subroutine randpermut_dim_samp(npoints,ndim,x)
      implicit none
!
! conduct random permutation
      integer npoints,ndim,i,j,k,iextreme,index,ibad,ngood,
     &      istore(npoints)
      double precision x(ndim,npoints),xtemp(npoints),
     &                ran2_reset,temp,bmin(ndim),bmax(ndim)
      
      do i=1,ndim
        do j=1,npoints
          xtemp(j)=x(i,j)
        enddo
        do j=1,npoints
          index=int(dble(npoints-j+1)*ran2_reset()+1.0d0)
          x(i,j)=xtemp(index)
          xtemp(index)=xtemp(npoints-j+1)
        enddo
      enddo
      
      if(ndim.eq.1)return
      if(npoints.le.3)return

! now check to see if all extreme values are togather
      do i=1,ndim
        bmax(i)=x(i,1)
        bmin(i)=x(i,1)
      enddo
      do i=2,npoints
        do j=1,ndim
          if(bmax(j).lt.x(j,i))then
            bmax(j)=x(j,i)
          endif
          if(bmin(j).gt.x(j,i))then
            bmin(j)=x(j,i)
          endif
        enddo
      enddo
      do i=1,npoints
        iextreme=0
        do j=1,ndim
          if(dabs(x(j,i)-bmax(j)).lt.1.0d-9.or.
     &       dabs(x(j,i)-bmin(j)).lt.1.0d-9)then
            iextreme=iextreme+1
          endif
        enddo
        
        if(iextreme.ge.(ndim/2+1))then
! more than half take extreme values, need to change
! find ones without any extremes          
          ngood=0
          do j=1,i
            ibad=0
            do k=1,ndim
              if(dabs(x(k,j)-bmax(k)).lt.1.0d-9.or.
     &           dabs(x(k,j)-bmin(k)).lt.1.0d-9)then
                ibad=1
              endif
            enddo
            if(ibad.eq.0)then
              ngood=ngood+1
              istore(ngood)=j
            endif
          enddo
          do j=1+i,npoints
            ibad=0
            do k=1,ndim
              if(dabs(x(k,j)-bmax(k)).lt.1.0d-9.or.
     &           dabs(x(k,j)-bmin(k)).lt.1.0d-9)then
                ibad=1
              endif
            enddo
            if(ibad.eq.0)then
              ngood=ngood+1
              istore(ngood)=j
            endif
          enddo
          if(ngood.ge.1)then
            index=int(dble(ngood)*ran2_reset()+1.0d0)
            index=istore(index)
          else
! there is no single point that does not take any extremes 
            index=int(dble(npoints)*ran2_reset()+1.0d0)
            if(index.eq.i)then
              if(i.eq.1)then
                index=npoints
              else
                index=1
              endif
            endif
          endif
          do j=1,ndim,2
            temp=x(j,i)
            x(j,i)=x(j,index)
            x(j,index)=temp
          enddo
        endif
      enddo 
      return
      end
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