I'm wondering if there is a way that I can sort of build my own query in RE?

 For example, I have a query that gives me a list of 200 names, but I only want to send mail to 25 of them. Is there a way that I can pick and choose who I want in my query?

 RE is great for giving me queries of everyone, but what about just random names?

 Thanks!

You can build a query on the Constituent ID#  "One of"  and input the id #s for any group you need. 

Open your query, Click on Tools/Query Options and look at the Record Processing Tab. There are some sampling (includes random) options there.

See if this works for you.

I agree with Laurel about random sampling. Check out this recent blog post on that topic on The User's Edge blog.

Do you want to pick and choose or do you want a random sample?  If you have specific names you need to include and they are not uniquely related, you can use the Cons ID is one of, as suggested, or you can choose "specific record" is one of (under constituent information).  This allows you to select by name.

I would depend if you want a rendom list of 25 records or if you want a specific 25 (you choose which) from the larger query. 

I'm looking to being able to select specific names from a larger query,

 I know that I can choose one record at a time and send mail to them, but is there a way that is faster?

 Thanks!

I believe the fastest way is to build the query using "specific record" is one of... then using that query to mail to all the records in the query.  Unless each of the 25 records have a unique commonality, there's no way to group them without selecting them manually in the query by using specific record, cons ID, etc.

Export your query in Excel; select the entries you want to keep; strip the excel sheet of all info except the IDs you want to keep; import that column back into RE, with a tick on the Import #4 tab "Create an output query of the records updated".  This will produce a query with only the IDs you selected in Excel.  It takes 2 secondes when you are used to it, and it is no-destructive (it does not affect your data, it simply create a query, so even if you screw up you simply re-import). 

See the knowledgebase solution BB124766 (third option)

Genevieve - Different idea - sounds good.

If you do use a 'one of ' specific record query as Leslie described, I find the F7 key shortcut much more efficient than clicking on the binoculars to look up each person.