Regular Expressions

**mattdick** · 05-04-2009, 06:42 PM

Having erroneously asked this in another thread, I am starting it anew in this one.

The subject of Mid() came up, and after chasing it down, I understand how to use it and Left() to do some stuff.

What I'm really after is a fully realized regular expression engine that can let me specify much less rigid structures. Perl, vi, various *nix shells all have them, but I can't find a good reference to them for Excel VBA. Rumor (in the form of shg) has it that what I seek is out there. So... any guidance?

Thanks!

**shg** · 05-04-2009, 06:47 PM

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms974570.aspx.

When you use them in VBA with early binding, you need a reference to Microsoft VBScript Regular Expressions.

**Richard Buttrey** · 05-04-2009, 06:48 PM

Hi,

Checkout the Morefunc add in. It may be what you're thinking of.

Available from several places, one such being
http://xcell05.free.fr/morefunc/english/

HTH

**mattdick** · 05-05-2009, 05:41 PM

Okay, I'd be happy with either solution, but I started reading through the native VBA RegEx article shg mentioned. My question is... how do I use it? This is my ignorance of Excel showing through, but when I set a variable as a "regex" I'm told it's a user-defined type. Is there an additional library I need to load? I "grew up" in old-school Unix and I just don't know VBA/Windows well enough to know immediately how to do this.

Thanks!

**shg** · 05-05-2009, 05:49 PM

In the VBE, Tools > References, tick Microsoft VBScript Regular Expressions

**mattdick** · 05-07-2009, 06:24 PM

I turned on Microsoft VBScript Regular Expressions but the script still returns that it's a user-defined type.

And Richard, morefunc's download link fails. I found it here instead.

I'll report back if i have any luck with it.