Converting string of letters to Number

Hi,
I'd like to convert a string of letters in excel to a unique number. Is that possible?
Thanks

Probably need a bit more info as far as sample data goes but you could try
something like this:
=IF(A1="abc",5)
If you put this formula in a cell and if abc is in cell A1 it will put a 5
in your cell.

"sebkavam" wrote:

>
> Hi,
> I'd like to convert a string of letters in excel to a unique number. Is
> that possible?
> Thanks
>
>
> --
> sebkavam
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
>

Probably, but more detail would be beneficial.

What sort of string?

What sort of number to be used in what context?


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 15:29:24 -0400, sebkavam
<sebkavam.2bkhw6_1153942215.9139@excelforum-nospam.com> wrote:

>
>Hi,
>I'd like to convert a string of letters in excel to a unique number. Is
>that possible?
>Thanks

Basically, I have words like "movies", "arts", etc... and I want to associate to each of these words a unique number. These numbers do not have to be a sequence as long as two different words cannot be associated with the same number.

My question is..............what will you do with the numbers that are
associated with the strings?

Easy enough to return a number to a cell using a formula.

Will you want to use them for calculations?

For a list?


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:30:31 -0400, sebkavam
<sebkavam.2bkkwh_1153946107.9841@excelforum-nospam.com> wrote:

>
>Basically, I have words like "movies", "arts", etc... and I want to
>associate to each of these words a unique number. These numbers do not
>have to be a sequence as long as two different words cannot be
>associated with the same number.

just for a list.
thanks

>>associate to each of these words a unique number

Is is in fact possible to calculate a *unique* number? What I am thinking
about is that when I have used the sheet password breaking Macro it returns
another set of letters that fulfill the number calculated by the original
password. As both sets of letters calculate to the same number protecting
the sheet, the number is obviously not unique. If Bill Gates can't return a
unique number from a set of letters.numbers then I am sure that I would fail
to do so as well.

Just a thought.

--
Regards,

Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland

sandymann2@mailinator.com
Replace@mailinator.com with @tiscali.co.uk


"Gord Dibben" <gorddibbATshawDOTca> wrote in message
news:felfc25jdd2j0g7p8f1fs11fti8jvj4f81@4ax.com...
> My question is..............what will you do with the numbers that are
> associated with the strings?
>
> Easy enough to return a number to a cell using a formula.
>
> Will you want to use them for calculations?
>
> For a list?
>
>
> Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
>
> On Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:30:31 -0400, sebkavam
> <sebkavam.2bkkwh_1153946107.9841@excelforum-nospam.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>Basically, I have words like "movies", "arts", etc... and I want to
>>associate to each of these words a unique number. These numbers do not
>>have to be a sequence as long as two different words cannot be
>>associated with the same number.
>