I want to choose 50 random rows from 10,000 lines of data and paste it into a
new sheet. The only way I know is to use a random number generator to
randomly select the records and then copy/paste the data out out, row by row,
fifty times, which is time-consuming. Is there a way to randomize my entire
data table by row so that I can take the first fifty rows all at once and
know that they've been randomly selected? Thanks. Jeremy

Jeremy wrote:
I want to choose 50 random rows from 10,000 lines of data and paste it into a
new sheet. The only way I know is to use a random number generator to
randomly select the records and then copy/paste the data out out, row by row,
fifty times, which is time-consuming. Is there a way to randomize my entire
data table by row so that I can take the first fifty rows all at once and
know that they've been randomly selected? Thanks. Jeremy

Add a new column - random generate a number in every one of the 10,000
cells in that column, sort your data on that column and take the top 50
rows.

--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

You could try inserting a column 'before' A.
On another sheet generate 5/10/20 whatever columns of random numbers
(1-10,000).

When you want to get your random data selection, copy/paste values any one
of these columns into column A of your data sheet, sort by column A, copy 50
rows.

How you randomly select the column you want - maybe roll a dice, assign a
column for each day, anything that seems pseudo random will do...

"Jeremy" wrote:

I want to choose 50 random rows from 10,000 lines of data and paste it into a
new sheet. The only way I know is to use a random number generator to
randomly select the records and then copy/paste the data out out, row by row,
fifty times, which is time-consuming. Is there a way to randomize my entire
data table by row so that I can take the first fifty rows all at once and
know that they've been randomly selected? Thanks. Jeremy

To create an automatic random order generator, where sorting is unnecessary,
and where a new random order is displayed with every hit of the <F9 key,
try this:

With data in Column A, in Column B, or *any* out of the way column,
Enter this formula:
=RAND()
And copy down as many rows as there are rows of data in Column A.

Then, enter this formula where you wish to start the display of your random
selections:

=INDEX($A$1:$A$20,RANK(B1,$B$1:$B$20))

And drag down to copy as many rows as the number of random choices that you
wish to display.
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================


"Jeremy" wrote in message
...
I want to choose 50 random rows from 10,000 lines of data and paste it into
a
new sheet. The only way I know is to use a random number generator to
randomly select the records and then copy/paste the data out out, row by
row,
fifty times, which is time-consuming. Is there a way to randomize my entire
data table by row so that I can take the first fifty rows all at once and
know that they've been randomly selected? Thanks. Jeremy

That's terrific! Is it possible to have the randomized list appear on a
different sheet within the same workbook?

"RagDyeR" wrote:

To create an automatic random order generator, where sorting is unnecessary,
and where a new random order is displayed with every hit of the <F9 key,
try this:

With data in Column A, in Column B, or *any* out of the way column,
Enter this formula:
=RAND()
And copy down as many rows as there are rows of data in Column A.

Then, enter this formula where you wish to start the display of your random
selections:

=INDEX($A$1:$A$20,RANK(B1,$B$1:$B$20))

And drag down to copy as many rows as the number of random choices that you
wish to display.
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================


"Jeremy" wrote in message
...
I want to choose 50 random rows from 10,000 lines of data and paste it into
a
new sheet. The only way I know is to use a random number generator to
randomly select the records and then copy/paste the data out out, row by
row,
fifty times, which is time-consuming. Is there a way to randomize my entire
data table by row so that I can take the first fifty rows all at once and
know that they've been randomly selected? Thanks. Jeremy

You can put the randomised list on another sheet of the same workbook simply
by adjusting the formula e.g.

=INDEX(SHEETS1!$A$1:$A$20,RANK(SHEETS1!B1,SHEETS1! $B$1:$B$20))

This assumes that the original location of your list is on "SHEET1", that it
covers cells A1-A20 and that the random numbers are in B1-B20.

"Final TA" wrote:

That's terrific! Is it possible to have the randomized list appear on a
different sheet within the same workbook?

"RagDyeR" wrote:

To create an automatic random order generator, where sorting is unnecessary,
and where a new random order is displayed with every hit of the <F9 key,
try this:

With data in Column A, in Column B, or *any* out of the way column,
Enter this formula:
=RAND()
And copy down as many rows as there are rows of data in Column A.

Then, enter this formula where you wish to start the display of your random
selections:

=INDEX($A$1:$A$20,RANK(B1,$B$1:$B$20))

And drag down to copy as many rows as the number of random choices that you
wish to display.
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================


"Jeremy" wrote in message
...
I want to choose 50 random rows from 10,000 lines of data and paste it into
a
new sheet. The only way I know is to use a random number generator to
randomly select the records and then copy/paste the data out out, row by
row,
fifty times, which is time-consuming. Is there a way to randomize my entire
data table by row so that I can take the first fifty rows all at once and
know that they've been randomly selected? Thanks. Jeremy