Generate a random selection of records

Concept Information

SAMPLE command

You can use Analytics to generate a random selection of records.

The method outlined below selects records at random, however the resulting output cannot be considered representative of the entire population of records.

If you intend to do analysis on the selected records and project the results back to the entire population, the selection needs to be statistically valid, or representative. For more information, see Sampling data.

Steps

  1. Open the table from which you want to randomly select records.
  2. From the main menu, select Sampling > Record/Monetary Unit Sampling > Sample.
  3. Under Sample Type, select Record.
  4. Under Sample Parameters, select Random.
  5. Specify the following values:
    • Size the number of records that you want to randomly select
    • Seed (optional) a seed value to initialize the Analytics random number generator

      The seed value can be any number. You can recreate the same random selection of records by respecifying the same seed value.

      Enter a seed value of ‘0’, or leave the seed blank, if you want Analytics to randomly select a seed value.

    • Population the total number of records in the table
    • To the name of the output table
  6. Click OK.