Sorting a list of items in random order in excel – using formulas

Share

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

In shuffling a list of items in excel I have described the technique of using random numbers generated by RAND() to sort a list of items. The technique had one disadvantage though, every time you need to reshuffle the list you have to press F9 to recalculate the rand() and then go to menu > data > sort and sort the data again based on the new random numbers.

shuffling-list-of-items-excel-formulasHere is a better technique that needs one key stroke to reshuffle the list of items (sorting the list in random order every time you press the key F9):

  • Insert 2 columns to the left of the list of items you want to shuffle
  • In the first column fill a series of numbers starting with 1
  • In the next column fill RAND() formula
  • Now, next to the list of items you want to sort in random order, we will use both VLOOKUP() and SMALL() excel formulas to fetch items in random order. See the formula below:

    sort a list of items in excel in random order using formulas

    The SMALL() excel spreadsheet formula is used to sort a list of numbers and fetch nth smallest number in a given list.

  • When you want to reshuffle the order, just hit F9

More sorting: Sort text / tables from left to right along columns

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Share this tip with your colleagues

Excel and Power BI tips - Chandoo.org Newsletter

Get FREE Excel + Power BI Tips

Simple, fun and useful emails, once per week.

Learn & be awesome.

Welcome to Chandoo.org

Thank you so much for visiting. My aim is to make you awesome in Excel & Power BI. I do this by sharing videos, tips, examples and downloads on this website. There are more than 1,000 pages with all things Excel, Power BI, Dashboards & VBA here. Go ahead and spend few minutes to be AWESOME.

Read my storyFREE Excel tips book

Overall I learned a lot and I thought you did a great job of explaining how to do things. This will definitely elevate my reporting in the future.
Rebekah S
Reporting Analyst
Excel formula list - 100+ examples and howto guide for you

From simple to complex, there is a formula for every occasion. Check out the list now.

Calendars, invoices, trackers and much more. All free, fun and fantastic.

Advanced Pivot Table tricks

Power Query, Data model, DAX, Filters, Slicers, Conditional formats and beautiful charts. It's all here.

Still on fence about Power BI? In this getting started guide, learn what is Power BI, how to get it and how to create your first report from scratch.

7 Responses to “CP014: How to create awesome dashboards – 10 step process for you”

  1. Paul says:

    Very interested in topic unfortunately I get no sound when I play it.

  2. Budala Ebnezer says:

    Where can I get add ins for excel 2007

  3. Andy Serna says:

    I would like to join your email newsletter.

  4. Shashank Verma says:

    Hello Chandoo,
    i am one of the great fan of your. i am one MIS executive in realstate company.And i try make dash board for CRM(Client Relation Management) Dept formance and anlysis process.Its get created not so effective according to can u suggest me .what i hve to give or take for makeing it for effective and attractive?.

    regards,
    Shashak verma

  5. Hi,

    I want to create an interactive dashboard in excel (Google Drive) which should have multiple data along with beautiful charts..

    I handle two teams in IT Tech support so were preparing 2 different dashboards.. however need to club and want to create single report, can anyone help something like

Leave a Reply