How do I set up a random name generator in Micrsoft Excel

[clickroot]

I am a high school teacher and would like to use a random name generator for calling on students. Any guidance on how to set one up? I read an article in which the author stated a friend wrote an excel formula for doing this - but no further info. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GALIENA]

One way is to put the names in column A (say A1:A30) and put =rand() in B1:B30. Then sort those two columns using column B as the primary key. And pick off the top x number of names. If you want, you can resort again to randomize the list.

[QUENBY]

Here's another one. Say you have 20 students. List their names in A1:A20. To randomly pick a single student:
=INDEX(A1:A20,INT(RAND()*20+1))
Repeats are possible. To make another pick just hit function key F9. A new pick will be made every time a calculation takes place.

[Hollyn]

Here is a modification of that approach made by GALIENA. But Rather than sorting, you could put a formula in column C In C1 put: =INDEX($A$1:$A$30,RANK(B1,$B$1:$B$30),1) then drag fill it down to row 30. Now you will have a random list of students. You hit F9 to get a new list. So you could hit F9 each time you want to ask a question and use the top name (hit it again if it duplicates the last value) or hit it once and work your way through that list. Note that if the sheet calculates, the list will be changed, so you might want to Set Calculation to manual (in tools > Options) if you will be working through the list.

[Leanne]

Let's says you have 30 student names from A1:A30

B2 =INDEX($A$1:$A$30,RANDBETWEEN(1,30))

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