Unsure of the Function, and How to Write It

[Jane]

This may be a very basic question, so excuse my ignorance!

I have developed a Data Validation setting that refers to a list (Titles):

Mr
Mrs
Miss
Ms
Dr

I have this list on a separate sheet (Lists). On Sheet 1, I want to have
the data entry team select from the list. That is working fine, in column C
of Sheet1. My database requires that the above titles all be converted to
numbers: 1 for Mr, 2 for Mrs and so on, with 5 for Dr. I actually need to
import both the text, and the number. I'm trying to automate the process so
that when Mr is selected from the drop down menu in column C, then the number
1 will appear in column B. When Mrs is selected from the drop down menu in
column C, then the number 2 will appear in column B. On the Lists
spreadsheet I had created a column adjacent to the Titles fields with 1
through 5. I thought I would be able to somehow have the cells on Sheet 1
use the Titles and the numbers area from the Lists sheet, but I can't get it
to work. Can someone pls advise me how I can achieve this?

I am very new to this type of Excel work, so would appreciate the simplest
explanation possible!

Thanks,

 

[Toppers]

in B2:

=VLOOKUP(C2,Lists!A:B,2,0)

assuming your Titles & Numbers are in Lists, columns A & B

HTH

 

[Jane]

Thanks Toppers. It worked, and I applied it to 2 other areas. I don't
really understand it, but I have read the Help on Vlookup, and have a little
bit of a grasp of what is happening!

Much appreciated.

Jane

 

[Dave Peterson]

Debra Dalgleish has lots of notes on =vlookup():
http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html