Help with Regular Expression pattern

A

AlexanderBB

Well-known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2009
Messages
1,835
Office Version
  1. 2019
  2. 2016
Platform
  1. Windows
Hi, I've managed to identify a string which starts with a Capitol A-Z followed by a number [0-9] and then a period and space.

However the number may be over 10 (so more than one character) and in some case the period and space missing. This may mean
two checks are needed but I can't get either working properly.

Have Googled a bit but can't find a good pattern tutorial for beginners for VBA RE... if you know of one I'd appreciate a link.

Many thanks, ABB
 

Excel Facts

Which came first: VisiCalc or Lotus 1-2-3?
Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston debuted VisiCalc in 1979 as a Visible Calculator. Lotus 1-2-3 debuted in the early 1980's, from Mitch Kapor.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Hi

So you say

- a capital A-Z
followed by
- 1 or more digits
followed by
- either (a point and a space) or (nothing)

I'd use

[A-Z]\d+(\. )?

Remark: it's not clear in your post the point and space part. I assumed that the string either has both or none (you wrote: in some case the period and space missing).
 
Upvote 0
Thanks PGC, I think you helped me with this before.

It's the various control chars and what they do I need to learn.
[A-Z]\d+(\. )?

If the A-Z has to be the first char does it need a leading '^' ? I think so... but will go and read the link.

What I have is the point and a space will always be followed by something, but if Missing I need to know to insert it.

Many thanks, ABB
 
Upvote 0
AlexanderBB said:
What I have is the point and a space will always be followed by something, but if Missing I need to know to insert it.
Click to expand...

You mean that for ex., if you have

A123xyz

Where the point and the space are missing after the digits you want to end up with

A123. xyz

?
 
Upvote 0
Yes, that's it exactly. The point and space will/must be there ultimately. But it saves me typing it in if I know it can be done automatically.
 
Upvote 0
If I understood correctly, this code will do it.

I tested it as a udf:

Code: 
Function DotSpace(s As String) As String

With CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp")
    .Pattern = "^([A-Z]\d+)(\. )?"
    DotSpace = .Replace(s, "$1. ")
End With
End Function


<table border="1" cellpadding="1" style="background:#FFF; border-collapse:collapse;border-width:2px;border-color:#CCCCCC;font-family:Arial,Arial; font-size:10pt" ><tr><th style="border-width:1px;border-color:#888888;background:#9CF " > </th><th style="border-width:1px;border-color:#888888;background:#9CF; text-align:center" >A</th><th style="border-width:1px;border-color:#888888;background:#9CF; text-align:center" >B</th><th style="border-width:1px;border-color:#888888;background:#9CF; text-align:center" width=30 >C</th></tr><tr><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;background:#9CF; text-align:center; " ><b>1</b></td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;background:#9CF; text-align:center; " ><b>2</b></td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">A123xyz</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">A123. xyz</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;background:#9CF; text-align:center; " ><b>3</b></td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">A123. xyz</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">A123. xyz</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;background:#9CF; text-align:center; " ><b>4</b></td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">ABC</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">ABC</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;background:#9CF; text-align:center; " ><b>5</b></td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">A1A2</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">A1. A2</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;background:#9CF; text-align:center; " ><b>6</b></td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=4 style="background:#9CF; padding-left:1em" > [Book1]Sheet1</td></tr></table>
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
That works spot-on PGC, thanks very much. I was *really* puzzled for a while the noticed the . in front of Replace !
I hope I can ask you more after I do a bit more playing...

Richard that link has expired or can't be seen, but thanks for the thought and if there's an alternative....

Regards, ABB
 
Upvote 0
AlexanderBB said:
Richard that link has expired or can't be seen, but thanks for the thought and if there's an alternative....

Regards, ABB
Click to expand...

Possibly because you are at work and access to Skydrive is restricted (I just tried it and successfully managed to download the file so I'm confident the link works)?
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
  • Question
Regular expression to allow certain characters
Replies
4
Views
364
Rick Rothstein
Rick Rothstein
D
  • Question
Completely cleaning account numbers and storing with a specific format
Replies
2
Views
596
diversification
D
W
  • Solved
Index/Match Cannot The Find Column
2
Replies
11
Views
756
Peter_SSs
Peter_SSs
A
  • Solved
Finding a unique value in a range and returning the value in another column of the same row, without offset / slow formulae.
Replies
8
Views
953
AaronPMH
A
C
  • Question
Regular Expression - To match a closest space after nth character
Replies
3
Views
1K
Marc L
Marc L

Forum statistics

Threads
1,214,644
Messages
6,120,709
Members
448,983
Latest member
Joaquim_Baptista

Share this page

We've detected that you are using an adblocker.

We have a great community of people providing Excel help here, but the hosting costs are enormous. You can help keep this site running by allowing ads on MrExcel.com.
Allow Ads at MrExcel

Which adblocker are you using?

Disable AdBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Pause on this site" option.
Go back

Disable AdBlock Plus

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock Plus

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the toggle to disable it for "mrexcel.com".
Go back

Disable uBlock Origin

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock Origin

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back

Disable uBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back
Back
Top