Question

With SQL , Can I insert random datetime values in a column giving a range?

For example, given a range of 2010-04-30 14:53:27 to 2012-04-30 14:53:27

I’m getting confused with the range part. as i will have just done this

INSERT INTO `sometable` VALUES (RND (DATETIME())) 

Answer 1

Here is an example that should help:

INSERT INTO `sometable` VALUES(
    FROM_UNIXTIME(
        UNIX_TIMESTAMP('2010-04-30 14:53:27') + FLOOR(0 + (RAND() * 63072000))
    )
)

It uses the date 2010-04-30 14:53:27 as the base, converts that to a Unix timestamp, and adds a random number of seconds from 0 to +2 years to the base date and converts it back to a DATETIME.

It should be pretty close but over longer time periods leap years and other adjustments will throw it off.