"Randomising" "number"

[Leslie]

I have a worksheet, cells, b1, b2 and b3 of which each contains a 10-digit
hexadecimal number.

In another cell, I have the following formula: =mid(b1&b2&b3,3,26)

I have two questions about the above formula.

First, how may I change it so that the three 10-digit numbers will not
always be combined in the order b1, b2, b3, but will be combined in "random"
order?

Secondly, how may I change it so that the 30-digit number thus produced is
reduced to 26 by choosing "randomly" whether to begin the 26-digit number at
the 1st number of the 30 or a subsequent one?

 

[Domenic]

For your first question...

C1, copied down to C3:

=RAND()

Then, try the following...

=MID(INDEX(B1:B3,MATCH(SMALL(C1:C3,1),C1:C3,0))&INDEX(B1:B3,MATCH(SMALL(C
1:C3,2),C1:C3,0))&INDEX(B1:B3,MATCH(SMALL(C1:C3,3),C1:C3,0)),3,26)

For your second question...

=MID(INDEX(B1:B3,MATCH(SMALL(C1:C3,1),C1:C3,0))&INDEX(B1:B3,MATCH(SMALL(C
1:C3,2),C1:C3,0))&INDEX(B1:B3,MATCH(SMALL(C1:C3,3),C1:C3,0)),RANDBETWEEN(
1,3),26)

....which requires that you enable the Analysis ToolPak add-in (Tools >
Add-ins > check Analysis ToolPak)

Hit the F9 key for a new combination of random numbers (actually, I'm
not sure if it's the F9 key for the Windows version of Excel...I'm using
the Mac version).

Hope this helps!

 

[JE McGimpsey]

one way:

=MID(B1&B2&B3&B1&B3&B2&B2&B3&B1&B2&B1&B3&B3&B2&B1&B3&B1&B2,
30*INT(RAND()*6)+INT(RAND()*5)+1,26)

 

[Leslie]

Thank you to both Domenic and JE McGimpsey for your replies to my queries.
I'm in the process of trying your suggestions.