# Expression random()

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [July 25, 2025, 4:35am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911 "2025-07-25T04:35:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 4:35am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/1 "2025-07-25T04:35:10Z")

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Hi,  
I know random() is not in the list of [Supported functions](https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/articles/18320182069916-Variables-and-expressions#supported-functions) but is there a way to get around the problem?  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 7:19am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/2 "2025-07-25T07:19:29Z")

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Whats!

random()

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**Author:** ![GroMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@GroMark](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/GroMark)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 7:52am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/3 "2025-07-25T07:52:29Z")

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I’d guess it generates a random number between two numbers which would be given in the (x, y) - like this. Pretty common in code, like python. But I don’t think there’s a way to do this, except manually generating random numbers and pasting them to input.

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**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 8:00am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/4 "2025-07-25T08:00:40Z")

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Ya common in programing, but so Random to state it’s a problem in the calculator.

Or I might not fully understand the random problem.

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**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 8:31am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/5 "2025-07-25T08:31:20Z")

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Seeing the list of supported functions, I thought I would also find random() which returns a random number, but no…  
Hence my question. Is there a way to get around this gap?

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**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 8:34am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/6 "2025-07-25T08:34:59Z")

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> [@SCALEMODEL](#):
>
> Ya common in programing, but so Random to state it’s a problem in the calculator.

In my opinion, random() is no more complex than the floor(n) or round() functions in the calculator.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 8:39am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/7 "2025-07-25T08:39:45Z")

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So instead of stating random functions or missing functions. State what you can’t do with

random()

Maybe I need it?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 10:01am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/8 "2025-07-25T10:01:45Z")

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Forget it! Given the tone of your response, it doesn’t make me want to continue…  
Go back to your carpentry instead.

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**Author:** ![Andreas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/andreas/32/31687_2.png) [@Andreas](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Andreas)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 11:00am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/9 "2025-07-25T11:00:57Z")

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Do I need a better understanding of the construction geometry?

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**Author:** ![shaprvision](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@shaprvision](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/shaprvision)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 12:03pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/10 "2025-07-25T12:03:12Z")

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Macro textures for one

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**Author:** ![shaprvision](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@shaprvision](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/shaprvision)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 12:11pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/11 "2025-07-25T12:11:22Z")

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Don’t give up. Most user’s won’t understand its use in a CAD program.

Recalculation may be an issue depending on how they’ve implemented the functions. Would you want it to calculate once (effectively returning the same value after each calculation) or would it be ok for the value to change if it was recalculated? Calculate once is the most efficient but may require them to re-implement how functions are handled.

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**Author:** ![Oregonerd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/oregonerd/32/8012_2.png) [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/expression-random/38911/12 "2025-07-25T14:53:30Z")

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I don’t think he’s being snip, I think it’s a language (cultural) difference…  
I would like to know what one could do with a random function in CAD just for the fun of exploring new ideas. 🙂