mt_rand

And for those who prefer scaling:

mt_rand() / RAND_MAX * (Max - Min) + Min;

Don't forget to do mt_srand() before the mtrand() or you wil get the same
values every time you'll go back to the same page.
Not when you refresh
the page, only when you open the page in a new browserwindow and the
history is empty.

Here's an elegant way of generating a random float value within a certain
range:

$range = $upperBound-$lowerBound;
$num = $lowerBound + $range * mt_rand(0, 32767)/32767;

You should now have a floating point number between your $lowerBound (i.e.
0.5) and $upperBound (0.75) values.

There is a intresting article on Developers resources about 
Pseudo-random PHP functions and truly random number generators.
http://www.developers-resources.com/stories.php?story=01/12/03/3988084

They have wrote a function that randomly retrieves a random number. Either
generated by the computer pseudo-randomly or from one of two truly random
number sites.

well, the rand function works, but looks like it has a limitation to it.

look at this :
function calcres($number)
{
    global $Supplies;
    srand ((double) microtime() * 1000000);
	    $retval = 0;
    $a = 0;
    if ($a!=$number)
    {
        do
        {
            $a++;
            $tmp = rand(0,3+($roids+$retval));
            if ($tmp<20) $retval++;
        }while($a<$number);
    }
    return $retval;
}

Later it takes this random number and adds it to the data base fine. adding
to the random numbers up until you hit a specific point. 

now, while this works fine, when you hit "32780" or around there
in the data base(in this case mySQL) you then get errors showing that the
line is out of range. like the following:

Warning: rand(): Invalid range: 0..32780 in ..usr\inet\waves.php on line
20

What can be done to overcome this possible limitation?

My question is, would there be a workaround or fix to this limitation? or
is this a limitation of the rand() function? and not a bug in this
programming structure.

ok, an update to my last comment

well, the rand function works, but looks like it has a limitation to it.

look at this :
function calcres($number)
{
    global $Supplies;
    srand ((double) microtime() * 1000000);
	    $retval = 0;
    $a = 0;
    if ($a!=$number)
    {
        do
        {
            $a++;
          #  $tmp = rand(0,3+
          # the rand is limited in the function,  Especcially with the
current formula that im using here. but the fix is quite simple. just
change the rand to mt_rand this will increase your random findings and
stablize your php program, 
($supplies+$retval));
            if ($tmp<20) $retval++;
        }while($a<$number);
    }
    return $retval;
}

This function will work best with the mt_rand runction and not only that,
it is most defanitly more stable. meaning you will not hit the limitation
that will cause the SQL event out of range error.

//
// Generates a random string with the specified length
// Chars are chosen from the provided [optional] list
//
function simpleRandString($length=16,
$list="0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"){
	mt_srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
	$newstring="";

	if($length>0){
		while(strlen($newstring)<$length){
			$newstring.=$list[mt_rand(0, strlen($list)-1)];
		}
	}
	return $newstring;
}

//
// Generates a random string with the specified length
// Includes: a-z, A-Z y 0-9
//
function randString($length=16){
	mt_srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
	$newstring="";

	if($length>0){
		while(strlen($newstring)<$length){
			switch(mt_rand(1,3)){
				case 1: $newstring.=chr(mt_rand(48,57)); break;  // 0-9
				case 2: $newstring.=chr(mt_rand(65,90)); break;  // A-Z
				case 3: $newstring.=chr(mt_rand(97,122)); break; // a-z
			}
		}
	}
	return $newstring;
}

On an Apache 1.3.3 server, the seed mt_rand() uses resets to the same value
every time the PHP file is uploaded.  This means that if mt_rand(1,500)
returns 273 the first time it is used in your PHP file, it will return 273
again if you re-upload this file.  You have been warned.

To return a random decimal value between 0 and 1:
$randval=mt_rand()/mt_getrandmax();