I know that there is an InStr function that allows character pattern
matching.

However, is there something that somebody has written that is more
'perl-regular-expression'-like? Something that allows you to take one
pattern and one string and tells you whether or not the pattern matches the
string? Also, it would be nice to have range ([a-z0-9]) operators repetition
operators (*,+) and memorization operators (\1, \2, etc.)

The best thing I've found is something on MSFT's website, but even then, the
best pattern matcher only matches same length strings to each other without
the * or + operators.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Please send mail to me in addition to the newsgroup.

--

Dirk Goldgar
(remove NOSPAM from reply address)

For example, I want match_function("string_one (<letter><number>)
string_two", "\w\d") to become <letter><number> where we don't know which
letter or which number will go in, just that there's a letter and a number
there.

If I am wrong, please reply. Thanks.

--

Dirk Goldgar
(remove NOSPAM from reply address)

Caveat: I haven't tried it from VBA myself.

 -- Dev

:Hi,
:
:I know that there is an InStr function that allows character pattern
:matching.
:
:However, is there something that somebody has written that is more
:'perl-regular-expression'-like? Something that allows you to take one
:pattern and one string and tells you whether or not the pattern matches the
:string? Also, it would be nice to have range ([a-z0-9]) operators
repetition
:operators (*,+) and memorization operators (\1, \2, etc.)
:
:The best thing I've found is something on MSFT's website, but even then,
the
:best pattern matcher only matches same length strings to each other without
:the * or + operators.
:
:Thanks in advance for your help.
:
:Please send mail to me in addition to the newsgroup.
:
:

Kind of a subtle way of following up on that rumor you mentioned
a while back. ;-)

I assume that you're referring to these sentences in that
article:

   "The stdin/stdout/stderr support is actually
    implemented in the FileSystemObject, so
    you can now access stdin/stdout/stderr
    from any Visual Basic program.   . . .
    As an added bonus, you also get a regular
    expression object with VBScript 5.0 that
    can be used in Visual Basic."

I can hardly believe that it can be as simple as:

    "Just install Beta 2 of WSH 2.0 and you're set."

What then?  Read all the white papers, add a reference, check the
Object Browser, and just use the methods?  In Access 97?  Even
without the SRs?  I suppose that in theory it could work, but I'm
a little sceptical.  What the heck, I'm going to set up two or
three more machines over the next few weeks, maybe I'll get a
chance to give it a try on one that doesn't care if it gets bent
out of shape.

If anyone finds out more about this, please post an Info: RegExp

Marsh

--
Dev Ashish     (http://www.mvps.org/access)

: Dev,
:
: Kind of a subtle way of following up on that rumor you mentioned
: a while back. ;-)

:-)

:
: I assume that you're referring to these sentences in that
: article:

Not quite, because we don't have to use FSO.

:
: I can hardly believe that it can be as simple as:
:
:     "Just install Beta 2 of WSH 2.0 and you're set."

Should be just as simple as that. On my Windows 2000 RC-2 machine, it
requires just one additional ref. to "Microsoft VBScript Regular
Expressions".  Here's a quick test to prove the theory.

' ****** Code Start *******
Sub sTestZipCodes()
Const ERR_ZIPCODE = "Must be a valid 5 or 9 digit zip code"
    Debug.Print fValidateZipcode("06905")
    Debug.Print fValidateZipcode("06905-0011")
    Debug.Print fValidateZipcode("zxf44")
    Debug.Print fValidateZipcode("000922")
End Sub

Function fValidateZipcode(strZipCode As String) As Boolean
On Error GoTo ErrHandler
' Windows 2000: Requires a reference to VBScript Regular Expressions
' VBScript_RegExp - C:\WINNT\System32\vbscript.dll\2; 1.0
Dim objRE As VBScript_RegExp.RegExp

    Set objRE = New VBScript_RegExp.RegExp
    With objRE
        .Pattern = "^\d{5}([ -]?\d{4})?$"
        fValidateZipcode = (.Test(strZipCode))
    End With
    Set objRE = Nothing
ExitHere:
    Exit Function
ErrHandler:
    fValidateZipcode = False
    With Err
        MsgBox "Error: " & .Number & vbCrLf & .Description, _
            vbCritical Or vbOKOnly, .Source
    End With
    Resume ExitHere
End Function
' ********* Code End ********

  -- Dev

Sure glad to see you back here, even if it's only some of the
time.

Didn't mean for you to actually go and do it, but if it's that
simple, it probably wasn't much of a strain on your Sunday
morning schedule ;-)

This can open up some intriguing possiblities.  Now I'll have to
think of a way to train users in the benefits of REs in their
search forms ;-)))  (Note to myself: check on the relative
performance.)

I appreciate the quick comeback along with the proof.
Marsh

VBScript Features not in Visual Basic for Applications

http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/default.htm?/scripting/VBScript/doc/
vsgrpVBSFeatures.htm

RegExp is listed on this page, but there is no further explanation as
to why...

Does anyone have a clue?

Regards, Tim

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