software

I have a list of over 3000 companies with associated data in alphabetical
order. However, I only want to extract a list of 500 companies but randomly.
Is there anyway to get excel to randomize the order of the 3000 companies so
that I can just take the top 500 companies from the randomized list? Thank
you!

Use and adjacent column of cells.

Put =rand()
in each cell
sort by this column
Copy the top 500 and paste elsewhere.

Delete the helper column
and resort your data.

Hannie1004 wrote:
gt;
gt; I have a list of over 3000 companies with associated data in alphabetical
gt; order. However, I only want to extract a list of 500 companies but randomly.
gt; Is there anyway to get excel to randomize the order of the 3000 companies so
gt; that I can just take the top 500 companies from the randomized list? Thank
gt; you!

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Dave Peterson