Extract a 5 Digit Number From Inconsistent Text Strings

[jeffgibson55]

I know how to extract a number from a text string using:

LOOKUP(99^99,--("0"&MID(J1,MIN(SEARCH({0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9},J1&"0123456789")),ROW($1:$10000))))

But in my current data set I have thousands of inconsistent text strings some of which contain other numbers that I don't care about - with the above formula it just grabs the first number it finds left to right. The number I need to grab is always a 5 digit number. Is there any formula I can use that would only grab out a 5 digit number ignoring all other numbers? Here's an example text string: "9/14/2010.NTL.TeleBroc.55129T_V1_N" where 55129 is the desired extract value but like I said the other text strings don't necessarily follow this example's format/delimiters.

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Richard Schollar]

Howdy Jeff

If you're not against using VBA in a UDF the following will do this:

Function FiveDigitNo(s As String)
With CreateObject("vbscript.regexp")
  .Pattern = "\b\d{5}\b"
  If .Test(s) Then FiveDigitNo = .Execute(s)(0)
End With
End Function

Use in your worksheet like:

=FiveDigitNo(A1)

 

[Oaktree]

This isn't perfect, but it might get you usably close:

=LOOKUP(TRUE,(MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A1))),5)+0)>10000,MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A1))),5)+0)

 

[jeffgibson55]

Thanks Richard and Oaktree for the quick replies! Richard I've used macros in the past but never a custom function - I hit Alt+F11 and entered your code which made the FiveDigitNo an available function, but the result was 0 for every instance?? Oaktree you're formula works for some but not all of the strings - when it doesn't work it just grabs the right-most character (5 example strings below where the right most character was the result):

10/12/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.54695LVWCR_V2
10/13/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.54713LVWCR_V2
4/20/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.52511LVWCR_V1
1/19/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.52509LVWCR_V1
57639ER_Drop1-110808-1335
57818ER_Drop1-110803-0646

Thanks again for the help, any further clarification would be most welcome!

Jeff

 

[pgc01]

Hi Jeff

Try the following udf:

Function FiveDigitNo(s As String) as String
With CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp")
  .Pattern = "(?:^|\D)(\d{5})(?!\d)"
  If .Test(s) Then FiveDigitNo = .Execute(s)(0).SubMatches(0)
End With
End Function

<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #cccccc; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 2px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #cccccc; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Arial; BACKGROUND: #fff; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 2px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 2px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #cccccc; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #cccccc; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 2px" border=1 cellPadding=1><TBODY><TR><TH style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px"></TH><TH style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px">A</TH><TH style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px">B</TH><TH style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px" width=30>C</TH></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">1</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">10/12/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.5469
5LVWCR_V2

</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">54695</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">2</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">10/13/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.5471
3LVWCR_V2

</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">54713</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">3</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">4/20/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.52511
LVWCR_V1

</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">52511</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">4</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">1/19/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.52509
LVWCR_V1

</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">52509</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">5</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">57639ER_Drop1-110808-1335</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">57639</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">6</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">57818ER_Drop1-110803-0646</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">57818</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #000000; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #000000; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BACKGROUND: #9cf; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #000000; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em">7</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM-COLOR: #888888; TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-TOP-COLOR: #888888; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 1px; BORDER-RIGHT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-COLOR: #888888; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 0.4em"></TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-LEFT: 1em; BACKGROUND: #9cf" colSpan=4>[Book1]Sheet2</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Remark: I'm returning the result as string, so that you get to keep leading 0's

 

[jeffgibson55]

pgc01 that worked perfectly - thanks so much for the help everyone!

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[pgc01]

I'm glad it helped Jeff.

Also a formula solution, please test. In B1:

=LOOKUP(2,1/(MMULT(0+(ISNUMBER(-MID(" "&A1,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A1)))+{0,1,2,3,4,5,6},1))+0={0,1,1,1,1,1,0}),{1;1;1;1;1;1;1})=7),MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A1))),5))

Copy down


<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:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">10/12/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.5469<br>5LVWCR_V2</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; ">54695</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; ">10/13/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.5471<br>3LVWCR_V2</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; ">54713</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; ">4/20/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.52511<br>LVWCR_V1</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; ">52511</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; ">1/19/2010.IBN.NTL.WebcastEBrochure.52509<br>LVWCR_V1</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; ">52509</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; ">57639ER_Drop1-110808-1335</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; ">57639</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:left;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; ">57818ER_Drop1-110803-0646</td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; 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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>8</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>

 

[Michael M]

Hi PGC
That's a really neat function....Would you mind explaining the method
AND
could range reference or InputBox allow the user to change the No of digits required.

I have a snippet that extracts any no of digits....but it's waay !! bigger than this one.

 

[pgc01]

Hi Michael, thanks.

Would you mind explaining the method

I'm using a Regular Expression. RegEx's are a very powerful tools for text parsing.

You find an introduction here:

http://www.aivosto.com/vbtips/regex.html

You can also google "Regular Expression", there's lots of info available

could range reference or InputBox allow the user to change the No of digits required.

You just have to modify the pattern:

  .Pattern = "(?:^|\D)(\d{[B]5[/B]})(?!\d)"

For ex., if the number of digits is in D2,

  .Pattern = "(?:^|\D)(\d{" & Range("D2").Value & "})(?!\d)"

HTH

 

[Michael M]

Thank you for the explanation, link and code.

Really appreciate regular posters sharing their vast wealth of knowledge.

Cheers.