to convert test to numbers use the =text()

if cell A1 contains in numbers $123.00

the in A2 you could put

="The total for January = "&TEXT(A1,"$00.00")

"david" wrote:

i am wring aon a scheduling spreadsheet i am tryo to find a way so that i
can enter a character in cells in one part in the preadsheet to stand for
shifts and so that i can have tha chaacter stand for a number so that i can
use it to come up with a total .( the bottom is divided into 1/2 hrs and
used to determine the shift, the top is also in 1/2 hs but is based on the
salesfor that day) is there a way i camn do this so that it will be easy to
for others to use?