i'm new here...so here goes

i am looking for a way to assign a word a score based on its letters(like in scrabble)

a=1,...x=8, z=10 and so on for each letter.

for instance, i want to be able to input, say,

ZAX and have it equal the number 19(10+1+8)

i would like to do this for a long list of words...and then be able to take the info out in the format WORD;VALUE

is this possible? i need a push in the right direction.
thanks