Creating Random Names And Locations Values

In this tutorial, you will step through the basic steps for producing and exporting a random name list..

See Random Names And Locations Overview for information about the random names and location data mask form.

 

  • Set Data Mask Name to following value: MyFirstRandomNameList.
  • Do not change Current Year value.
  • Make sure the PersonData tab is selected and visible.
  • Make sure United States, Canada and Mexico are checked in the in Countries to Include options at top of PersonData tab.
  • Enter the following Country Percent Frequencies:
    • United States = 10
    • Canada = 2
    • Mexico = 3
  • Click on the Refresh Country Selection Percentages button. will change to:
    • United States = 67
    • Canada = 13
    • Mexico = 20
  • In the Types of Names to Include in Output area, uncheck Business Names option.
    • In this name list, only person names will be generated.
  • Type 100 in the text box next to % Frequency Male First Names.
  • Type 105 in the text box next to % Frequency Female First Names.
  • Click the Refresh Name Selection Percentages button.
  • You should now see the following values on the form:
    • % Frequency Personal Names = 100
    • % Frequency Male First Names = 49
    • % Frequency Female First Names = 51
    • % Frequency Business Names = blank.
  • In the Location Info section at bottom left of form:
    • Uncheck Area Code.
      • You will not include Area Code in the output.
    • Change % Frequency Address Line 2 to 25.
      • You only want 25 percent of the address line 2 values to be filled in.
      • NOTE: For locations in Mexico, address line 2 will always be filled in with a Neighborhood name.
  • In the Demographics Info To Include section:
    • Make sure Include Gender In Output is checked.
    • Make sure Include Birth Date In Output is checked.
  • In the Age Groups to Include:
    • Make sure the following age groups are unchecked (to be excluded):
      • 0-4
      • 5-9
      • 10-14
      • 15-19
      • 80-84
      • 85-89
    • Make sure all the remaining age groups are checked (to be included).
  • Enter 3000 for the Num Names To Generate text box on right side of form.
  • Place a check mark next to Erase log before generator run.
    • This will overwrite the message log each time the name list is generated.
  • Click the Save button.
    • This will save the name list definition to an external file.
    • External file usually be stored in the C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\PFApps\pfRandomNamesGenerator\DataDefs folder..
      or
      MyDocuments\ PFApps\pfRandomNamesGenerator\DataDefs folder.
    • Click OK on popup message box that says save was successful.
  • Click on File/Print Preview menu item.
    • Select a printer.
    • Review the definition report displayed in the print preview window.
    • Click Close button at top of Print Preview form to exit without printing the report.
  • Click the Generate button.
  • Click on Grid/Export To/Text File/Delimited Format menu item.
    • Accept the default selections on the Specify Data Delimiters for Text File form that pops up.
    • Click OK button.
    • In the Save As prompt that follows, leave the file name as MyFirstRandomNamesList.txt.
    • Note the folder in which the file will be stored.
      • You can use Windows Explorer to go to that folder and open the file using Notepad to view the data that will be generated.
    • When the export to the text file is finished, you will see the following message at the bottom of the grid:
      • Export to delimited text file succeeded.
  • Click Exit button on Data Grid to exit back to the main form.

Optional Steps

  • You can now fine-tune your name list by placing restrictions on locations to be generated.
  • Uncheck Canada and Mexico in Countries to Include.
    • They will be excluded from the revised list.
  • Click on the Refresh Country Selection Percentages button.
    • Country % Frequencies will change to 100 for United States and blank for Mexico and Canada.
  • Click the U.S. tab.
  • Click the image\ebx_1620626975.gif button under the Regions list to clear all selections.
  • Select West Region by placing a check mark next to West in Regions list box.
  • Select only Pacific under the SubRegions list.
  • Select only California under the States list.
  • Select 49: California: Los Angeles-Riverside-OrangeCounty~13.880 entry in Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas list box.
    • Leave all other entries de-selected (unchecked) in the CMSA list box.
  • Click on File/Print Preview menu item.
    • Select a printer.
    • Review the definition report displayed in the print preview window.
    • Notice how report has changed from earlier report.
    • Click Close button at top of Print Preview form to exit without printing the report.
  • Click the Generate button.
    • Data Grid with generated random names will appear.
    • Notice that the output now only includes locations from the Los Angeles consolidated metropolitan statistical area.
    • Right-click the column name “City”.
      • You will see a drop-down list box that you can use to display individual cities instead of all cities.
      • Select Los Angeles.
      • You will see many fewer rows now displayed.
      • If you export the grid contents now, only the Los Angeles rows will be exported.
  • Click Exit button on Data Grid to exit back to the main form.
  • Click Exit again to close the NamesAndLocations form.
    • You may be prompted to save your changes to the definition.
    • If you click the Yes button, you will be asked whether or not you want to replace the old definition.
    • Click Yes again to replace the old definition
      or
      Click No to exit without saving your changes.
  • Click Exit button to close the RandomDataFormsManager form.