Last week we discussed how to extract numbers from text in Excel using formulas. In comments, quite a few people suggested that using VBA (Macros) to extract numbers would be simpler.
So today, lets learn how to write a VBA Function to extract numbers from any text.
Using VBA Function to Extract Numbers from Text in Excel
When using VBA to scan a text for number, the basic approach is like this:
- Read each character in a given text
- See if it is number
- If so, extract it
- Continue with next character
- Convert the extracted characters to a number
- Return that number
While this works fine, it also has some limitations.
For example, with above approach, A text value like “US $313,00.00” will be extracted as 3,130,000 not as 31,300.00
Depending on your data, you may have many such peculiarities. For example, here are 4 situations I ran in to:
Handling decimal points & thousand separators during extraction
When it comes to decimal points & thousand separators there are 2 conventions:
- 61,000.30 (Regular)
- 61.000,30 (European)
We do not need special treatment for regular format (61,000.30) as Excel & VBA are capable of dealing with these numbers by default.
To check if a text has European format number, we have to see if . occurs before ,
(Note: this method is not fool-proof, but should work well for most situations)
This can be done by using LIKE statement,
if text like "*.*,*" then
european = true
else
european = false
end if
Writing our getNumber() VBA Function
Once we put all these ideas together, we will have our getNumber() function. Watch below video to understand how to extract numbers from text using Excel VBA.
[Watch this video on our Youtube channel]
Download Number Extraction VBA Function
Click here to download the Extract Numbers using VBA workbook.
View code module to understand how getNumber function works.
Do you use VBA to extract numbers?
I often use VBA to clean raw data. Earlier I mentioned about cleaning phone numbers & spelling mistakes. I think simple functions like getNumber() can save us tons of time & let us focus on the important task – analyzing data.
What about you? Do you use VBA to clean data? What techniques & ideas you rely on? Please share your thoughts using comments.
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Are you new to Excel VBA? If so, go thru below links to take our FREE VBA Crash course.
- What is VBA & Writing your First VBA Macro in Excel
- Understanding Variables, Conditions & Loops in VBA
- Using Cells, Ranges & Other Objects in your Macros
- Putting it all together – Your First VBA Application using Excel
- My Top 10 Tips for Mastering VBA & Excel Macros
If you want more,
I know you are thirsty for more. Why not join our Online VBA Classes and learn Excel VBA in step-by-step manner. Click here to know more.
30 Responses to “Great News: Chandoo becomes MVP”
Congratulations! It's well deserved. 🙂
This is amazing. Hearty congratulations and a rocking new year ahead!!!
Congrats! I have learnt alot from your site... and the most important is learning how to achieve the most with the simplest concepts.
Thanks for the excel calendar. Is it possible to get a simple big fonted calendar printable on an A4 size paper without any distracive notes or visuals? BTW, I have already signed up for your newsletter. With warm regards and
Gratefully yours
50+ year old CHarish.
Hey Chandoo,
Great to hear that. Congratulations! The best new year gift, I would say. Keep it up, u've been doing extraordinary work for the excel users community.
Regards,
Pankaj Verma
Congrats dude... fantastic news!
congratulations! your site is great, this is well deserved
Rich
I recently found your site, I visit many. The tips that you provide are in the top 1% of all the sites I visit. Keep on Excelling.
Arnold
South Africa
Congratulations, Chandoo! That's a great way to start the year and make the PHD even better.
Congratulations, Chandoo.
Your site is one of most useful on the net. Happy new year and lot of ideas you will present for us.
Congrats.
Just read your name in an email from Abhishek. Well deserved.
Congratulations, and Happy New Year.
Greetings from Rio de Janeiro my friend! You trully deserve it!
Nive way to start 2009! Keep up the good work!
FC
That was quite forseeable , so you have now really got your PhD in excel.
Anyways Chandoo you have made excel a real Fun doo
I will like you to write some more on INDEX and MATCH function in near future.
@Hey Chandoo ! Congrates....
Ab to treat mangta hai !
Well deserved Chandoo!!
Congrat's!! Very well deserved 🙂
i always browsed mr.excel and used to see MVP writtne below names of people who used to solve queries in excel forum there......i just used to admire as to what they have special in them that they are MVP......
but now i got my answer...............u deserve it man..........
@All: thanks everyone 🙂
Congratulations Chandoo, nice job!
Chandoo,
A well deserved recognition and a good start to the New Year. Continue your good work.
Subbu
Many Congratulations.
You deserve a Ph.D. 🙂
congrats.....
Congrats dude. Rock on!
[...] charting community in 2007 and has been growing strongly ever since. In year 2009, I have received the MVP award from Microsoft. Just few days back I have become a dad [...]
Respected sir,
I am impressed!.... Good job done.. Keep it up...
Sir, How to be a MVP certified person. What level of knowledge is required for it? send me links if possible.
Please reply...
Regards,
Dipak Khalasi.
Dipak -
The first thing you need to cultivate is the ability to search the web effectively. You could start by Googling "Microsoft MVP".
[...] boy and girl which has been made hectic and incredibly fun ever since to their life.He has been awarded MVP status in 2009 by Microsoft(and renewed in 2010,2011 & 2012).His MVP profile is here.If you want to contact him direct then [...]
Congrats Chandoo!!
[…] Chandoo becomes MVP […]