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Create custom Replace function
Hi Experts,
I am looking to create a function that will accept a string and only return the alpha/numeric values, except for dashes all special characters should get stripped out.
So instead of having to use the following
P.S. If possible, would prefer to have the 2nd variable of the function (the one holding the dash) capable of managing more than one character as an exception, so I can send "_,-,' ') and all 3 of them would be considered valid characters, not getting stripped out.
Thanks
I am looking to create a function that will accept a string and only return the alpha/numeric values, except for dashes all special characters should get stripped out.
So instead of having to use the following
fieldName = Left(Replace(Replace(Replace(Mid(ColumnName, 2, Len(ColumnName) - 2), " ", ""), "&", ""), "+", ""), 32)
MyReplace(sTrVar,"_")
P.S. If possible, would prefer to have the 2nd variable of the function (the one holding the dash) capable of managing more than one character as an exception, so I can send "_,-,' ') and all 3 of them would be considered valid characters, not getting stripped out.
Thanks
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Here's a good article on EE about regex:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/1336/Using-Regular-Expressions-in-Visual-Basic-for-Applications-and-Visual-Basic-6.html
beyond that, there is a lot of generic "find and replace" code floating around. But this seems specific enough for you to write your own.
It's simple enough....just loop through the string and dump anything you don't want. Generally done with an In and out string, the latter of which you build up as you read the "in" string.
Jim.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/1336/Using-Regular-Expressions-in-Visual-Basic-for-Applications-and-Visual-Basic-6.html
beyond that, there is a lot of generic "find and replace" code floating around. But this seems specific enough for you to write your own.
It's simple enough....just loop through the string and dump anything you don't want. Generally done with an In and out string, the latter of which you build up as you read the "in" string.
Jim.
You could use regex, this one will help you :
You could add as many special characters you want to ignore, that you will pass in the second argument like :
You just need to pass the ingoredChars together like "_-,'" in the second argument.
The whole function code could be something like :
And you could call it like :
Not tested yet.
[^A-Za-z\d_]
You could add as many special characters you want to ignore, that you will pass in the second argument like :
"[^A-Za-z\d" & ingoredChars & "]"
You just need to pass the ingoredChars together like "_-,'" in the second argument.
The whole function code could be something like :
Private Function MyReplace(ByVal strVar As String, ByVal ingoredChars As String) As String
Set objRegExp_1 = CreateObject("vbscript.regexp")
objRegExp_1.Global = True
objRegExp_1.IgnoreCase = True
objRegExp_1.Pattern = "[^A-Za-z\d" & ingoredChars & "]"
MsgBox ( objRegExp_1.Replace(strVar, "") )
End Function
And you could call it like :
MyReplace("my_-string;*with#special.:;characters/","_;*")
Not tested yet.
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@Zakaria,
Middle of testing yours...seems to work-:)
Can you explain why do I get into the debug line?
See attached.
Thanks,
Ben
Untitled.png
Middle of testing yours...seems to work-:)
Can you explain why do I get into the debug line?
fieldName = Left(Replace(Replace(Replace(Replace(Mid(ColumnName, 2, Len(ColumnName) - 2), " ", ""), "&", ""), "+", ""), "-", ""), 32)
If fieldName <> Left(MyReplace(Mid(ColumnName, 2, Len(ColumnName) - 2), "_"), 32) Then
Debug.Print fieldName
End If
See attached.
Thanks,
Ben
Untitled.png
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See: https://stackoverflow.com/