Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Replacing a Ceiling fan with regular fixture -- three wires

I am trying to replace an old ceiling fan with a new light fixture. The instructions for the new fixture describe a black wire and a white wire, both of which I have; however, I also have a red wire that I have no idea what to do with. I tried to use just the white and black and, although that illuminates the light, the on/off switch does not function. Any ideas?

Depends on how you want it to work. Apparently, the red wire in the ceiling is the switched hot and the black wire in the ceiling is the unswitched hot. Here are the two most common approaches: Connect black from your fan to black from the ceiling. Connect blue (or black with a white stripe on some models) from your fan to red from the ceiling. Connect white to white, and green to bare. This will make the wall switch control the fan's light, and you'll need to use the pull chain to control the fan motor. You will be able to use the fan even when the wall switch is off. Cap off the black wire in the ceiling. Connect both the black and the blue (or black with white stripe) from your fan to the red wire in the ceiling. Connect white to white and green to bare. This will make the wall switch control both the fan motor and the fan light. You can adjust exactly what the switch turns on with the pull chains.

I am not sure I undrestand the reply. I have taken down the ceiling fan and am replacing it with a regular light fixture (without a fan). The fixture only has a black and a white wire. The problem is that the ceiling has a black, white and red wire. If I connect white to white and black to black, the connection works and the fixture lights, but the wall switch does not work. So I am assuming that the red wire has something to do with the switch but I have no idea. Any help that could be provided would be appreciated.

Sorry, I went way off in the wrong direction. The actual answer is trivial.

Connect black from your light to red from the ceiling. Connect white to white. Cap off the black wire in the ceiling. End of story.

Thank you very much! It works perfectly.