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Randomizing Questions in an Existing MS Word File
NOTE:
These instructions are for MS Word 2003; while the same process can be used for Word 2007, the menu choices are a littledifferent. I can make a 2007 version, should we need such a creature.
1.
Begin by highlighting the textneeding randomized.
NOTE:
Text must be contiguousin order to be randomized later.Any additional text, such asmanual page headers, will needto be removed temporarily.
2.
Next click
Table > Convert >Text to Table
3.A new window, “Convert Text to Table,” will appear.4.Ensure that the followingsettings are set at their default:
a.
Table size
– “Number of columns” set to 1
NOTE:
While we will addanother column later, it isimportant to maintain theinformation as-is; thus,we choose only onecolumn for now.
b.
AutoFit behavior
–“Fixed column width” ischecked
c.
Table style: (none)
–Choose Paragraph fromthe “Separate text at”section
NOTE:
This will allow MSWord to create anindividual table cell foreach question andindividual answer.
1
 
However, we will correctthis in the next few steps.
5.
A new table will be createdcontaining the text.
NOTE:
Some cleanup may benecessary at this point; deleteany empty rows created by thisprocess.6.Highlight the cells containingthe questions and theirrespective answers only.
7.
Right-click the highlighted areaand select
Merge Cells
.8.The questions and theirsubsequent answers will now becontained in one cell.9.Repeat these steps until allsections are contained in theirrespective cells.10.Highlight the entire columncontaining the questions andanswers.
11.
From the menu, choose
Table> Insert > Columns to theLeft
.12.Save the Word document asyour original order (i.e.,“original_file.doc”, etc.)
13.
In this new column, we willinsert a randomly generatedlist, starting from the number 1to however many questions wehave to randomize. Such a listcan be produced at websitessuch ashttp://www.random.org/lists/.
2
 
14.
Highlight the randomized listand
COPY 
it to your Clipboard.15.Once you have a randomly-generated numerical list,highlight the new column andPaste the number list to thiscolumn.NOTE: If the new column hastwo sets of numbers, as shownhere, be sure to highlight thecolumn and turn OFF theNumbering format.16.Now, we use the numbered listto randomize all the questions.17.Highlight the entire table andchoose Table > Sort from themenu.18.In the new menu, choose thefollowing:
a.
S ort by: Column 1
b.
 Type: Number
c.
A scending (order)19.Click OK.
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