random sorts

savtrack · Apr 17th, 2002, 09:58 AM

I need to take a list of numbers and then shuffle them...I am creating lane assignments for a track meet and I need to take athletes and randomly assign them to lanes 1-9. any help would be appreciated

Mark W. · Apr 17th, 2002, 10:01 AM

Enter 1 thru 9 in cells A1:A9. Enter =RAND() in B1 and copy down to B9. Sort this list on column B.

Or...

Enter =RAND() in A1:A9. Enter =RANK(A1,$A$1:$A$9) into B1 and copy down to B9. Repeatedly, recalculate the worksheet to "shuffle" the lane assignments.

[ This Message was edited by: Mark W. on 2002-04-17 09:03 ]

savtrack · Apr 17th, 2002, 10:06 AM

Thanks!!

savtrack · Apr 17th, 2002, 10:23 AM

This is still not working for me...I have a good deal of information grouped together (athlete name, grade, school, time) and I want to assign that entire group a random lane number...I have a sample file, is there anyway I could attatch the file to this board and have someone take a look at it?

Mark W. · Apr 17th, 2002, 10:27 AM

Quote:

On 2002-04-17 09:23, savtrack wrote:
This is still not working for me...I have a good deal of information grouped together (athlete name, grade, school, time) and I want to assign that entire group a random lane number...I have a sample file, is there anyway I could attatch the file to this board and have someone take a look at it?

Unfortunately, this BBS doesn't support attachments. When you refer to "information grouped together" do you mean that 'athlete name', 'grade', 'school', and 'time' are listed in separate columns and each athlete's info in listed on a single row?

savtrack · Apr 17th, 2002, 10:33 AM

Exactly. I have student name in column A, grade in column B...ect. then the times are listed in column E. I need to randomly assign lanes to these athletes, but obviously I would like to group all of the information together so I don't have to retype everything. does this help clarify? thanks for the help!

Mark W. · Apr 17th, 2002, 10:41 AM

Quote:

On 2002-04-17 09:33, savtrack wrote:
Exactly. I have student name in column A, grade in column B...ect. then the times are listed in column E. I need to randomly assign lanes to these athletes, but obviously I would like to group all of the information together so I don't have to retype everything. does this help clarify? thanks for the help!

What are the 'times' in column E?

savtrack · Apr 17th, 2002, 10:42 AM

PERFECT!!
thank you so much. I have been banging my head against the wall on this one...you are an Excel Wizard.
Thanks a bunch.

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Apr 17th, 2002, 09:58 AM	#1
savtrack New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5	I need to take a list of numbers and then shuffle them...I am creating lane assignments for a track meet and I need to take athletes and randomly assign them to lanes 1-9. any help would be appreciated

Apr 17th, 2002, 10:01 AM	#2
Mark W. MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 11,654	Enter 1 thru 9 in cells A1:A9. Enter =RAND() in B1 and copy down to B9. Sort this list on column B. Or... Enter =RAND() in A1:A9. Enter =RANK(A1,$A$1:$A$9) into B1 and copy down to B9. Repeatedly, recalculate the worksheet to "shuffle" the lane assignments. [ This Message was edited by: Mark W. on 2002-04-17 09:03 ]

Apr 17th, 2002, 10:06 AM	#3
savtrack New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5	Thanks!!

Apr 17th, 2002, 10:23 AM	#4
savtrack New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5	This is still not working for me...I have a good deal of information grouped together (athlete name, grade, school, time) and I want to assign that entire group a random lane number...I have a sample file, is there anyway I could attatch the file to this board and have someone take a look at it?

Apr 17th, 2002, 10:33 AM	#6
savtrack New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5	Exactly. I have student name in column A, grade in column B...ect. then the times are listed in column E. I need to randomly assign lanes to these athletes, but obviously I would like to group all of the information together so I don't have to retype everything. does this help clarify? thanks for the help!

Apr 17th, 2002, 10:42 AM	#8
savtrack New Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 5	PERFECT!! thank you so much. I have been banging my head against the wall on this one...you are an Excel Wizard. Thanks a bunch.