Random function

Sarah Noble

I'm looking for functionality that would enable a field to be completed with a random selection from a list.  Is this something that exists within Smartsheet?  I cannot seem to locate any formula code to accomplish this.  In excel we would use a random integer nested in a VLOOKUP function that would generate a random number and then fill in a field with text from the lookup table. 

 

Am I aiming too high here? Thanks. Sarah

Greg Gates

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there's a way to do it right now. At least not automatically. You could create a column where you paste a random number in (from somewhere like Random.org) and then map the contents of that column to whatever you want randomized, but I don't think you can do it entirely within Smartsheet. Might be a good feature request!

Kennedy Stomps

Sarah-- We are working on a new version of our formula engine that would empower same-sheet VLOOKUP functions, which would definitely resolve this issue! We'll post in the Community when this is available, I'm hearing that it may be relatively soon.

J. Craig Williams

Sarah,

 

How many selections are you talking about?

You could use the Created (Date) system column as your "seed".

 

=Created23 - DATEONLY(Created23)

 

for row 23 will give you a number (to 5 digits) that can be used to get your selections.

As Kennedy hinted, a sheet-level LOOKUP is coming.

Together, they should be able to give you what you want.

 

Craig

 

Kennedy Stomps

And to confirm-- sheet-level LOOKUP is now available! If you're still looking for a solution, you can find more information on implementing this in your sheets in our Formula article. 

Avery

any update on how to create random entries from a defined vlookup table? I read Kennedy's linked reference but didn't find the info I was looking for.

Guille G

Avery did you have any luck? I tried following Craig's advice but proven unsuccessful randomizing from a given list!