ACC2000: How to Strip Specific Characters from a String (210227)

SUMMARY

This article shows you how to create a custom function to strip invalid characters or characters that you do not want from a string. You can use this function in queries and in text input boxes.

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.

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To strip invalid characters or characters that you do not want from a string, follow these steps:

Create a module and type the following line in the Declarations section if it is not already there:
```
Option Explicit
					
```

Type the following procedure:

 
' --------------------------------------------------
' Function StripString()
'
' Returns a string minus a set of specified chars.
' --------------------------------------------------

Function StripString(MyStr As Variant) As Variant
   On Error GoTo StripStringError

   Dim strChar As String, strHoldString As String
   Dim i As Integer

   ' Exit if the passed value is null.
   If IsNull(MyStr) Then Exit Function

   ' Exit if the passed value is not a string.
   If VarType(MyStr) <> 8 Then Exit Function

   ' Check each value for invalid characters.
   For i = 1 To Len(MyStr)
      strChar = Mid$(MyStr, i, 1)
      Select Case strChar
         Case ".", "#", ",", "-"
            ' Do nothing
         Case Else
            strHoldString = strHoldString & strChar
      End Select
   Next i

   ' Pass back corrected string.
   StripString = strHoldString

StripStringEnd:
   Exit Function

StripStringError:
   MsgBox Error$
   Resume StripStringEnd
End Function

To test this function, type the following line in the Immediate window, and then press ENTER:
```
? StripString("Test.#,-")
						
```
Note that the function prints the word "Test" in the Immediate window. The invalid characters (".#,-") are successfully stripped from the test string.

ACC2000: How to Strip Specific Characters from a String (210227)

SUMMARY

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REFERENCES