sbRandTrigen (VBA)

Thu, 14 May 2026 15:47:00 +0100

Abstract

Please notice that sbRandTrigen needs and calls sbRandTriang.

Documentation

The documentation for this application you can open and read here:

Please read my Disclaimer.

071228_PB_02_Trigen_Doc.pdf [38 KB PDF file, download, open, and use at your own risk]

Appendix – sbRandTrigen Code

Please read my Disclaimer.

Option Explicit

Function sbRandTrigen(dBottom As Double, dMode As Double, _
    dTop As Double, dBottomPerc As Double, _
    dTopPerc As Double, Optional dRandom = 1#) As Double
'Generates dMin random number, Triang distributed
'with given first and last decile
'[see Vose: Risk Analysis, 2nd ed., p. 129]
'Source (EN): http://www.sulprobil.de/sbrandgeneral_en/
'Source (DE): http://www.berndplumhoff.de/sbrandgeneral_de/
'(C) (P) by Bernd Plumhoff 19-Nov-2011 PB V0.32
'Similar to @RISK's (C) RiskTrigen function.
'sbRandTrigen(bottom, mode, top, bottom percentile, top percentile)
'specifies a triangular distribution with three points — one
'at the mode and two at the specified bottom and top percentiles.
'The bottom percentile and top percentile are values between
'0 and 100. Each percentile value gives the percentile of the
'total area under the triangle that is on the left side of the
'given point.
'Example:
'sbRandTrigen(1,8,10,20,95) will call
'sbRandTriang(-6.13212712795534, 8, 11.8648937411641).
'Please ensure that you execute Randomize before you call 
'this function for the first time.

Static dBottomLast As Double
Static dModeLast As Double
Static dTopLast As Double
Static dBottomPercLast As Double
Static dTopPercLast As Double
Static dMin As Double
Static dMax As Double
Dim dMaxNew As Double
Dim da0 As Double, da1 As Double, da2 As Double
Dim da3 As Double, da4 As Double
Dim dfe As Double, df1e As Double
Dim dBottomPerc2 As Double, dTopPerc2 As Double
Dim i As Long

If dBottom = dBottomLast And dMode = dModeLast And dTop = dTopLast _
   And dBottomPerc = dBottomPercLast And dTopPerc = dTopPercLast _
   And Not IsError(dMin) Then
    sbRandTrigen = sbRandTriang(dMin, dMode, dMax, dRandom)
    Exit Function
End If

dBottomLast = dBottom
dModeLast = dMode
dTopLast = dTop
dBottomPercLast = dBottomPerc
dTopPercLast = dTopPerc

dBottomPerc2 = dBottomPerc / 100#
dTopPerc2 = 1# - dTopPerc / 100#
If dMode <= dBottom Or dTop <= dMode Then
    dMin = CVErr(xlErrValue) 'Trigger rerun next time
    sbRandTrigen = CVErr(xlErrValue)
    Exit Function
End If
If dBottomPerc2 < 0# Or dTopPerc2 < 0# Then
    dMin = CVErr(xlErrDiv0) 'Trigger rerun next time
    sbRandTrigen = CVErr(xlErrValue)
    Exit Function
End If

If dTopPerc2 = 0# Then
    If dBottomPerc2 = 0# Then
        sbRandTrigen = sbRandTriang(dBottom, dMode, dTop, dRandom)
        Exit Function
    End If
    sbRandTrigen = sbRandTrigen(dBottom, dMode, dTop, dBottomPerc2, dTopPerc2)
    Exit Function
End If

da4 = dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 - dBottomPerc2 + 1# - 2# * dTopPerc2 + dTopPerc2 ^ 2#
da3 = -2# * dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * dTop - 2# * dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * dMode - _
      4# * dTop + 4# * dBottomPerc2 * dTop + 2# * dTopPerc2 * dMode + 4# * dTopPerc2 * _
      dTop + 2# * dTopPerc2 * dBottom - 2# * dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * dMode - _
      2# * dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * dBottom
da2 = dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * dTop ^ 2# + 4# * dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * dMode * _
      dTop + dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * dMode ^ 2# - 6# * dBottomPerc2 * dTop ^ 2# + _
      6# * dTop ^ 2# - 4# * dTopPerc2 * dMode * dTop - 2# * dTopPerc2 * dTop ^ 2# - 2# * _
      dTopPerc2 * dBottom * dMode - 4# * dTopPerc2 * dBottom * dTop + dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * _
      dMode ^ 2# + 4# * dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * dBottom * dMode + dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * dBottom ^ 2#
da1 = -2# * dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * dMode * dTop ^ 2# - 2# * dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * _
      dMode ^ 2# * dTop + 4# * dTop ^ 3# * dBottomPerc2 - 4# * dTop ^ 3# + 2# * dTopPerc2 * _
      dMode * dTop ^ 2# + 4# * dTopPerc2 * dBottom * dMode * dTop + 2# * dTopPerc2 * _
      dBottom * dTop ^ 2# - 2# * dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * dBottom * dMode ^ 2# - 2# * _
      dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * dBottom ^ 2# * dMode
da0 = dBottomPerc2 * dTopPerc2 * dMode ^ 2# * dTop ^ 2# - dBottomPerc2 * dTop ^ 4# + dTop ^ 4# - _
      2# * dTopPerc2 * dBottom * dMode * dTop ^ 2# + dTopPerc2 ^ 2# * dBottom ^ 2# * dMode ^ 2#
     
dMax = dTop + (dTop - dMode) / (1# - dTopPerc2) ^ 2#

'Newton iteration
Do While Abs(dMaxNew - dMax) > 0.000000000001

    i = i + 1
    If i > 30 Then
        If Abs(dfe) > 0.000000000001 Then
            dMin = CVErr(xlErrDiv0) 'Trigger rerun next time
            sbRandTrigen = CVErr(xlErrValue)
            Exit Function
        Else
            Exit Do
        End If
    End If
    dMaxNew = dMax
    dfe = da4 * dMaxNew ^ 4# + da3 * dMaxNew ^ 3# + da2 * dMaxNew ^ 2# + da1 * dMaxNew + da0
    df1e = 4# * da4 * dMaxNew ^ 3# + 3# * da3# * dMaxNew ^ 2# + 2# * da2 * dMaxNew + da1
    dMax = dMax - dfe / df1e

Loop

dMin = dMax - (dMax - dTop) ^ 2# / dTopPerc2 / (dMax - dMode)
sbRandTrigen = sbRandTriang(dMin, dMode, dMax, dRandom)
End Function

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sbRandTriang (VBA)

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:47:00 +0100

Abstract

The triangular distribution is a continuous probability distribution with a probability density function shaped like a triangle. It is a simple distribution because you only need its mininimum, its median, and its maximum value:

This distribution is sometimes also called the distribution of missing data because you can use it with a minimal given amount of information. It is often used to simulate expert opinions or when it is too difficult or too expensive to gather more data.

SbRandTriang on Sulprobil

sbRandTrigen (VBA)

Abstract

Documentation

Appendix – sbRandTrigen Code

Download

sbRandTriang (VBA)

Abstract