For example...


Function FilterString$(ByVal TextIn$, Optional IncludeChars$, _
Optional IncludeLetters As Boolean = True, _
Optional IncludeNumbers As Boolean = True)
' Filters out all unwanted characters in a string.
' Arguments: TextIn The string being filtered.
' IncludeChars [Optional] Any non alpha-numeric characters to
keep.
' IncludeLetters [Optional] Keeps any letters.
' IncludeNumbers [Optional] Keeps any numbers.
'
' Returns: String containing only wanted characters.
' Comments: Works very fast using the Mid$() function over other methods.

Const sSource As String = "FilterString()"

'The basic characters to always keep by default
Const sLetters As String = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"
Const sNumbers As String = "0123456789"

Dim i&, sKeepers$

sKeepers = IncludeChars
If IncludeLetters Then _
sKeepers = sKeepers & sLetters & UCase(sLetters)
If IncludeNumbers Then sKeepers = sKeepers & sNumbers

For i = 1 To Len(TextIn)
If InStr(sKeepers, Mid$(TextIn, i, 1)) Then _
FilterString = FilterString & Mid$(TextIn, i, 1)
Next
End Function 'FilterString()

In the IW:
?nopad_zeros(filterstring("Part# 0000006004",,false))
Returns 6004

?nopad_zeros(filterstring("Part# 0000060040",,false))
Returns 60040

--
Garry

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