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VBA random numbers NO repeats

  1. #1
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    VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Hi. I have created a quiz to a foreign language. And in the background, I have a form control button to pick numbers at random. But once a random number has been picked, I don't want it to repeat that number ever again. How would I go about doing that? See the attached spreadsheet. Thanks.Hebrew Verb Generator - Mac.xlsm
    Last edited by jamiegfinch; 12-16-2015 at 12:39 AM.

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Create a record of all possible numbers on a worksheet, and flag those that have been picked by your code. An easy way it to list all your numbers in column A, then put "used" in column B after they have been chosen. Then sort A and B based on column B to move all the unused values into a block, and then use RANDBETWEEN with the low and high row numbers of the block to give you an index to base your random choice on the block of numbers that have not been flagged as used.

    And if you ever need to reuse your numbers, delete the flag and start over.
    Bernie Deitrick
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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Hi Bernie. Thanks heaps for your reply. I don't think that I'm quite understanding you. Are you able to modify the spreadsheet and re post it?

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    I don't want it to repeat that number ever again.
    What's going to happen when all the numbers (possibilities) have been used which currently is only 81?

    Robert
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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Try this where each number will be shaded green once used so it can't be used again until the shading is removed:

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    The user will be altered if every number has been used.

    HTH

    Robert

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    This is only in testing stage, there will be a whole stack more words. But if they have all been used up, then I would prefer it to reset back to the beginning.

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    But if they have all been used up, then I would prefer it to reset back to the beginning.
    So you can use my code, just un-highlight the cells shaded green in Col. A.

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Randomly trying a set number of time is bad, even if you try a lot of times.

    As an example, trying to select randomly from 100 numbers 100 times when only 1 is available means that you have about an equal chance of not finding it (actually 36.6% chance of not finding it - 0.99^100 : you have a 99% chance of not matching it each time, for 100 trials) Even with 3 available numbers, you would still have a 5% chance of not matching (0.97^100)

    Try this to show what happens, with 100 numbers

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    You would be better off looping to check for an available value until you find one, rather than only trying lRow number of times. Of course, that would mean knowing that a value is available, so you would need to check first.

    So, staying with your code base and technique:

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    Of course, a better method would be to remove the value from a copy of the data set when it is used, and then just returning a random member of the shortened list

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    Last edited by Bernie Deitrick; 12-16-2015 at 10:52 AM.

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Hey Trebor76. That code you gave works really well. But for some reason, when I keep clicking the button it eventually brings up an error and when I check which cell it has highlighted, it is cell 82 (of which there is no number). Where am I going wrong in the code, that makes the button bring that cell up?

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Have you tried Bernie's nifty solution? The last one be posted looks good to me

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Different method...
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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Hi jamiegfinch,

    Here's another (more efficient as it doesn't loop) attempt by me:

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    Regards,

    Robert

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    I had to smile when I read this post.

    MANY years ago (30) I wrote a card game and had the same probblem. Once a card was picked from the deck it could not appear in the game again. And so, like the amateur and uniformed programmer that I was at the time, I would simply loop, over and over, looking for cards that hadn't been played.

    As you might suspect, the program ran quickly early in the game, but LATE in the game it was very slow... as it searched and searched for cards that hadn't been played.

    On the final move of the game, it took 60 seconds or so to find that last card. (Computers were very slow back then, compared to what they are today.)

    Bernie mentions this post #2 and post #8.

    Another, similar method is the following: Determine all of the random numbers available, store them in an array, and then simply shuffle this array! (Make one pass through the array and swap that element with a random element.)

    That's it. Now, simply select the first element in the list, and then the second element, and then the third element, and then the fourth, etc.

    You can now proceed down the list sequentially because the list is already in random order, after your shuffle.

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    I like that analogy - shuffle the deck once, and it is randomized for the rest of the deal. I wrote a card game, a long time ago, and just shuffled once before all the cards were dealt out at the start. I think I used a 2D array, and bubble sorted on the randomly filled dimension.
    Last edited by Bernie Deitrick; 12-17-2015 at 08:55 PM.

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Another, similar method is the following: Determine all of the random numbers available, store them in an array, and then simply shuffle this array! (Make one pass through the array and swap that element with a random element.)
    That's what my second does!!!

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    Re: VBA random numbers NO repeats

    Quote Originally Posted by Trebor76 View Post
    That's what my second does!!!
    Those guys don't seem to understand what your/my codes are doing.

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