Randomizing an array

[reevesfs]

Disclaimer: I'm not an excel expert, so I'm sorry if this seems kind of rudimentary.

I have a dataset with 14 columns and about 900 or so rows. I added a new column to generate a random number and when I tried to sort on that column (to randomize the entire list of participants), it gives me the following error message:

You cannot change part of an array.

I've tried to look up what an array is and as far as I can tell, the only formula in the whole dataset is that of the =RAND() in the randomize column.

Thank you so much for all your help!

 

[Richard Schollar]

Did you by any chance Ctrl+Shift+Enter the =RAND() formulas in your column (all in one go)? Are they surrounded by {} brackets so when you look at the formula in the formula bar it looks like:

{=RAND()}

If not, do you have any hidden columns within the 14 columns containing a formula that looks like it has been array-entered (ie surrounded by {})?

 

[reevesfs]

Hi! Thanks so much for your quick response. I did do so (I'm running Excel on a Mac, so I just pushed command+enter) and the formula has the squiggly brackets around it. I hesitate to click on any of those cells to look at the formula since sometimes it comes up with the same error message and then I can't go back and have it be the way it was.

Does that make sense? Do the brackets have to do with my sorting problem?

 

[tusharm]

Yes, it has to do with your sorting problem. I don't have a Mac so I cannot be sure but try OPTION+ENTER rather than COMMAND+ENTER.

Hi! Thanks so much for your quick response. I did do so (I'm running Excel on a Mac, so I just pushed command+enter) and the formula has the squiggly brackets around it. I hesitate to click on any of those cells to look at the formula since sometimes it comes up with the same error message and then I can't go back and have it be the way it was.

Does that make sense? Do the brackets have to do with my sorting problem?

 

[reevesfs]

It worked!!! Thank you so much! I really appreciate all your help. Thanks for this great forum!

 

[tusharm]

It worked!!! Thank you so much! I really appreciate all your help. Thanks for this great forum!