.. _method-multi_start-random_starts:

"""""""""""""
random_starts
"""""""""""""


Number of random starting points


.. toctree::
   :hidden:
   :maxdepth: 1

   method-multi_start-random_starts-seed


**Specification**

- *Alias:* None

- *Arguments:* INTEGER


**Child Keywords:**

+-------------------------+--------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------+
| Required/Optional       | Description of     | Dakota Keyword     | Dakota Keyword Description                  |
|                         | Group              |                    |                                             |
+=========================+====================+====================+=============================================+
| Optional                                     | `seed`__           | Seed of the random number generator         |
+----------------------------------------------+--------------------+---------------------------------------------+

.. __: method-multi_start-random_starts-seed.html



**Description**


The ``multi_start`` meta-iterator must specify a sub-iterator using
either a ``method_pointer`` or a ``method_name`` plus optional
``model_pointer``.  This iterator is responsible for completing a series
of iterative analyses from a set of different starting points.  These
starting points can be specified as follows: (1) using
``random_starts``, for which the specified number of starting points are
selected randomly within the variable bounds, (2) using
``starting_points``, in which the starting values are provided in a list,
or (3) using both ``random_starts`` and ``starting_points``, for which
the combined set of points will be used.