Random Generator - lucky draw winners

[stu_mac]

Hi,
I have a task of selecting 50 winners from a list of 1200 plus names. The 50 winners must be randomly selected and each winner can only be selected once (no duplicates). I am using ID numbers that are specific for each individual (because of duplicate names). I am using Excel 2003 and I am unfamiliar with VBA code. Below is my starting point of this exercise, but I am getting duplicates which I don't want.

Sheet 2 is the list of ID's and Names with a header of A1 is ID and B1 is Names. A2:A1221 is the list of ID's and B2:B1221 is the list of corresponding names.

Sheet 1
A2:A51 is numbered 1 to 50 (for the 50 winners needed)
B1 is titled ID
B2:B51 has a formula of
=INDEX(Sheet2!$A$2:$A$1221,RANDBETWEEN(1,COUNTA(Sheet2!$A$2:$A$1221)),1)
C1 is titled Name
C2:C51 has a formula to match the ID to the correct name
=VLOOKUP(B2,Sheet2!$A$2:$B$1221,2,FALSE)

I have set calculations to run manually but I have to cycle thru the list (F9) a few times due to duplicates. How can I pick 50 random winners without creating duplicates.

 

[freesurf]

this is a doddle to achieve in R, but seeing as this is an Excel forum... try this link:
http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/udfs/samplenoreplace.html

Good luck!

 

[leigao84]

This is easier with VBA. But here is what I would do.
Create a pivot table of your names with say names and counts.
Copy and paste this list of now unique names in to a new tab.
Create random numbers next to said names, sort and take the top 50.

 

[stu_mac]

I would love to use VBA but I am unfamiliar with writing code. Are there any VBA solutions to this problem?