Ever wanted to make a random sentence or text? You can use Excel formulas to make totally random sentences. This is a great way to generate test data or dummy data-sets.
There are two ways to make the random sentences. You can use dynamic arrays in Excel 365 or regular functions in older versions.
Random sentences formula – Excel 365 with dynamic arrays
See next section if you are using older versions of Excel (2016 / 2013 etc.)
A random sentence is nothing but random string made of alphabets & punctuation. For sake of simplicity, let’s limit the character set to {a..z}, space and period.
The formula
=SUBSTITUTE(
SUBSTITUTE(
CONCAT( CHAR( RANDARRAY(120,1,97,124,TRUE) )),
"{",". ")
,"|"," ")
How random sentence formula works?
Let’s go from inside.
RANDARRAY(120,1, 97,124, TRUE): This dynamic array function generates a list of 120 random integers between 97 and 124.
Wait a sec… what the function is RANDARRAY?
RANDARRAY is a part of newly introduced dynamic array functions in Excel 365. This function, just like other DA functions (FILTER, UNIQUE, SORT etc.) can generate an array of items and spill them out on the spreadsheet.
Read up more about RANDARRAY function.
Why 97 and 124?
Because 97 stands for “a” in computer code and 122 stands for “z” in computer code (ASCII code). We need two more numbers for SPACE and PERIOD.
CHAR(RANDARRAY(..)): This will turn the random numbers in to equivalent letters (a to z { and |)
CONCAT(CHAR(…)): This concatenates all the letters to one giant 120 letter string.
SUBSTITUTE(CONCAT(…), “{“, ” “): This replaces all { with SPACE.
SUBSTITUTE(…, “|”, “. “): This replaces all | with PERIOD-SPACE.
The result
We will end up with a random sentence. Just recalc (F9) to make a new sentence.
Lorem ipsum with Excel formulas – All versions
What if you don’t have RANDARRAY? Well, you can a simple formula to generate standing typesetting text – Lorem ipsum…
Lorem ipsum formula
First place the sample “Lorem ipsum” paragraph in a cell, say F6. You can download the entire paragraph from lipsum.com. Alternatively, you will find this in the sample Excel file too.
Now use below formula to fetch random words (between 9 to 16) from the text.
=LEFT($F$6,
FIND("#",
SUBSTITUTE($F$6," ","#",RANDBETWEEN(9,16))))
How this formula works?
This formula is a lot simpler than the RANDARRAY based one.
Going from inside,
- RANDBETWEEN(9,16) generates a random number
- SUBSTITUTE replaces that random space with # symbol
- FIND gets the location of #
- LEFT returns the words in F6 from left until it found that # symbol
Random Sentence Formulas – Explained
In case you are still foggy about the details of these formulas, check out below video. You can also watch it on my Youtube channel.
Download sample file – Random sentence formula
Click here to download the sample file to make random sentences. Examine the formulas to learn more about RANDARRAY, CONCAT, SUBSTITUTE, FIND and CHAR functions.
29 Responses to “You are invited [personal]”
Dear Sir,
This is to just Wish the kids a Happy birthday in Advance.May Almighty bless them all strength,Success
Dear Chandoo,
My best wishes to your child.I had become regular visitor of your site and finally today it made me to post a comment...
Best wishes from my end! Dont think it would be possible to personally come .. but my best wishes would always be there!! 🙂
Chandoo, thank you for the kind invitation. I wish a special birthday day for your daughters, Nishanth & Nakshatra. Will you be serving "dudh pakh"?
-bill
What a kind thought to invite us!
I pray your family will be continually blessed.
Thank you very much for the invitation, how I wish Philippines is just a Jeepney ride away from India. Best wishes for your baby girls and more blessings to come.
Hi Chandoo,
Thanks for the invitation ! You treat everyone that comes to your site as part of your family community. Me and my family wishes Nishanth & Nakshatra a very very happy birthday !!
Though physically we cant be with you to celebrate the occasion, you know our blessing are with you !
To be a father is not easy, furthermore you have to be a father to 2 kids !
Francis
Dad of 2 and 9 year old.
Hi Chandoo,
It was very kind of you to invite us all along to the 'Extravaganza'. Like others that have commented here I too, am to far (Australia) to pop over for a piece of cake 🙂 Best wishes to you and your family on such a milestone.
Emma
(soon to be mum of 1!!!)
Dear Chandoo
God bless Nishanth & Nakshatra. Wishing you and your family a very enjoyable first birthday party.
(Father of a 9 month baby... wondering how you manage 2 !!! )
God bless the little ones. Have a blast.
Hi Chandoo
Happy birthday !
Indeed children are a blessing and make our lives much more deeper.
Wow! I wonder how that would look; all those Excel users partying with your cute kids!
Enjoy the festivities and remember; they grow up really fast.
Dear Chandoo,
Thanks for your invitation!
Please accept my wishes for Nishanth & Nakshatra, and a very very happy birthday to both of them.
(Father of a 1 year old baby)
Hi Chandoo,
Thanks for the invitation. Wishing Nishanth and Nakshatra a very happy birthday and God bless all of you!
Howdy Chandoo,
Gosh, would love to attend the birthday party for your little blessings but I live in Dallas, TX. The children are beautiful. Thank you so much for the Excel information, tips, hints, special formulas, etc., you and your children are really a blessing. I look forward to your e-mails and check your web site frequently. Regards, Lynn
Chandoo Garu,
Your kids look adorable. Congratulations. My Aashirwaadam to both of them.
Regards,
Kalyan Verma
@all: Thank you every one for the wishes, blessings and prayers. We are very excited and busy with the birthday preps now. I will share a pic or two when its over... 🙂
Wish you and your entire family all the blessings. May god provide your babies with all the love and charm in the entire universe.
Like Emma I am rather far away (South Africa), but best wishes to you and your family on this special occasion.
(Mother of 7 and grandmother of 5)
Dear Chandoo,
May God Bless your little ones with Good Health... Happy birthday to them from me... Wish i could be there but work doesn't permit me to travel 🙁
And thanks again for treating all of us like your family
Rajatha
Sir.
God bless the two little angels with all the happiness in the world.....
Wishing Nishanth and Nakshatra a very happy first birthday. My youngest has just turned 18, and I wish you and your family every happiness in the exciting journey ahead.
Hi Chandoo,
I'm reading your blog for more than a year now, and i'm very pleased by this invitation.
I wish a very special Happy Birthday to the 2 little ones from Mauritius Island.
If, for any reason, you are coming on the island in the future, feel free to drop me a mail.
Have a nice party, and a nice year to come with Nishanth and Nakshatra.
Happy birthday!
Your babies are beautiful!
This year is not possible for us to attend. My family will be there for your next family party.
Enjoy the cake and dinner
May God Bless your little ones with Good Health… Happy birthday to them from me....I am also the father my little daughter named akanksha, she is 2.5 yrs old,,,,but i am unemployed 2 yrs ,,i know when u become a dad u r many hopes.
Guru
My belated wishes for your kids... I feel sorry for having missed them to wish to the right time.... May almighty shower all his blessings on your family.....
With regards
Chandoo,
Congratulations. Please give you children a big Happy Birthday (one day late) from me. Enjoy, they grow up very fast
Gene
@all.. thanks for the wishes and blessings. We had a fantastic weekend with all the relatives, friends. Kids loved the cake, enjoyed the beach and had fun playing with gifts. Here are some photos..
Chandoo & family - greetings from Ireland, hope you enjoyed the day!