Import/merge data by matching cells

Hi! I Googled "Excel help forum" and this came up first- thought I'd give it a shot.

I'm not sure if I'm asking in the right terms, so please bear with me. I do know what I want to do. I searched the forum but I guess I didn't know what to specifically look for.

I have an excel file with 3 columns, labeled "student user IDs", "student names" and "passwords". This list is generated in alphabetical order only, by student last name, and I can't get it sent to me otherwise. Grrr. :P

Our records system, STI, will export lists of students by homeroom, class hour, grade etc and I can manipulate them from rtf to csv with Textpad, then into valid excel files with Excel and end up with matching columns. I'd also have a blank column for passwords.

Since a list of, say, 30 students will have the same student IDs in the STI file as the same IDs in the user/password file, is there a way to merge/import the passwords from one matching row in the user/password file into the the blank password column, matching the same usernames?

Your help, time and brains are and will be much appreciated. Thanks.

~Jordan

Thanks, I'll look into that and see how long it takes me to learn how to use it. I really have little knowledge of Excel- I'm more of a PC hardware/intermediate networking/OS repair/malware removal guy, but not very proficient on coding and programming. Could you please suggest any specific commands to try? I can upload some example files it you want me to.

I appreciate your help, thank you. :D

I found out that a good friend of mine is a Microsoft Access wizard. He figured out that I needed a database environment, and imported the csv's into Access. I'm not sure what he did yet as I only got a text message telling me he's got it, but after I get off Skype later I'll post what he did if anyone is interested. Please reply if you are. If not, a mod may close this at their discretion.

Thank you very much for your time, it was sincerely appreciated!

-Jordan