Excel Hints & Tips – Producing Example Data

Ever needed to produce a large set of random numbers on your spread sheet quickly? This blog will tell you how.

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In the example below we produce a large set of numbers between 1 and 100.

Step 1: Click into any cell and type =INT(RAND()*100)

The RAND (Random) function returns a value between 0 and 1. We then multiply this by 100 to get a value between 0 and 100, we also nests-in the INT function (Integer) in order to drop off the decimal places.

The RAND function

Step 2: Use AutoFill to extend the formula – this will produce as many random numbers as you desire

Using AutoFill

Step 3: Copy the generated numbers and then do a Paste Special à Values, in order to crystalize the values themselves – otherwise every time the spreadsheet recalculates RAND produces a new set of randomly generated numbers to replace the previous values.

Paste Special à Values

In this example we multiplied RAND’s fractional number by 100, although clearly we could multiply by any amount we need, in order to produce values of any particular deviation.

Related Blogs

Save Time in Excel with Autofill – Learn how to use the useful tool Autofill. Nicky explains how in the two minute video.
How Microsoft Excel Can Increase Your Productivity – Billy talks about some of the reasons why Microsoft Excel is so indispensable to productive workplaces in this blog.
How to Create a Pivot Table in Excel – Pivot tables are the perfect way to sort and analyse data in Excel. This two minute video takes you through the process of how to do so.

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