Hi jwmaes

You can use Vlookup

Make a list in a other sheets with the text and the number in the column next to it.
And use this list in your Vlookup formula

See the Excel help for examples


--
Regards Ron de Bruin
http://www.rondebruin.nl



"jwmaes" wrote in message ...
i would like to a word generate a number, i.e. enter "apples"in one cell and
excel generate "352" in a different cell for items like inventory.