Try this in B4 on Sheet1: it assumes other sheets are name Sheet2, Sheet3 etc

=SUMPRODUCT(SUMIF(INDIRECT("Sheet"&{2,3,4}&"!A:A") ,A4,INDIRECT("Sheet"&{2,3,4}&"!B:B")))

OR

=SUMPRODUCT(SUMIF(INDIRECT("'"&$H$1:$H$3&"'!A1:A10 0"),A4,INDIRECT("'"&$H$1:$H$3&"'!B1:B100")))

where H1 to H3 have your sheet names (extend as required)

HTH



"macker" wrote:

Sorry, i was not clear enough. There is a list of 15 names on the worksheet.
I only want identify the work done by John Doe

"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