with this expression:
To obtain a random integer R in the range i <= R < j, use the expression
FLOOR(i + RAND() * (j - i))
. For example, to obtain a random integer in the range the range 7 <= R < 12, you could use the following statement:SELECT FLOOR(7 + (RAND() * 5));
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/mathematical-functions.html
Use that to generate a random number of days, hours or minutes (depending on the resolution) and add that number to current date. Full expression would be something like this:
SELECT NOW() - INTERVAL FLOOR(RAND() * 14) DAY;
UPDATE mytable
SET col = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP - INTERVAL FLOOR(RAND() * 14) DAY
This sets col
to a date between (and including) current date and current date - 13 days. Multiply by 15 to get current date - 14 days.
Your main problem is that RAND()
doesn't allow a range of values like you specify. It will always return a value between 0 and 1.
I can't work out a 1..14 random solution right now, but to get you started, this will pick a random date within the last 10 days:
SET col = DATE(DATE_SUB(NOW(), INTERVAL ROUND(RAND(1)*10) DAY))