random sampling

[staciern]

Hello

I have a list of 705 patients with four different columns with data in it.
I need a random sample consisting of 150 of those patients. Can someone
please help?

 

[Mike H]

Hi,

In column 5 enter the formula
=rand()
double click the fill handle and it should autofill down to the length of
column 4
Select all 5 columns and click
Data|sort|column E
and sort the columns
the top 150 will be randomely selected each time you sort

Mike

 

[staciern]

In the first column I have ID numbers, in the column where I put rand, I get
an integer(?). Also, will this duplicate the ID numbers and I also want to
be able to place the 150 ID numbers along with names on another spreadsheet.
So how can I accomplish this?

 

[Sean Timmons]

You'd want to add a column, and put that formula in it, all the way down the
rows. Once you do this go to Data - Sort and sort by this column. Copy and
paste the first 150 rows of data to a new sheet. Then, in the new sheet,
delete the column with the formula.

 

[staciern]

Thank you both. It worked well, once I relaxed and read the instructions
again.

 

[Ruth Betts]

Hi,

I just seen this post from a while back and I think it should work for me
too. May I just check - do you have any tips for working with large
databases? I am expecting an extract of about 150,000 records with only
about 15 data fields for each. I think it should read into Excel 2007, but I
want to save time by doing analysis on a sample of just 5000 or maybe 10,000.

Many thanks,

Ruth

PS I do like your quote about malice & stupidity!