look through a sheet, find a text reference, then bring up something in a cell

Hello all,

I'm in the leadup to my A2 ICT controlled conditions piece where i have to make an Excel system. My chosen subject for this is to use the school house points system. I'm going to make a system where the results of house matches are inputted and points are awarded accordingly.

I just have a couple of queries after looking at my initial designs.

1. Is it possible to get excel to look through a sheet, find a text reference, then bring up something in a cell located in the same row? For example, for it to locate one of the House team names, then go along the row and find the ammount of house points they have in order to make a total for them. Is this also possible over a number of sheets? (In order to keep a running total on a separate sheet).
E.G. House, Games Played, Wins, Losses, Draws, House Points

2. For the house cross country event they use a different system which differs from everything i have designed. What i basically need to do is be able to use a drop down against each finishing position where you can select one of the four house teams, then it takes the points won for that finishing position and puts them into a table.

I dont know if these things are basic or difficult. I'm have a decent knowledge of Excel, i just cant work these things out and wondered if anyone could help. It would be much appreciated, thanks

wardo

i can never understand how to use VLOOKUP? I presume there's something on here which explains it simply

i've tried using what they've all suggested, but it just doesn't want to know and i dont know what i'm doing right and wrong anymore. Everytime it just brings up #N/A

I could post up a link to the piece i made in preparation towards the exam. Where's a good place to host it?

I dont want people to do my work for me, i was looking for assistance on something which i dont know a lot about so i can do it myself, maybe i was wrong in presuming that an Excel Help forum would be help me to find a solution.
I understand after viewing the video how the VLOOKUP now works, yet i still seem to be hitting stumbling blocks. Maybe because i'm using text and numbers, i dont know. Thats why i asked

Thank you, i'll see what i can do from here

I've thoroughly looked into the links you sent yet i still cant find anything to solve my issue. I'm tired and annoyed, so i'm giving up. Thanks anyway though

Came back with a fresh head this morning and i'm now all sorted, thank goodness.