Excel formula: Map text to numbers

Generic formula

=VLOOKUP(text,lookup_table,2,0)

Explanation

To map or translate text inputs to arbitrary numeric values, you can use the VLOOKUP function with a simple table.

In the example, we need to map five text values (statuses) to numeric status codes as follows:

Status	Code
Started	10
Normal	20
Delayed	30
Complete	40
Cancelled	50

Since there is no way to derive the output (i.e. it's arbitrary), we need to do some kind of lookup. The VLOOKUP function provides an easy way to do this.

In the example shown, the formula in F8 is:

=VLOOKUP(F7,B6:C10,2,0)

How this formula works

This formula uses the value in cell F7 for a lookup value, the range B6:C10 for the lookup table, the number 2 to indicate "2nd column", and zero as the last argument to force an exact match.

Although in this case we are mapping text values to numeric outputs, the same formula can handle text to text, or numbers to text.

Author

Dave Bruns

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