Random numbers?

[Tested]

I do a stability study each week with a program I have built. I use a 6" x 6" angle which I place in different location on the table and then run the program 5 times in that location. I would like to come up with a way to have my program chose the location randomly for me. Does anyone have a idea how I might be able to do this. I am using a RACO PLATE, with holes located from A1 to SS37 so I do have a defined group of numbers "locations".

[#2#]

Open excel
label cells with the appropriate numbers
put borders around the cells
print out spreadsheet
cut along boarder lines
place small pieces of paper in a plastic container with lid
place lid on container
shake thoroughly
close eyes pick out a number
repeat tomorrow

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Open excel
label cells with the appropriate numbers
put borders around the cells
print out spreadsheet
cut along boarder lines
place small pieces of paper in a plastic container with lid
place lid on container
shake thoroughly
close eyes pick out a number
repeat tomorrow

NO! Simply find a good 'gamers' store, D&D, Magic, that kind of thing, and get yourself a set of percentile dice (2 10-sided dice) and use them to randomly generate a number from 1 to 100, 'grid' the machine to 100 spots, use what you roll for placement.

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

NO! Simply find a good 'gamers' store, D&D, Magic, that kind of thing, and get yourself a set of percentile dice (2 10-sided dice) and use them to randomly generate a number from 1 to 100, 'grid' the machine to 100 spots, use what you roll for placement.

OH, even better and simpler and cheaper!

Simply turn your back on the machine, grab the thing you measure, toss it over your back onto the table, measure it where it stops.

[craiger_ny]

=rand() * (1-37) + 37

[why me]

Eany Meany Miney Moe

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

I do a stability study each week with a program I have built. I use a 6" x 6" angle which I place in different location on the table and then run the program 5 times in that location. I would like to come up with a way to have my program chose the location randomly for me. Does anyone have a idea how I might be able to do this. I am using a RACO PLATE, with holes located from A1 to SS37 so I do have a defined group of numbers "locations".

Is that SS37 or AS37? So you have 37 holes in a row and 45 rows (based on AS, not SS). So, you have a total of 1665 holes in the Rayco plate?

So, you need a random number from 1 to 1665 OR you need 2 random numbers, 1 to 37 and 1 to 45. You can do this easily in Excel and then use those results to place the detail you are checking.

Excel formula: =RANDBETWEEN(1,37)

Personally, I would use the 2 random number method, one for the row and one for the column. Hit F9 to get a new set of numbers.

[Tested]

=rand() * (1-37) + 37

craiger,

Is there a way to bring that number into a operator comment?

[craiger_ny]

craiger,

Is there a way to bring that number into a operator comment?

What I posted is Excel. I've never done random number generating for PCDMIS. "random" in help my get a hit.

[Don Ruggieri]

try scripting

I've not done it in PC-DMIS either. It can be done from a BASI script though, are you familiar with that method?

[craiger_ny]

I've not done it in PC-DMIS either. It can be done from a BASI script though, are you familiar with that method?

Sub Main()

     Dim MValue

     Randomize

     MValue = Int((37 * Rnd) + 1)

     MsgBox MValue

End Sub

[DaddyBluto]

Aren't you going to want to have an array to store the used numbers in so that you don't run the same position twice?

[craiger_ny]

From a statistical standpoint that is happening. That is what random means. Yes they will come up again but statistically speaking a random number generator should do what needs to be done in light of that.

But your sugestion would be cool anyway.