How do I pick value A from a list and have excel return value B?

[Jim]

I have a list of 30 names that have coded values. Since nobody has memorized
the coded values, I'd like the list to have the names and when you select the
name it displays the coded value. Example:

Column 1

A 'Monkey' (is on the list, but monkey is really 185.54)

When you pick Monkey from the list I would like the display to look like this:

Column 1

A 185.54

Any ideas?

 

[Dave Peterson]

How about creating a list on a different sheet (say sheet2), then use an
adjacent cell to return the numeric value for that name:

In B1:
=if(a1="","Pick a name",vlookup(a1,sheet2!a:b,2,false))
or
=if(a1="","",vlookup(a1,sheet2!a:b,2,false))

You could even hide the column with this formula, but still use that cell in any
subsequent calculations.

 

[Jim]

Briliant, thank you Dave.

How about creating a list on a different sheet (say sheet2), then use an
adjacent cell to return the numeric value for that name:

In B1:
=if(a1="","Pick a name",vlookup(a1,sheet2!a:b,2,false))
or
=if(a1="","",vlookup(a1,sheet2!a:b,2,false))

You could even hide the column with this formula, but still use that cell in any
subsequent calculations.