Look at SUMIF function

in B2 (Sheet1):

=SUMIF(Sheet2!A2:A100,A2,Sheet2!B2:B100)

will sum values in Sheet2 Col B where Sheet2 col A matches A in Sheet1

HTH


"macker" wrote:

i would like to set up a spreadsheet that would have a master list on sheet
1 that would automatically track how many items a person obtained on the
next. For instance:
"Sheet 1" will have John Doe in cell A4. Would like for B4 to compile a
total of all numbers listed the other sheets. Keeping in mind that John
Doe's name may be listed multi times in theb other sheets. Hope this makes
sense