How do i sort rows randomly?

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" <Jeremy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:475385A6-C680-4813-B0F4-E4393423AD97@microsoft.com...
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