select random records but for each category
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Paul White (3/15/2010)
mister.magoo (3/15/2010)
I think the results are to my mind "more random":blink: Really?
There are some good points in your post, but I have to disagree with that one.
I did say "in my mind" - that can be a very odd place
Your code is compact (though arguably who cares once it is in a function?) but slower, as you say.
I will give some more thought to this later.
I don't want to come across as just being critical - I enjoyed your post. It is an interesting challenge isn't it?
Side note: I had an email from the OP last night clarifying the real requirements. He should be posting them here soon, just to add an interesting twist.
Paul
And I don't mean to be critical either, I am completely amazed that yours is so quick.
MM
select geometry::STGeomFromWKB(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orum Etiquette: How to post Reporting Services problems [/url]
- Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help - by Jeff Moden [/url]
- How to Post Performance Problems - by Gail Shaw [/url]
I have re-read my first post and can see that it might come across in the wrong way, sorry for that.
I think the work you both did on this thread is excellent and as always I have taken a little something away from it for future use.
The code Paul posted is lightning fast but when I saw it I could not believe that the problem required all that code, so attempted to do it myself - for my benefit.
When I found a solution that was (to my mind at least) simpler, I felt it would be a benefit to the site if I posted it to show an alternative way of achieving the requirement.
Along the way, I compared it to Paul's (as a reference point to make sure mine was working correctly) and noticed that Paul's solution would fail if there happened to be a shortfall of records.
I thought it best to point that out, so that you could take a look and tweak your code.
I hope you don't take that the wrong way - it was meant to be helpful - albeit in a late night / tired / rubbish way 
MM
select geometry::STGeomFromWKB(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