Question : Excel:  Create two groups of random names from a given list

I have a presumably simple question:

- I have a list of five people's names
- I need to create two groups (three people in first group and two people in the second group)
- The same person cannot be in both groups.
- I would like to have it randomly choose the names each time I want to generate a new sample.

See attached screenshot.

How can I do this please?  :)    

Answer : Excel:  Create two groups of random names from a given list

Hello rvthost,

The simplest way to do that would be to use some helper cells...

Assuming your 5 names are in D2:D6 then put this formula in A2 copied down to A6

=RAND()

and in B2 copied down to B6

=RANK(A2,A$2:A$6)

Now to generate the names use this formula in D10

=VLOOKUP(1,B$2:D$6,3,0)

and similar in the other "name" cells, changing the 1 to 2, 3, 4 and 5, see attached

You can hide columns A and B if you wish. The names will regenerate every time the worksheet recalculates. You can trigger that by pressing F9 key....

regards, barry

random-ee.xls (15 KB) (File Type Details) 

random names