Date:         Thu, 2 Sep 1999 13:02:47 -0500
Reply-To:     Randy Richter <richterrr@SLU.EDU>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Randy Richter <richterrr@SLU.EDU>
Organization: SLU
Subject:      Re: Random Sort in Excel
Content-type: multipart/alternative;

Stephen

This might work.  For every SSN create a random value in the adjacent column.
Use the Rand function: Rand()   which according to the Excel help file Returns
an evenly distributed random number greater than or equal to 0 and less than 1.
A new random number is returned every time the worksheet is calculated. You can
easily copy the function from the first cell in the column  by using the click &
drag feature with the mouse.

Next, highlight the SSN column and the random number column.  Use the Data --->
Sort command, to sort by the column that contains the random numbers.  Since the
Rand function is volatile the random values will change when you execute the
sort command, but this should not matter since you do not need these values.

Randy Richter
Saint Louis University

Syntax

RAND( )

Stephen Salbod wrote:

> Hi Everyone,
>         I have list of SSNs in an Excel table that I want to put in a random
> order. I don't seem to see how I can do it. I check tools->sampling, but to
> no avail. Is SPSS my only recourse? TIA
>         Stephen Salbod, Pace University, Manhattan

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