Validation list functionality!

[Cali]

Hi All,

I ran into this site while searching for online excel tips.
nice place!

I have a small question regarding creating a validation list.

I know how to setup a validation list but the problem i'm having is
linking a numerical value to a certain item in the list.

I was wondering whether it's possible in excel to pick an item from the
list, and for that item to remain as text, but the summation, however,
would see the numerical value only.

so if i have a list of items in a certain cell, when i click on the
cell the pulldown menu will show the items to pck from (as a validation
list would have). then when i pick the item from the list, it would be
displayed as text only but the final summation would see the numerical
value only and would hence display the final numerical summary (or
whatever formula i use).

thanks.

Cali

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

You have to give a concrete example what you mean, if you put numbers
in a list they will still be numbers if there are selected through
validation.
Could you provide an example what you will get through validation and
what you want it to be?

 

[Cali]

i ended up using VLOOKUP function.
here's what i was getting at.


basically imagine you have a list of items, ie fruit, clothing, cars,
whatever, and when you select an item from the list, a corresponding
PRICE will be associated with it.
then you add all the prices together to get the total purchase cost.
i was hoping to be able to have a row of validation pickboxes where i
can just select the data and it would somehow have a value associated
with it. but it doesn't seem to be possible.

for example, i was trying to get to this;

3 aple
4 orange
1 milk
1 chocolate
10 shirt
1 shoes
_____________
total: $675.98


but that doesn't seem to work.
what i ended up using is vlookup to "match" the value from another
table that specifies what the corresponding value is for each item
above.
so what you end up with is

3 aple 3.89
4 orange 10.34
1 milk 3.25
etc, etc.....

_____________
total: $675.98


if anyone has a way to sum the cost with just showing the names of
items, please let me know.
thanks.

Cali