Random Sample

[Matthew]

I have a wrksheet containing 30,000 records. Is there a
way to have excel generate a random sample of a specified
number from this? Any direction or advice is greatly
appreciated. Thanks.

Matthew.

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
one way:
- in a helper column enter the formula
=RAND()
- copy this formula down for all rows
- sort the data with this helper column
- copy the required number of data (the first x rows of
data)

 

[Bernard Liengme]

Insert a new A column
Fill the 30000 cells with =RAND()
Use Copy|Paste Special (Values) on this column
Sort you data base (with column A)
Take the top N for N random samples.

To do repeatedly, record a VBA macro.

Best wishes
Bernard

 

[sulprobil]

Take my function UniqRandInt() from
http://www.sulprobil.com/html/random_numbers.html

(Copy it, change to your excel file, press ALT+F11, and
paste)

Select a range (size equal to desired number of random
rows you like to get), enter =UniqRandInt(30000)
CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER (array formula) and select rows of your
table which correspond to resulting random numbers.

Regards,
sulprobil