Text manipulation

I didn't understand the other one!

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(remove nothere from email address if mailing direct)

"paulinoluciano" <paulinoluciano@zipmail.com.br> wrote in message
news:1135780063.756751.135410@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Thank you Bob Phillips! It solve my problem in part. However the major
> question is just a few more complex. I explained it better in topic
> Text subsequences. In the present topic instead subtract one letter any
> time I need a macro capable to let the first cell (e.g. A1) as it is
> and remove the characters only in the next row (A2) that it would be
> identical to the previous without the first letter.
> Luciano
>

In fact, the other topic is just a few more complex until to explain.
Let me try explain better. I have a sequence of characters like:

AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ

This sequence must be put in cell A2.
Thus, I have to perform some specific operations in this text:

Example 1:
Rules:
a) Fragment the sequence before K but not always (you could have lost
cut).
b) Sequence is not cut if K is found before FP

Results:

AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ

0 lost cut = Cutting the sequence all the time in which K is present
(The subsequences of this process should be put in B column:
AASSASDK
ASASDASFAFSASASADK
ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
SPADAOEK
OQPPDAOPSK
AEPQ

1 lost cut = Cutting the sequence after the first K present in the
sequence (The subsequences of this process should be put in C column::
AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADK
ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEK
OQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ

2 lost cut = = Cutting the sequence after the second K (just for the
third and following) present in the sequence (The subsequences of this
process should be put in D column:
AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ

Repair that in some cases I need lost cuts in which you cut after 1, 2,
3, 4,... specific characters.
I have to specify such rules in some place of the sheet containing the
precursor text.
The rules are:

Cut after "XXX" (In this example I have put K but the some cell in the
sheet must contain what is the character in which the sequence will be
fragmented). In some cases it could be more than only one character
(e.g. K and R; nor necessarily together)
Cut before "XXX" (The cut may be after like previous example or before
the character)

Never before "XXX" (In some cases I have prohibitive situations; e.g.
It must not cut a sequence in K if K is preceeded by P or by RP)
Never after "XXX" (Same for after)

Number of times that the character could be missed prior cut "XXX" (In
some place of the sheet I must explicit how many characters could be
"lost" prior cut (see example).

Just out of curiosity, what not-Excel, real world problem is this?

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten

"paulinoluciano" <paulinoluciano@zipmail.com.br> wrote in message
news:1135798777.456374.90110@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> In fact, the other topic is just a few more complex until to explain.
> Let me try explain better. I have a sequence of characters like:
>
> AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
> This sequence must be put in cell A2.
> Thus, I have to perform some specific operations in this text:
>
> Example 1:
> Rules:
> a) Fragment the sequence before K but not always (you could have lost
> cut).
> b) Sequence is not cut if K is found before FP
>
> Results:
>
> AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
> 0 lost cut = Cutting the sequence all the time in which K is present
> (The subsequences of this process should be put in B column:
> AASSASDK
> ASASDASFAFSASASADK
> ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
> SPADAOEK
> OQPPDAOPSK
> AEPQ
>
> 1 lost cut = Cutting the sequence after the first K present in the
> sequence (The subsequences of this process should be put in C column::
> AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADK
> ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEK
> OQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
> AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
> SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
> 2 lost cut = = Cutting the sequence after the second K (just for the
> third and following) present in the sequence (The subsequences of this
> process should be put in D column:
> AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
> SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
> Repair that in some cases I need lost cuts in which you cut after 1, 2,
> 3, 4,... specific characters.
> I have to specify such rules in some place of the sheet containing the
> precursor text.
> The rules are:
>
> Cut after "XXX" (In this example I have put K but the some cell in the
> sheet must contain what is the character in which the sequence will be
> fragmented). In some cases it could be more than only one character
> (e.g. K and R; nor necessarily together)
> Cut before "XXX" (The cut may be after like previous example or before
> the character)
>
> Never before "XXX" (In some cases I have prohibitive situations; e.g.
> It must not cut a sequence in K if K is preceeded by P or by RP)
> Never after "XXX" (Same for after)
>
> Number of times that the character could be missed prior cut "XXX" (In
> some place of the sheet I must explicit how many characters could be
> "lost" prior cut (see example).
>

Oh, Sorry! This is applied to proteomics reserch (biology). In that
case, amino acid sequences are fragmented in small parts by proteases.
There are a lot of non-Excel softwares devoted to do that but it would
be easier and nore roboust for my current applications if could I use
excel devoted to this end.
Best regards,
Luciano

Thanks for the info, Luciano

--
Kind regards,

Niek Otten

"paulinoluciano" <paulinoluciano@zipmail.com.br> wrote in message
news:1135801518.206757.220650@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Oh, Sorry! This is applied to proteomics reserch (biology). In that
> case, amino acid sequences are fragmented in small parts by proteases.
> There are a lot of non-Excel softwares devoted to do that but it would
> be easier and nore roboust for my current applications if could I use
> excel devoted to this end.
> Best regards,
> Luciano
>

On 28 Dec 2005 11:39:37 -0800, "paulinoluciano" <paulinoluciano@zipmail.com.br>
wrote:

>In fact, the other topic is just a few more complex until to explain.
>Let me try explain better. I have a sequence of characters like:
>
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
>This sequence must be put in cell A2.
>Thus, I have to perform some specific operations in this text:
>
>Example 1:
>Rules:
>a) Fragment the sequence before K but not always (you could have lost
>cut).
>b) Sequence is not cut if K is found before FP
>
>Results:
>
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
>0 lost cut = Cutting the sequence all the time in which K is present
>(The subsequences of this process should be put in B column:
>AASSASDK
>ASASDASFAFSASASADK
>ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
>SPADAOEK
>OQPPDAOPSK
>AEPQ
>
>1 lost cut = Cutting the sequence after the first K present in the
>sequence (The subsequences of this process should be put in C column::
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADK
>ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEK
>OQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
>SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
>2 lost cut = = Cutting the sequence after the second K (just for the
>third and following) present in the sequence (The subsequences of this
>process should be put in D column:
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
>SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
>Repair that in some cases I need lost cuts in which you cut after 1, 2,
>3, 4,... specific characters.
>I have to specify such rules in some place of the sheet containing the
>precursor text.
>The rules are:
>
>Cut after "XXX" (In this example I have put K but the some cell in the
>sheet must contain what is the character in which the sequence will be
>fragmented). In some cases it could be more than only one character
>(e.g. K and R; nor necessarily together)
>Cut before "XXX" (The cut may be after like previous example or before
>the character)
>
>Never before "XXX" (In some cases I have prohibitive situations; e.g.
>It must not cut a sequence in K if K is preceeded by P or by RP)
>Never after "XXX" (Same for after)
>
>Number of times that the character could be missed prior cut "XXX" (In
>some place of the sheet I must explicit how many characters could be
>"lost" prior cut (see example).

You may want to look into "regular expressions" to do what you are trying to
describe. If you download and install Longre's free morefunc.xll add-in from
http://xcell05.free.fr/ you will see that you can use them as worksheet
functions and also call them from a VBA module.

What you write is a bit confusing. For example, one rule you give is:
"Sequence is not cut if K is found before FP" but in your example you seem to
be acting as if the rule applies if K is found AFTER FP.

I am assuming the output starts in B1; if it starts in a different row, then
adjust the ROW() function to result in a 1 as the output:

seq is the character sequence (Insert/Name/Define and set seq = "your string")

For the "0 lost cuts"

B1: =REGEX.MID(seq,"(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){"&COLUMN()-1&"}",ROW())

ROW() resolves to a '1' which means take the 'first' sequence that matches the
pattern. As you copy/drag the formula down, ROW() will resolve to '2', '3',
etc. which means match the 2nd, 3rd, etc sequence that matches the pattern.

The basic pattern is defined by "(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){" which means look for a
sequence of letters that ends with a K that is not preceded by an FP, or that
is at the end of the string.

The {"&COLUMN()-1&"}" resolves, in Column B, to {1} which means look for one
occurrence of the preceding pattern.

If you copy/drag the formula down until you get blanks for the results, you
will see what you posted in your previous message.

If you copy/drag across to column D, you will see the results of "1 lost cut"
or "2 lost cuts".

I think once you understand the formula construction and the regular
expressions, it will be simple to use this for your other rules.

Without the COLUMN and ROW functions, the formulas would look like:

B1: =REGEX.MID(seq,"(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){1}",1)
B2: =REGEX.MID(seq,"(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){1}",2)

C1: =REGEX.MID(seq,"(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){2}",1)
C2: =REGEX.MID(seq,"(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){2}",2)

To use this in VBA, you would use the RUN method which is outlined in HELP for
morefunc.xll
--ron

Ron Rosenfeld wrote...
....
>For the "0 lost cuts"
>
>B1: =REGEX.MID(seq,"(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){"&COLUMN()-1&"}",ROW())
>
>ROW() resolves to a '1' which means take the 'first' sequence that matches the
>pattern. As you copy/drag the formula down, ROW() will resolve to '2', '3',
>etc. which means match the 2nd, 3rd, etc sequence that matches the pattern.
>
>The basic pattern is defined by "(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){" which means look for a
>sequence of letters that ends with a K that is not preceded by an FP, or that
>is at the end of the string.
....

Wrong. [^FP] means any characters other than F or P, not the sequence
FP. While your formula may have produced the OP's expected results, if
there were an "FK" in the sequence, it wouldn't have. You need to use a
negative look-ahead asertion.

B2:
=REGEX.MID($A$2,"([^K]?|.*?((?!FP)..))K",ROWS(B$2:B2))

Note that if 0, 1, 2, etc. cuts are always wanted, the 1, 2, etc. cuts
could all be generated from the 0 cuts by concatenating each group of
2, 3, etc. 0-cut items, respectively.

If there could be multiple prohibited sequences, e.g., never cut before
FPK or DK (note the different lengths), it actually gets simpler if you
use an inner REGEX.SUBSTITUTE call to mask the cut character (K) ending
prohibited sequences, then unmask it after the REGEX.MID calls.

B2:
=SUBSTITUTE(REGEX.MID(REGEX.SUBSTITUTE($A$2,"(FP|D)K","[1]_"),
".*?K",ROWS(B$10:B10)),"_","K")

If the cut character were named CC, the list of prohibited sequences -
not including the ending cut character - were named PS, then this could
be rewritten as

B2:
=SUBSTITUTE(REGEX.MID(REGEX.SUBSTITUTE($A$2,"("&MCONCAT(PS,"|")&")"&CC,
"[1]#"),".*?"&CC,ROWS(B$10:B10)),"#",CC)

making use if MOREFUNC.XLL's MCONCAT function as well.

If you REALLY want to learn regular expressions, read
comp.lang.perl.misc, comp.editors or comp.unix.shell. Then when you
THINK you know them, reply to threads in those ngs. You'll find out
VERY QUICKLY whether you know them or not.

Thank you very much Harlan Grove!
In fact, I just realize that it was just a language problem. My excel
has formula in portuguese; different from yours. I`m now trying put
your formula to run as VBA codes but in this case I think it will be
necessary to define each variable because some people will use thes
worksheet will not have morefunc.xll.
Luciano

paulinoluciano wrote:
> Thank you very much Harlan Grove!
> In fact, I just realize that it was just a language problem. My excel
> has formula in portuguese; different from yours. I`m now trying put
> your formula to run as VBA codes but in this case I think it will be
> necessary to define each variable because some people will use thes
> worksheet will not have morefunc.xll.
> Luciano

On 29 Dec 2005 14:08:41 -0800, "Harlan Grove" <hrlngrv@aol.com> wrote:

>Ron Rosenfeld wrote...
>...
>>For the "0 lost cuts"
>>
>>B1: =REGEX.MID(seq,"(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){"&COLUMN()-1&"}",ROW())
>>
>>ROW() resolves to a '1' which means take the 'first' sequence that matches the
>>pattern. As you copy/drag the formula down, ROW() will resolve to '2', '3',
>>etc. which means match the 2nd, 3rd, etc sequence that matches the pattern.
>>
>>The basic pattern is defined by "(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){" which means look for a
>>sequence of letters that ends with a K that is not preceded by an FP, or that
>>is at the end of the string.
>...
>
>Wrong. [^FP] means any characters other than F or P, not the sequence
>FP. While your formula may have produced the OP's expected results, if
>there were an "FK" in the sequence, it wouldn't have. You need to use a
>negative look-ahead asertion.
>
>B2:
>=REGEX.MID($A$2,"([^K]?|.*?((?!FP)..))K",ROWS(B$2:B2))
>
>Note that if 0, 1, 2, etc. cuts are always wanted, the 1, 2, etc. cuts
>could all be generated from the 0 cuts by concatenating each group of
>2, 3, etc. 0-cut items, respectively.
>
>If there could be multiple prohibited sequences, e.g., never cut before
>FPK or DK (note the different lengths), it actually gets simpler if you
>use an inner REGEX.SUBSTITUTE call to mask the cut character (K) ending
>prohibited sequences, then unmask it after the REGEX.MID calls.
>
>B2:
>=SUBSTITUTE(REGEX.MID(REGEX.SUBSTITUTE($A$2,"(FP|D)K","[1]_"),
>".*?K",ROWS(B$10:B10)),"_","K")
>
>If the cut character were named CC, the list of prohibited sequences -
>not including the ending cut character - were named PS, then this could
>be rewritten as
>
>B2:
>=SUBSTITUTE(REGEX.MID(REGEX.SUBSTITUTE($A$2,"("&MCONCAT(PS,"|")&")"&CC,
>"[1]#"),".*?"&CC,ROWS(B$10:B10)),"#",CC)
>
>making use if MOREFUNC.XLL's MCONCAT function as well.
>
>If you REALLY want to learn regular expressions, read
>comp.lang.perl.misc, comp.editors or comp.unix.shell. Then when you
>THINK you know them, reply to threads in those ngs. You'll find out
>VERY QUICKLY whether you know them or not.


Thank you for pointing that out. And also for the references to those other
NG's.


--ron

On 29 Dec 2005 14:08:41 -0800, "Harlan Grove" <hrlngrv@aol.com> wrote:

>B2:
>=REGEX.MID($A$2,"([^K]?|.*?((?!FP)..))K",ROWS(B$2:B2))

By the way, I think in keeping with the OP's specifications, this should be:

=REGEX.MID(seq,"([^K]?|.*?((?!FP)..))(K|$)",ROWS(B$2:B2))

I think he always wants the end of the string, even if it doesn't end with a
'K'.


--ron

Ron Rosenfeld wrote...
....
>By the way, I think in keeping with the OP's specifications, this should be:
>
> =REGEX.MID(seq,"([^K]?|.*?((?!FP)..))(K|$)",ROWS(B$2:B2))
>
>I think he always wants the end of the string, even if it doesn't end with a
>'K'.

Good point, but it begs the question whether any symbols after the last
K would be considered valid data.

On 30 Dec 2005 11:04:25 -0800, "Harlan Grove" <hrlngrv@aol.com> wrote:

>Ron Rosenfeld wrote...
>...
>>By the way, I think in keeping with the OP's specifications, this should be:
>>
>> =REGEX.MID(seq,"([^K]?|.*?((?!FP)..))(K|$)",ROWS(B$2:B2))
>>
>>I think he always wants the end of the string, even if it doesn't end with a
>>'K'.
>
>Good point, but it begs the question whether any symbols after the last
>K would be considered valid data.

It's been a long time since I was fragmenting amino acid sequences ...


--ron

On 29 Dec 2005 14:08:41 -0800, "Harlan Grove" <hrlngrv@aol.com> wrote:

>Wrong. [^FP] means any characters other than F or P, not the sequence
>FP. While your formula may have produced the OP's expected results, if
>there were an "FK" in the sequence, it wouldn't have. You need to use a
>negative look-ahead asertion.
>
>B2:
>=REGEX.MID($A$2,"([^K]?|.*?((?!FP)..))K",ROWS(B$2:B2))

Harlan,

How about a negative look-behind assertion?

=REGEX.MID($A$1,".*?(?<!FP)(K|$)",ROWS($B$2:B2))


--ron

"Ron Rosenfeld" <ronrosenfeld@nospam.org> wrote...
....
>How about a negative look-behind assertion?
>
>=REGEX.MID($A$1,".*?(?<!FP)(K|$)",ROWS($B$2:B2))

I keep forgetting Longre uses PCRE rather than VBScript regexp syntax. Too
many regexp varieties.

That should work for one literal substring in the assertion, but multiple
options, e.g., ".+?(?<!(FP|XYZ|D))K" [note: it's more efficient to append a
K to A1 and use a simple K at the end of the regexp than to use (K|$) - to
me at least that's a clearer indicator that trailing symbols after the last
K should be included] could cause backtracking problems. Assertions with
alternation subexpressions with closures (not the case here, but generally)
can become a big PITA. If there were multiple prohibited sequences, it may
be more efficient to mask immediately following cut characters and replace
them in the results. This is the regexp analog to using ancillary cells for
intermediate calculations rather than single huge formulas in spreadsheets.
Just as 2 or 3 formulas may recalc more quickly than a single equivalent
formula, 2 or 3 simpler regexp operations may recalc more quickly than a
single, more complex one. Assertions may work well in this case, but I tend
to avoid them when possible myself.

On Mon, 2 Jan 2006 14:26:16 -0800, "Harlan Grove" <hrlngrv@aol.com> wrote:

>"Ron Rosenfeld" <ronrosenfeld@nospam.org> wrote...
>...
>>How about a negative look-behind assertion?
>>
>>=REGEX.MID($A$1,".*?(?<!FP)(K|$)",ROWS($B$2:B2))
>
>I keep forgetting Longre uses PCRE rather than VBScript regexp syntax. Too
>many regexp varieties.
>
>That should work for one literal substring in the assertion, but multiple
>options, e.g., ".+?(?<!(FP|XYZ|D))K" [note: it's more efficient to append a
>K to A1 and use a simple K at the end of the regexp than to use (K|$) - to
>me at least that's a clearer indicator that trailing symbols after the last
>K should be included] could cause backtracking problems. Assertions with
>alternation subexpressions with closures (not the case here, but generally)
>can become a big PITA. If there were multiple prohibited sequences, it may
>be more efficient to mask immediately following cut characters and replace
>them in the results. This is the regexp analog to using ancillary cells for
>intermediate calculations rather than single huge formulas in spreadsheets.
>Just as 2 or 3 formulas may recalc more quickly than a single equivalent
>formula, 2 or 3 simpler regexp operations may recalc more quickly than a
>single, more complex one. Assertions may work well in this case, but I tend
>to avoid them when possible myself.
>

I will need to keep that in mind. Clearly I have insufficient experience with
regular expressions to have run into some of the issues you have mentioned.

I will need to think more about the backtracking issues in order to better
understand what you write. As well as the pros and cons of trying to avoid
assertions.

I have been trying to work out some of the questions posed on the NG's you
referred me to. Educational. Thanks.

Best wishes and Happy New Year,

--ron
--ron

On 28 Dec 2005 11:39:37 -0800, "paulinoluciano" <paulinoluciano@zipmail.com.br>
wrote:

>1 lost cut = Cutting the sequence after the first K present in the
>sequence (The subsequences of this process should be put in C column::
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADK
>ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEK
>OQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
>SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ

See my other answer. But I did not understand how you obtained the last two
lines in the "1 lost cut" sequence.

They are identical to the two lines in the "2 lost cut" sequence, so I thought
this might be a typo. But perhaps I am missing something?


--ron

Hi Ron Rosenfeld,
Thank you very much for your help.
Could I use your first function as a VBA code?
In this second case, is is possible that we have a typo. In this case
speak about 1 lost cut means that you will cut the sequence only after
the first K appear, never to the first one. But you will have
intermediates in such process because you never now where will be
performed the first cut.
Luciano

On 29 Dec 2005 01:26:31 -0800, "paulinoluciano" <paulinoluciano@zipmail.com.br>
wrote:

>Hi Ron Rosenfeld,
>Thank you very much for your help.
>Could I use your first function as a VBA code?

Yes, you can. The morefunc.xll add-in functions can be used in VBA by using
the RUN method. See HELP for those add-ins for more details.


>In this second case, is is possible that we have a typo. In this case
>speak about 1 lost cut means that you will cut the sequence only after
>the first K appear, never to the first one. But you will have
>intermediates in such process because you never now where will be
>performed the first cut.

How do you determine, if you specify ONE lost cut, whether the first cut will
occur after the SECOND 'K', or after the THIRD 'K', or ???

The formulas assumed that with ONE lost cut, the first cut would occur after
the SECOND 'K'.

Here is a UDF written in VBA to do the same thing, using the REGEX.MID function
from the morefunc.xll add-in. The variables should be self-explanatory. The
return value is an array, and the individual components can be obtained using
the INDEX worksheet function.

e.g. with the sequence stored in A1:

=INDEX(SplitK($A$1,0),1) would return the first item in the '0 lost cuts'
splitting function).

===================================
Option Explicit
Function SplitK(ByVal seq As String, LostCut As Long) As Variant
Dim i As Long, j As Long
Dim KCount As Long
Dim Temp() As String

If LostCut < 0 Then
SplitK = CVErr(xlErrNum)
Exit Function
End If

KCount = Len(seq) - Len(Replace(seq, "K", ""))
ReDim Temp(1 To KCount)

For i = 1 To KCount
Temp(i) = Run([regex.mid], seq, "(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){" & LostCut + 1 & "}", i)
Next i

SplitK = Temp
End Function
=========================

This could also be written as a SUB to automatically place the results into
specified cells, but it would be less flexible.

To write results into columns B, C, D:

=====================================
Option Explicit
Sub SplitK()
Const seq As String =
"AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ"
Const MaxLostCuts As Long = 2
Const ResultColumn As Long = 2 'Column B

Dim i As Long
Dim LostCut As Long
Dim KCount As Long
Dim Temp() As String


KCount = Len(seq) - Len(Replace(seq, "K", ""))
ReDim Temp(1 To KCount)

For LostCut = 0 To MaxLostCuts
For i = 1 To KCount
Cells(i, ResultColumn + LostCut) = _
Run([regex.mid], seq, "(\w+?([^FP]K|$)){" & LostCut + 1 & "}", i)
Next i
Next LostCut

End Sub
====================================


--ron

Hi Ron,
When we are talking about "lost cut" it means that inside the sequence
will be present 1 "K" or 2 "K" or 3 "K" that will not detected in order
to be cut.
Do you understand?
Luciano

On 29 Dec 2005 05:42:15 -0800, "paulinoluciano" <paulinoluciano@zipmail.com.br>
wrote:

>Hi Ron,
>When we are talking about "lost cut" it means that inside the sequence
>will be present 1 "K" or 2 "K" or 3 "K" that will not detected in order
>to be cut.
>Do you understand?
>Luciano

I understood that to mean that if there is
ZERO lost cuts then
cut after every K (that is not preceded by an FP)

if there is ONE lost cut then
cut after every second K that is not preceded by an FP

if there are TWO lost cuts then
cut after every third K that is not preceded by an FP




--ron

paulinoluciano wrote...
....
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
>This sequence must be put in cell A2.
....
>Rules:
>a) Fragment the sequence before K but not always (you could have lost cut).
>b) Sequence is not cut if K is found before FP
>
>Results:
>
>ASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>
>0 lost cut = Cutting the sequence all the time in which K is present
>(The subsequences of this process should be put in B column:
>AASSASDK
>ASASDASFAFSASASADK
>ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
>SPADAOEK
>OQPPDAOPSK
>AEPQ

You could use formulas.

B2:
=LEFT($A$2,FIND("K",SUBSTITUTE($A$2,"FPK","###")))

B3:
=REPLACE(LEFT($A$2,FIND("K",SUBSTITUTE($A$2,"FPK","###")&"K",
SUMPRODUCT(LEN(B$2:B2))+1)),1,SUMPRODUCT(LEN(B$2:B2)),"")

Fill B3 down as needed. Filling it into B4:B8 (one cell more than
needed) gives B2:B8

AASSASDK
ASASDASFAFSASASADK
ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
SPADAOEK
OQPPDAOPSK
AEPQ
<blank>

>1 lost cut = Cutting the sequence after the first K present in the
>sequence (The subsequences of this process should be put in C column::
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADK
>ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEK
>OQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
>SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ

You have all the information you need for this in column B.

C2:
=INDEX(B$2:B$99,2*ROWS(C$2:C2)-1)&INDEX(B$2:B$99,2*ROWS(C$2:C2))

Fill C2 down as needed. Filling it into C3:C5 (one more than needed)
gives C2:C5

AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADK
ASASAFPKQREWEAQEOKSPADAOEK
OQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
<blank>

>2 lost cut = = Cutting the sequence after the second K (just for the
>third and following) present in the sequence (The subsequences of this
>process should be put in D column:
>AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
>SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ

D2:
=INDEX(B$2:B$99,3*ROWS(D$2:D2)-2)&INDEX(B$2:B$99,3*ROWS(D$2:D2)-1)
&INDEX(B$2:B$99,3*ROWS(D$2:D2))

Fill D2 down as needed. Filling it into D3:D4 (one more than needed)
gives D2:D4

AASSASDKASASDASFAFSASASADKASASAFPKQREWEAQEOK
SPADAOEKOQPPDAOPSKAEPQ
<blank>

>Repair that in some cases I need lost cuts in which you cut after 1, 2,
>3, 4,... specific characters.
>I have to specify such rules in some place of the sheet containing the
>precursor text.
>The rules are:
>
>Cut after "XXX" (In this example I have put K but the some cell in the
>sheet must contain what is the character in which the sequence will be
>fragmented). In some cases it could be more than only one character
>(e.g. K and R; nor necessarily together)
>Cut before "XXX" (The cut may be after like previous example or before
>the character)
>
>Never before "XXX" (In some cases I have prohibitive situations; e.g.
>It must not cut a sequence in K if K is preceeded by P or by RP)

The RP preceding K is redundant if P alone preceding K indicates a
prohibited situation. You'd only need to check for PK.

>Never after "XXX" (Same for after)
>
>Number of times that the character could be missed prior cut "XXX" (In
>some place of the sheet I must explicit how many characters could be
>"lost" prior cut (see example).

Generalizing the formulas above with the character to match in a cell
named CC and the prohibited sequence (in this case FPK) in a cell named
PS,

B2:
=LEFT($A$2,FIND(CC,SUBSTITUTE($A$2,PS,REPT("#",LEN(PS)))))

B3:
=REPLACE(LEFT($A$2,FIND(CC,SUBSTITUTE($A$2,PS,REPT("#",LEN(PS)))&CC,
SUMPRODUCT(LEN(B$2:B2))+1)),1,SUMPRODUCT(LEN(B$2:B2)),"")

The column C, D, etc. formulas wouldn't need to change.

If you have multiple prohibited sequences, then regular expressions
would be MUCH BETTER tools for doing this. Symbolic processing like
this is reducible to text processing, but Excel provides poor built-in
tools for text processing, but since it was meant to calculate numbers
this shouldn't be surprising.

Dear Harlan Grove,
Thank you very much for your attention. I have tried apply your
formulas but my excel related some problems. The message is that: "The
formula you typed contains an error". In addition, do you think that
would it be possible to perform such formulas by using VBA?
Luciano