Creating random string of characters only in TSQL

Question

I have searched through posts and the shortest and easiest I could find was

CONVERT(varchar(255), NEWID())

However, this as expected creates an alphanumeric string . Translate is available in Oracle but I am working on SQL Server and nothing of the kind is available in here. I however wanted a string that has characters only.

Can I please get some directions on this? Any help is much appreciated.

What sort of random output are you expecting? How much entropy do you require? — Phylogenesis
– Phylogenesis, Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 16:01
If pseudo randomness is all you need, have a look here: stackoverflow.com/questions/2152204/… — Yannick Meeus
– Yannick Meeus, Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 16:02

Matteo Avesani · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-19 17:02:04Z

1

Just an "ugly" evolution of your code, but it works

DECLARE @NewId nvarchar(45)
set @NewId = newid()

SELECT replace(replace(replace(replace(replace(replace(replace(replace(replace(replace(replace(@NewId, 1, 'A'), 2, 'B'), 3, 'C'), 4, 'D'), 5, 'E'), 6, 'F'), 7, 'G'), 8, 'H'), 9, 'I'), 0, 'L'), '-', 'M')

answered Feb 19, 2015 at 17:02

Matteo Avesani

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