formula to create a random date?

[robbyvegas]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know how to create a random date? I'm studying for the bar exam and want to take 3 of the past exams each day starting on Monday until I take the exam on July 26. I'm attaching the worksheet as it currently stands. I'd really appreciate any help on this.

Thanks in advance,
Rob

[martindwilson]

from your example
=INDEX($B$1:$B$103,RANDBETWEEN(2,103))
will give a random date from col b

[robbyvegas]

Thanks. I can make this work. Will it repeat at all, or will all of the dates it chooses be original? See attached.

[tigertiger]

Thanks. I can make this work. Will it repeat at all, or will all of the dates it chooses be original? See attached.

you should change the formula at B2 become:
=INDEX($A$2:$A$103,RANDBETWEEN(1,102))

[robbyvegas]

Thanks!

Now, I'd rather not take the same practice essay multiple times. Is there a way to set this up so that it only uses a randomly selected value once? The attached is a copy of the spreadsheet as it currently stands. The 3rd column is a countif to count the number of times a given random value appears.

Thanks again!
Rob

[tigertiger]

Thanks!

Now, I'd rather not take the same practice essay multiple times. Is there a way to set this up so that it only uses a randomly selected value once? The attached is a copy of the spreadsheet as it currently stands. The 3rd column is a countif to count the number of times a given random value appears.

Thanks again!
Rob

try the solution, see in the attached file,
for a randomly selected value once, the cell B103 of course get the last item

Plz Ctrl+F3 to see the 2 name: _List1 and _List2 to reduce the length and complicate formula

[robbyvegas]

Perfect! Thank you Thank you!

As you can see, I'm only going to be able to get to 45 of the questions. I may decide to toss out the earlier tests. If I wanted it to select a random question between A47:A103, what changes do I need to make?

I'm usually fairly adept at figuring out how to manipulate formulas, but I'm not familiar with some of the functions that you are using, and in all honesty my mind is single tracking the bar exam right now.

I can't thank you enough!
Rob

[tigertiger]

Perfect! Thank you Thank you!

As you can see, I'm only going to be able to get to 45 of the questions. I may decide to toss out the earlier tests. If I wanted it to select a random question between A47:A103, what changes do I need to make?

Rob

only two steps you should do:

1) Change the name _List1 (Ctrl+F3):
=ROW(Sheet1!$1:$102)*(COUNTIF(Sheet1!$B$1:$B1,Sheet1!$A$2:$A$103)=0)
to
=ROW(Sheet1!$1:$57)*(COUNTIF(Sheet1!$B$1:$B1,Sheet1!$A$47:$A$103)=0)

(where: 57=103-47+1)



2) Change the formula at B2
from
=INDEX($A$2:$A$103,INDEX(SMALL(_List2,ROW($1:$102)),RANDBETWEEN(1,COUNT(_List2))))
to
=INDEX($A$47:$A$103,INDEX(SMALL(_List2,ROW($1:$57)),RANDBETWEEN(1,COUNT(_List2))))

is this appropriated for your case?

copy fill-down to other cell B3....B46 (depend of the number question you want - of course it must be less or equal than the number of question you have (57))

[Xx7]

Why not just put a random variable beside each exam and filter them largest to smallest. See attached.

Heres a question for you ---> Do you think the 2001, 2002 exams will be a good indication of whats on the exam? You may be better off studying the more recent ones??

[robbyvegas]

Thanks! No, I don't thing the 01 - 02 exams will be the best indication of what is on the bar. So I was going to just grab exams from 05 or 06 forward.

Thanks again everyone! I can't thank you enough.