type name and number populates in different cell

**Aspctr** · 05-18-2010, 07:12 AM

I have a question if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.
I am trying to set up excel 2003 so if I enter a name in one cell the number assigned to the name automatically poplulates in the adjacent cell.

ie. name is assigned #1
A1 type Name
B1 the #1 populates automatically

Again thanks for the help!!

**teylyn** · 05-18-2010, 07:22 AM

Aspctr, welcome to the forum.

In one area of your spreadsheet, build a table. In one column put the names. In the column next to the names, put the number associated with each name. If that table starts in X1 with the first name and ends in cell Y20 with the number of the last name, you can then use Vlookup.

Enter a name in A1. In B1 put this formula:

=vlookup(A1,$X$1:$Y$20,2,False)

Now B1 will show the number if the name is found in the list. If the name is not found, the formula will return a #N/A error.

cheers