Generate Normal random data

Example: pin diameters

Generate 200 simulated pin diameters in mm to practise an analysis before collecting production measurements.

Download the generator parameters (reference CSV)

This is the same example used in Help. The CSV lists the generator parameters for reference. Enter them manually on Inputs; importing the CSV does not configure the generator or provide measured observations.

1. Create the generator

In the sidebar, choose Data utilities, then Create Random Data. Name the analysis, select New blank worksheet and choose Create analysis. This worksheet receives the generated columns.

2. Set the generated variable

On Inputs, under Generated variables, enter pin_diameter_mm in Column name and 200 in Number of observations. Choose Normal in Distribution.

Enter 12 in Mean (μ) and 0.015 in Standard deviation (σ). Both parameters use mm.

3. Set the seed and destination

Open Reproducibility and enter 42 in Random seed.

Check Worksheet output: the destination should be your analysis worksheet, with one new column. Generate once to reproduce this example. Each successful run appends new columns.

Create Random Data: Inputs with the example’s assignments and settings — The Normal definition and seed 42 on Inputs. The worksheet receives one new column. View full-size image (opens in a new tab)

4. Generate data

Choose Generate data, then open Results. Open Worksheet to see the new columns.

5. Interpret results

Check the generated output
There is one new column, pin_diameter_mm, with 200 values. These are simulated observations for practice, not measured production data.
Read the model
The Normal model has mean 12 mm and standard deviation 0.015 mm. These are the supplied model parameters; the generated sample’s mean and standard deviation need not match them exactly.
Read a generated row
The first generated diameter is about 12.0046 mm. Read each row as one simulated pin. A value above 12 mm is not automatically a rejected pin; no acceptance limits were supplied.
Use the sample deliberately
Use the generated columns to practise an analysis or explore the supplied model. Seed 42 repeats this sample with the same ordered definitions and calculation version. A blank seed requests a fresh sample. Running Generate data again appends columns; it does not replace the earlier output.

More details: read each result section

Complete result tables use six significant digits, as in Help.

Generation summary

The summary lists pin_diameter_mm, its 200 valid values, the distribution and seed 42.

Calculated example output. Running a practice copy writes new columns to its independent worksheet.

Generation summary · 1 row
Definition	Output column	Distribution	Valid values	Seed
pin_diameter_mm	pin_diameter_mm	normal	200	42

Captured generator parameters

The Normal model has mean 12 mm and standard deviation 0.015 mm. These are the supplied model parameters; the generated sample’s mean and standard deviation need not match them exactly.

Captured generator parameters · 2 rows
Definition	Parameter	Value
pin_diameter_mm	mean	12
pin_diameter_mm	sd	0.015

Generated values

All 200 generated rows are retained in generation order. The first generated diameter is about 12.0046 mm. Read each row as one simulated pin. A value above 12 mm is not automatically a rejected pin; no acceptance limits were supplied.

Captured values in original row order. Exports retain full precision.

Generated values · 200 rows
Row	pin_diameter_mm
1	12.0046
2	11.9844
3	12.0113
4	12.0141
5	11.9707
6	11.9805
7	12.0019
8	11.9953
9	11.9997
10	11.9872
11	12.0132
12	12.0117
13	12.001
14	12.0169
15	12.007
16	11.9871
17	12.0055
18	11.9856
19	12.0132
20	11.9993
21	11.9972
22	11.9898
23	12.0183
24	11.9977
25	11.9936
26	11.9947
27	12.008
28	12.0055
29	12.0062
30	12.0065
31	12.0321
32	11.9939
33	11.9923
34	11.9878
35	12.0092
36	12.0169
37	11.9983
38	11.9874
39	11.9876
40	12.0098
41	12.0111
42	12.0081
43	11.99
44	12.0035
45	12.0018
46	12.0033
47	12.0131
48	12.0034
49	12.0102
50	12.001
51	12.0043
52	12.0095
53	11.9781
54	11.9952
55	11.9929
56	11.9904
57	11.9959
58	12.0224
59	11.987
60	12.0145
61	11.9748
62	11.995
63	12.0024
64	12.0088
65	12.0107
66	12.0119
67	11.9948
68	11.9931
69	12.0129
70	11.9971
71	11.9809
72	11.983
73	11.9862
74	12.0075
75	12.0021
76	12.0104
77	11.9936
78	12.0024
79	12.0094
80	11.9954
81	12.0069
82	11.9901
83	11.9946
84	11.9943
85	11.9821
86	12.0073
87	11.993
88	12.0002
89	12.0072
90	12.0067
91	12.01
92	11.9985
93	11.9937
94	11.9988
95	11.9747
96	11.9783
97	11.9802
98	11.985
99	12.006
100	11.9864
101	11.9943
102	12.0195
103	11.9947
104	12.0111
105	11.986
106	11.9969
107	11.9857
108	11.9949
109	12.0126
110	11.9741
111	12.0065
112	12.0036
113	11.9911
114	11.9783
115	12.0011
116	11.9921
117	12.0035
118	12.0003
119	12.024
120	11.9964
121	11.9846
122	12.0027
123	12.0033
124	12.0204
125	12.0125
126	12.0054
127	12.0219
128	11.9822
129	11.9904
130	11.9861
131	11.9942
132	11.9793
133	12.0095
134	11.9967
135	11.9779
136	11.9848
137	12.0047
138	12.0126
139	12.03
140	12.0437
141	12.0062
142	11.9852
143	11.968
144	12.004
145	11.9878
146	11.9938
147	11.9908
148	11.9979
149	12.016
150	12.0024
151	11.9976
152	11.9845
153	11.9749
154	11.9927
155	11.9992
156	12.0265
157	12.002
158	12.0147
159	11.9925
160	11.9822
161	11.9855
162	11.9891
163	12.0319
164	11.9877
165	12.0126
166	11.9865
167	12.014
168	12.0058
169	11.9977
170	11.9994
171	11.9902
172	12.0067
173	11.9932
174	11.9816
175	11.9808
176	12.0026
177	12.0237
178	12.0024
179	11.9982
180	12.0043
181	12.0196
182	12.0033
183	11.9938
184	12.0166
185	12.0064
186	12.023
187	12.0027
188	11.9816
189	11.9795
190	12.0248
191	12.0259
192	11.9973
193	11.9943
194	12.0219
195	11.9834
196	11.9866
197	12.0096
198	11.9941
199	11.9999
200	11.9975

6. Create a report

Keep Generation summary, Captured generator parameters and Generated values. Record the seed, the model and its units. Label the output as simulated practice data.

Choose Add to report from the completed run. Open Choose individual items and advanced options to select tables and charts, then choose Add to draft. Hidden items stay in the saved analysis.

Name the report and add the purpose of the study and your interpretation. Choose Save, review Preview, then use Export → Download HTML. The example below contains the full selected content, including results beyond one screen.

Complete native output for this Help example, including applicable tables, charts and run notes. Report numbers use the app’s displayed precision. Exported charts are static. On narrow screens, scroll wide charts and tables sideways.

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