GroupMixer
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Verified Aug 18, 20263 min read

Getting started with GroupMixer

Create groups from a participant list and check the resulting schedule.

Create groups in Quick Setup

Quick Setup uses aligned multiline columns. The first column is Name; each line is one participant. Choose Add attribute to add columns such as team or role. Attribute values on line 3 belong to the participant on line 3.

  1. Enter or import the participants.
  2. Set Number of groups or People per group. Both fields stay visible; the one you edit determines the grouping method. Approx size is a summary, not an input.
  3. Set Sessions. Use 1 for one assignment or a larger number for several rounds.
  4. For multiple sessions, enable Minimize repeat pairings when repeated meetings of the same people should be avoided.
  5. Add any needed Keep together, Keep apart, Pinned people, or Balance groups by attribute rules.
  6. Select Generate Groups. After the first result, the same action is labeled Reshuffle.

Keep Together and Keep Apart accept one comma-separated set per line. Everyone in a Keep Together set must share a group; every pair in a Keep Apart set must be separated. Pinned people uses aligned Name and Group columns.

Know what each data action does

ActionEffect in Quick Setup
Type or paste in NameEdits the current participant list. Use one name per line.
Import Data → Names listReplaces the current participant and attribute columns with one imported name per line.
Import Data → Spreadsheet CSVReplaces the current participant and attribute columns. A recognized Name column is used for names; other columns become attributes. If no Name header is found, the first column is used.
Import Data → Zoom breakout CSVReplaces the current participant and attribute columns with people identified by email. Room names are imported as zoom_room; more than one room also sets Number of groups to the room count.
Example dataLoads a complete example scenario. When the current scenario has data, GroupMixer shows Create new scenario, Replace current, and Cancel before applying it.
Generate memorable class namesReplaces the people list and clears person-specific Quick Setup rules. Group sizing and session count stay unchanged.
Clear allAfter confirmation, resets the entire current scenario and its results, including settings not shown in Quick Setup.

For a pasted import, GroupMixer shows how many rows are importable before Import pasted data is enabled. After any participant replacement, update rules that still name people who are no longer present.

Check the result

Review these before using the schedule:

  • every attending participant appears once in each session they attend;
  • each group count is within its capacity;
  • Fixed Placements, Keep Together, and Keep Apart have no violations;
  • weighted preferences have acceptable deviations;
  • pair-meeting evidence is acceptable for a multi-session event.

A lower Cost Score is better only for the same scenario, constraints, weights, and objectives. It does not replace the roster and compliance checks.

Continue in the right workspace

Normal Quick Setup edits the current saved scenario in this browser. Use Share & Export or a scenario export when the work must move to another browser.

Open the Scenario Editor when you need participant availability, named groups with different capacities or minimum occupancies, session-specific rules, Group Visits, Attribute Totals, Encounters, or solver configuration. See Quick Setup or Scenario Editor?, then Understand results after generating a schedule.

Open in GroupMixer

These links use registered product destinations. Result-specific links remain unavailable until a saved result is selected.

Quick SetupOpen the default group-generator tool and start a temporary setup.Results historyReview saved results available in this browser.

Related reading

Quick Setup or Scenario Editor?Compare the controls, data-entry methods, and import behavior in both editors.Scenario EditorEnter the model, rules, preferences, and objective used to generate groups.Run and improve a solveGenerate a result, configure advanced solving, save progress, or continue from history.Understand resultsVerify scores, constraint evidence, pair meetings, assignments, and exports.Guide: Random groups vs balanced groups vs constrained groupsUse the least complicated method that can produce an acceptable result. Random grouping needs the least data; balance adds a composition preference; constraints add rules whose violation would make the assignment unusable.