InfoPath Dev

Here was my formula to generate a random number.

Step 1:  number(concat(substring(string(today()), 6, 2), substring(string(today()), 9, 2)))

      This formula will return the month and day so 3-06-2012 is returned as a number (not a date) as 306.

Step 2:  string-length(CreatedBy) * Step 1

      This formula multipled the previous monthday number by the number of characters in someone's name.

 By limiting the result to 3 characters I sort of get a random number.  By then concatenating this with now(), I can ensure that the form name is never duplicated by just using now.

 How can I improve Step 1 or Step 2 so that the number is even more random.  Right now if the same user on the same day creates a form their form number will be the same for that date?

I think there is a simpler way to get a unique key. How about concat(username, " - ", now())? It's pretty difficult for the same user to submit two forms within the same second, so I think this should be unique, and you wouldn't need to resort to custom code to generate a more complex random number or a GUID.

 Creating a unique key isn't so much the impossible challenge.  The fact that basic and short identifiers are even a challenge is annoying.  Form numbers are simple, succinct, and not distracting.  It'd be nice to be able to make them without slowing down performance or requiring huge file names.