Regex-pattern

vivka · #1 01-06-2025, 11:16 AM

Or another presentation of Greg's idea:

Code:

Sub ScratchMacro()
'Coded by Gregory K. Maxey
'https://www.msofficeforums.com/184580-post31.html

 Dim oRng As range
  Set oRng = ActiveDocument.range
  With oRng.Find
    .text = "<[0-9]{4,5}>"
    .MatchWildcards = True
    While .Execute
        If InStr(oRng.text, "2") > 0 Then MsgBox oRng.text
    Wend
  End With
lbl_Exit:
  Exit Sub
  End Sub

However I had situations when regex helped me out, unlike VBA. Maybe it was because of my poor VBA knowledge.
Greg and Batman1, thank you for another good lesson!

batman1 · #2 01-06-2025, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivka

Or another presentation of Greg's idea:

Code:

Sub ScratchMacro()
'Coded by Gregory K. Maxey
'https://www.msofficeforums.com/184580-post31.html

 Dim oRng As range
  Set oRng = ActiveDocument.range
  With oRng.Find
    .text = "<[0-9]{4,5}>"
    .MatchWildcards = True
    While .Execute
        If InStr(oRng.text, "2") > 0 Then MsgBox oRng.text
    Wend
  End With
lbl_Exit:
  Exit Sub
   End Sub

As I explained the number DOES NOT HAVE TO be a word, it can be part of a word.

If the data is:
a3452b
13452
then the code with .text = "[0-9]{4,5}" will find both 3452 and 13452. Meanwhile, the result 13452 is not good because 2 appears in the fifth place and not in 1-4

vivka · #3 01-06-2025, 12:19 PM

In the code

Code:

<[0-9]{4,5}>

< and > identify a 4- or 5-digit 'word' without any letters. You can test it. As for finding 2 in all positions but fifth, Greg's 2nd condition can be used. So, the final code is:

Code:

Sub ScratchMacro() 
 'Coded by Gregory K. Maxey 
'https://www.msofficeforums.com/184580-post31.html  
 Dim oRng As range   
   Set oRng = ActiveDocument.range   
   With oRng.Find     
     .text = "<[0-9]{4,5}>"     
     .MatchWildcards = True     
     While .Execute         
       If InStr(left(oRng.text, 4), "2") > 0 Then MsgBox oRng.text     
     Wend   
   End With 
lbl_Exit:   
   Exit Sub    
End Sub

However, I repeat that my (not rich) experience shows that there are situations when only regex can be helpful.

batman1 · #4 01-06-2025, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivka

In the code

Code:

<[0-9]{4,5}>

< and > identify a 4- or 5-digit 'word' without any letters. You can test it. As for finding 2 in all positions but fifth, Greg's 2nd condition can be used. So, the final code is:

Code:

Sub ScratchMacro() 
 'Coded by Gregory K. Maxey 
'https://www.msofficeforums.com/184580-post31.html  
 Dim oRng As range   
   Set oRng = ActiveDocument.range   
   With oRng.Find     
     .text = "<[0-9]{4,5}>"     
     .MatchWildcards = True     
     While .Execute         
       If InStr(left(oRng.text, 4), "2") > 0 Then MsgBox oRng.text     
     Wend   
   End With 
lbl_Exit:   
   Exit Sub    
 End Sub

I have already explained that the task does not require the number to be a word - it can be part of a word.

With data:
13452234567
a3452b
67892
123456 23556789 3456789 a234667 13452234567 a3452b 1342 222

podany kod znajdzie tylko 1342 . Tymczasem wyniki =
34522
3452
7892
12345
23556
23466
34522
3452
1342

vivka · #5 01-06-2025, 01:24 PM

That's clear as mud. In 13452234567 should the code find 34522 and in 123456 12345 ? Then what is the rule/principle of the search? If "Find in the sequence all numbers consisting of 4 or 5 digits, whose first 4 digits have at least 1 digit 2", then 13452234567 contains 3452, 2345, 23456, correct? Ok, never mind! I'm getting too obsessed with the topic and stressing you with my questions.

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