Convert Names to Numbers (text to numbers)

[pwebley]

Is there a way to convert a name to a numerical value using formulas. Example:
John = 123

The name would actually convert to a number because of the value of each character. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[hiker95]

pwebley,

See:

http://www.mrexcel.com/tip093.shtml

How to Create a Custom Sort in MS Excel
http://www.ehow.com/how_2108862_custom-sort-ms-excel.html

 

[MARK858]

I have a list of names that I would like to sort alphabetically using a formula

Based on the above

Excel 2010
	A	B
1	Name
2	Laura	Andrew
3	Janet	Anne
4	Nancy	Janet
5	Anne	John
6	Michael	Laura
7	Margaret	Margaret
8	Andrew	Michael
9	John	Nancy
Sheet1

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
B2	{=INDEX($A$2:$A$9,MATCH(ROWS($A$2:A2),COUNTIF($A$2:$A$9,"<="&$A$2:$A$9),0))}
Press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to enter array formulas.

Or without the array formula

Excel 2010
	A	B	C
1	Name	Helper
2	Laura	5	Andrew
3	Janet	3	Anne
4	Nancy	8	Janet
5	Anne	2	John
6	Michael	7	Laura
7	Margaret	6	Margaret
8	Andrew	1	Michael
9	John	4	Nancy
Sheet1

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
B2	=COUNTIF($A$2:$A$9,"<="&A2)
C2	=INDEX($A$2:$A$9,MATCH(ROWS($B$2:B2),$B$2:$B$9,0))