RandomItem & RandomSample

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RandomItem & RandomSample

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Formulas: RandomItem() and RandomSample()

Category: Lists (Arrays)

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RandomItem()

This formula outputs a single random item from a list

or stated otherwise...

Hey Coda, can you take a look at this list, randomly choose an item, and give it to me?

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RandomSample()

Outputs a user-determined number of items from a list

put a bit simpler...

Hey Coda, can you take a look at this list, pick a provided number of variables, and give them to me?

RandomItem() takes two parameters:

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List

RandomItem(List, UpdateContinuously)

This is the list, table, or column that you want to search.

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UpdateContinuously

RandomItem(List, UpdateContinuously)

Defaults to true. If true, it will update the item whenever doc is edited.

RandomSample() takes four parameters. Two are required and two are optional.

Required

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List

RandomSample(List, Count, WithReplacement, UpdateConinuously)

This is the list, table, or column that you want to search.

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Count

RandomSample(List, Count, WithReplacement, UpdateContinuously)

This is the number of items you want this formula to produce.

Optional

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WithReplacement

RandomSample(List, Count, WithReplacement, UpdateContinuously)

True/False; defaults to false. If true, items can appear multiple times.

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UpdateContinuously

RandomSample(List, Count, WithReplacement, UpdateContinuously)

Defaults to true. If true, it will update the item whenever doc is edited.

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RandomItem()

Here's a little list of plants.

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Blessed Milk ThistleItalian ThistleLady FernThimbleberryWolf’s milk slimeBritish Columbia Wild GingerBeaked Hazelnut

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Try pressing the buttons below as many times as you like and watch how they both choose a random plant from our plants list, but also notice how their behavior differs

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Random Plant: True as 2nd parameter

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Random Plant: False as 2nd parameter

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British Columbia Wild Ginger

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Explanation of true parameter

When RandomItem() has its 2nd parameter set to True() it will choose a new random item from its target list every time, even if that item is randomly the same as the selection before

Explanation of false parameter

When RandomItem() has its 2nd parameter set to False() it will choose a random item the very first time it is called and then it will continue to return that random item every time

A little game - Magic 8 ball the Coda way

Sorry to break it to you, but Magic 8 balls are not actually Magic. They are simply a RandomItem() Coda formula in the form of a black ball. When you shake the Magic 8 ball a many-sided die brings up a random saying to answer your question.

Try out this Coda version of a Magic 8 ball that relies on RandomItem() to pull a Random item from the

Magic 8 Ball⁠

table as an answer to your question

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Reset and ask again

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✨ Outlook not so good ✨

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Question

There are no rows in this table

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RandomSample()

RandomSample() is a bit different than RandomItem() in that its primary purpose is to draw out sample sets of data from a larger set. For example...

You run a business that sells running-shoes, and the 500 people in the

Broken link⁠

table are some of your customers. You are hoping to get some feedback about a new shoe design you recently launched but obviously don’t want your team calling each and every one of your customers.

This is where RandomSample() comes in. Use the controls below to create your sample set

I want a sample size of:

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I only want a person to show up once:

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Your random sampling of customers

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@Ronnie Gross

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Now that you have a random-set of customers, you can go ahead and send them that request for feedback! If you want to stick with Coda, the

Gmail pack⁠

is a fantastic resources and can automatically email each individual from your sample set combined with the use of

Broken link⁠

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Practice: Get acquainted with RandomItem by selecting a random plant

Done

Practice using RandomSample() by generating a random set of data

Done

Create large sets of mock data using RandomItem and RandomSample()

Done

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RandomItem & RandomSample

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RandomItem()

A little game - Magic 8 ball the Coda way

RandomSample()

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