ACC2000: How to Strip Extra Characters from a String (210103)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2000
This article was previously published under Q210103
Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

SUMMARY

This article shows you how to create a custom function to strip extra characters from a string. This function is useful in a situation where the value in a field contains too many spaces between names or has other formatting problems.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

MORE INFORMATION

To create the custom function to strip extra characters from a string, follow these steps:
  1. Create a module and type the following line in the Declarations section if it is not already there:
    Option Explicit
  2. Type the following procedure:
     
Function StripExtraChars(PassedStr, RemoveExtraChar$)
   On Local Error GoTo StripExtraChars_Err
   Dim i As Integer, GotChar As Integer
   Dim HoldStr As String, HoldChar As String

   ' Exit if passed value is Null.
   If IsNull(PassedStr) Then Exit Function
            
   ' Trim extra characters from passed string.
   PassedStr = Trim$(PassedStr)

   ' Cycle through string and remove extra
   ' string characters specified in the
   ' RemoveExtraChar value.
   For i = 1 To Len(PassedStr)
      HoldChar = Mid$(PassedStr, i, 1)
      If HoldChar = RemoveExtraChar Then
         If GotChar = False Then
            GotChar = True
            HoldStr = HoldStr & HoldChar
         End If
      Else
         GotChar = False
      End If

      If Not GotChar Then
         HoldStr = HoldStr & HoldChar
      End If

   Next i

   StripExtraChars = HoldStr

StripExtraChars_End:
   Exit Function

StripExtraChars_Err:
   MsgBox Error$
   Resume StripExtraChars_End
End Function
  3. To test this function, type the following line in the Immediate window, and then press ENTER: 
    ?StripExtraChars("  My    Test    String   ", Chr$(32))
    Note that the string passed to the StripExtraChars() function returns "My Test String." The RemoveExtraChar$ variable passed into the function uses the Chr$() ASCII code equivalent of a space.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Chr() function and character codes, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type Chr in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbdta kbhowto kbofficeprog kbProgramming kbusage KbVBA KB210103
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