Linking a project name to a project number

Forgive me if this has been asked and answered earlier; I have not been able to find it in my searches. If it has, please link to that thread.

My problem is as follows:
I work at a firm that categorizes projects by client name and project number. In our employee time sheets I would like to create a way so when you type in the client name in column B (choosing from a list created with the name manager), the project number that it is associated with will automatically show up in column A. We have a master list created in excel that lists all of our projects, but if it is easier, that list can be copied onto a sheet within the new excel file.

Example:
A B
Project # Name
2012-18 Smith
2012-29 Adams
2012-15 Jones


Some research has led me to information regarding index/match functions and vlookup functions. I'm not sure if this is the direction that is needed. Please try to be thorough when describing a possible solution, as I am not very fluent in excel. Thank you in advance!

Thanks mrice. I did some research and VLOOPUP worked great. Here's the two websites that helped out the most.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...005209335.aspx
http://www.ozgrid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13101

I ended up bringing in my master project list into a sheet in this workbook, rather than link to another workbook.
This formula worked out once I called out the specific worksheet I wanted to use (the master project list)

=VLOOKUP(A1, Sheet2!A1:B100, 2, FALSE)

Where the client name was in A1 and the formula looked up the project number.

Thanks!