RANDBETWEEN.NV in Collabora Office: Keep Integer Draws Stable Between Input Events
Use Collabora RANDBETWEEN.NV with inclusive bounds, understand all documented recalculation triggers, and retain auditable scenario selections.
Verification status: See the evidence and test scope described in this guide. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: =RANDBETWEEN.NV(20;30) returns an integer from 20 through 30, inclusive, without normally recalculating on unrelated input or ordinary F9. It can still change when bounds recalculate, the file opens, or a hard recalculation occurs.
Syntax and integer bounds
=RANDBETWEEN.NV(Bottom; Top)
Both arguments are required integers. Bottom and Top are included, so the number of candidate values is Top−Bottom+1. With bounds 20 and 30, the count is 11.
The suffix NV describes recalculation behavior. It does not mean a fixed constant, a reproducible seed, or a guarantee that reopening the workbook preserves the old draw.
Complete documented recalculation triggers
| Event | Documented behavior |
|---|---|
| New unrelated input | No recalculation |
| Ordinary F9 away from the formula cell | No recalculation |
| F9 with cursor on the formula cell | Recalculate |
| Opening the file | Recalculate |
| Recalculate Hard | Recalculate |
| Top or Bottom recalculates | Recalculate |
The hard-recalculation command uses Shift plus the platform’s Command/Ctrl plus F9 in the help. The vendor specifically illustrates a lower-bound reference: =RANDBETWEEN.NV(A1;30) recalculates when A1 changes.
A newly evaluated draw can equal the prior draw. Comparing only the displayed integer is therefore not a definitive test that evaluation did or did not occur.
Example: a scenario selector with editable bounds
Put 1 in F1 and 4 in G1. Enter this formula in A2:
=RANDBETWEEN.NV($F$1;$G$1)
The expected property is an integer in {1,2,3,4}, not a specific result. To check the range and integer property, use:
=AND(A2>=$F$1;A2<=$G$1;A2=INT(A2))
The independent expected check is TRUE for a valid output. AND combines the checks and INT verifies the integer property for these positive bounds.
Changing an unrelated note cell should not trigger the nonvolatile function according to the documentation. Changing F1 changes a bound and is a documented trigger. Keep bound cells visible so a changed result is not mistaken for unexplained volatility.
Deterministic boundary and mapping checks
=RANDBETWEEN.NV(7;7) has only 7 as an allowed result under the inclusive contract. It is a useful fixed-output control, but does not demonstrate that the function stopped recalculating.
For the four-choice example, map the stored draw with:
=CHOOSE(A2;"Small";"Medium";"Large";"Extra large")
The independent mappings are 1→Small, 2→Medium, 3→Large, and 4→Extra large. CHOOSE supplies the labels. This mapping is deterministic even though the selected integer is random.
If G1 is later increased beyond four, the label formula no longer contains enough choices. Update the model together rather than assuming a wider random interval automatically creates additional labels.
Advanced example: use one selection across a scenario
Suppose four scenarios have quantities 10, 20, 30, 40 and unit costs 8, 7, 6, 5. With the same A2 selector, use =CHOOSE(A2;10;20;30;40) for quantity and =CHOOSE(A2;8;7;6;5) for unit cost.
The independent total costs by selector are 80, 140, 180, 200. For control selector 3, both dependent cells choose the third scenario and total 180.
Using separate random formulas for quantity and cost would mix scenarios. A shared nonvolatile driver helps keep a scenario internally consistent while unrelated inputs are edited, but opening the file can still choose a different scenario.
Preserve an audit trail and troubleshoot safely
For a permanent record, save the selected integer and its dependent results as verified values-only cells. Keep the original formulas separately if needed. Nonvolatile formulas remain formulas, and the documented reopen trigger makes them unsuitable as the sole permanent record of a prior draw.
The function has no seed argument. The dedicated help does not establish fractional-bound handling, every invalid-input error, statistical uniformity, independence, or suitability for secure random selection. Use valid integer bounds and do not turn a handful of draws into a statistical guarantee.
The vendor identifies namespace ORG.LIBREOFFICE.RANDBETWEEN.NV and says the function is outside OpenDocument 1.3 OpenFormula. This extension identifier does not certify another spreadsheet’s support or behavior.
Availability and verification
The exact function is documented in Collabora Office 26.04 desktop help, retrieved and reviewed on October 17, 2026. This establishes a documentation scope, not the first release that introduced the function or the last version in which it works; those versions and any retirement date remain unestablished. Collabora Online and mobile support are not inferred from desktop help, nor is behavior in another spreadsheet product.
The examples are documentation-based expectations with independent calculations. They have not been executed in Collabora Office. No application screenshot or native error/coercion certification is implied. Formulas use English function names and semicolon argument separators.
References
- Collabora Office 26.04: RANDBETWEEN.NV (checked October 17, 2026).
- Editorial testing standards.