Excel Err Msg: "Error Locating Support File..." with RANDOM()
ID: Q96636
|
The information in this article applies to:
-
Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
SUMMARY
In Microsoft Excel, you can use the RANDOM() function (available in
the Analysis ToolPak add-in macro), to generate a set of random
numbers. When you use this function in a macro, if you leave any of
the optional arguments (variables, points, or seed) blank, you will
receive the following error message:
An error has occurred locating a support file or processing data
for an add-in procedure.
MORE INFORMATION
Using the RANDOM() function in a macro produces the same results as
choosing Analysis Tools from the Options menu and selecting Random
Number Generation from the list of available tools. Using the Options
menu method, it is not necessary to specify a value in the Random Seed
box. Microsoft Excel still generates a set of random numbers.
In the RANDOM() function, the variables argument specifies the number
of columns in the output range, the points argument specifies the
number of rows in the output range, and the seed argument specifies an
offset value used in determining which random numbers to retrieve. You
must specify a value for each of these arguments when you use RANDOM()
in a macro.
Workaround
To work around this problem, specify the three following arguments for
the RANDOM() function:
For this argument Use this value
-----------------------------------------
Variables COLUMNS(range)
Points ROWS(range)
Seed INT(RAND()*number) or any positive integer.
The resulting formula will be
=RANDOM(cell,COLUMNS(range),ROWS(range),1,INT(RAND()*number),10,20)
where "cell" is the upper left cell in the output range, range is the
reference or defined name of the area on the worksheet where you want
to place the random numbers, and number is the largest possible number
you want to use as a seed value.
Note: Using this formula, or a seed of 0, produces a different set of
numbers each time you run the macro; using a constant such as 10
produces the same set of numbers each time you run the macro.
The following sample macro demonstrates the use of the RANDOM()
function using 5 and INT(RAND()*10) for the seed argument:
- Enter the following information in your macro sheet:
A1: Test
A2: =RANDOM(OFFSET(ACTIVE.CELL(),0,0,5,2),2,5,1,5,10,20)
A3: =RANDOM(OFFSET(ACTIVE.CELL(),6,0,5,2),2,5,1,
INT(RAND()*10),10,20)
A4: =RETURN()
- Select cell A1 and choose Define Name from the Formula menu. The
word "Test" will appear in the Name box, and $A$1 will appear in
the the Refers to box. Select the Command option in the Macro
section, and choose the OK button.
- From the File menu, choose New. Select Worksheet, and choose the
OK button.
- With cell A1 selected, choose Run from the Macro menu. Select the
Test macro and choose the OK button. The macro will generate two
groups of random numbers.
- Select cell D1 on the worksheet and repeat Step 4.
Notice that the numbers in the top group in both cases are the same
while the numbers in the bottom group are different. This is a result
of using a constant versus a 0 or the RAND() function as the Seed
argument.
REFERENCES
"Online Help," version 5.0
"Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 345-346
"User's Guide 2," version 4.0, pages 38-40
Additional query words:
4.00a optional argument error random analysis tool pack pak
Keywords :
Version : 4.00 4.00a 5.00
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :
|