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#1
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
Hi all
Using XP Windows and XP Office 2002. I'm using Excel to open a tab delimited .txt file which is a report from a database. At the end of each row of fields is a total of the fields in the row. i.e 1 1 1 3 This total number has a square character on the end. Is it possible to remove this square character using a macro.? I've tried using TrimAll, copying and adding a blank cell using paste special, but can not remove it. I tried a find and replace, but the square character is copied across to the find as a space. Could I use a macro to copy/select only the numbers to a helper column along side, copy and paste special values only then delete the original column, The Square Character can be deleted manually. TIA Bob Christie |
#2
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
assuming you are correct and this is the last cell in the string (no
invisible characters like spaces). in a cell next to the offensive text put in a formula like =code(right(A1,1)) Assume the offensive text is in cell A1 this will tell you what the ascii code for the character is. You could then use this information to do the replace or you could just use a formula like =left(A1,Len(A1)-1) then drag fill this down the column. Select the results, do Edit =Copy Select the original Data then do Edit=Paste Special and select values. then delete the column with the formulas. You could write similar type code. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Robert Christie" wrote in message ... Hi all Using XP Windows and XP Office 2002. I'm using Excel to open a tab delimited .txt file which is a report from a database. At the end of each row of fields is a total of the fields in the row. i.e 1 1 1 3 This total number has a square character on the end. Is it possible to remove this square character using a macro.? I've tried using TrimAll, copying and adding a blank cell using paste special, but can not remove it. I tried a find and replace, but the square character is copied across to the find as a space. Could I use a macro to copy/select only the numbers to a helper column along side, copy and paste special values only then delete the original column, The Square Character can be deleted manually. TIA Bob Christie |
#3
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
There is a worksheet function called CLEAN() that may help.
This removes any characters that are not printable. eg =CLEAN(A1) --- Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/ |
#4
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
Hi,
those square characters are for example new page characters (code 12) or other non printable characters. You may get rid of them using worksheet function CLEAN() or programmaticaly looping through cells searching for characters of ascii code below 32, You may find them using function Asc(). Tomek "Robert Christie" wrote in message ... Hi all Using XP Windows and XP Office 2002. I'm using Excel to open a tab delimited .txt file which is a report from a database. At the end of each row of fields is a total of the fields in the row. i.e 1 1 1 3 |
#5
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
That is probably a better choice.
-- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "BrianB " wrote in message ... There is a worksheet function called CLEAN() that may help. This removes any characters that are not printable. eg =CLEAN(A1) --- Message posted from http://www.ExcelForum.com/ |
#6
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
Thanks Tom
Your code formula said it was ascii 3, which I think is a black heart shape,(Ascii 3 is alt key+numberpad 3) yes? Tom from BrianB and Tomek posts can I assume your formula =left(A1,Len(A1)-1) is a Boots & Braces way of going about the problem, where CLEAN() may not remove some characters. Thankyou again Tom and to BrianB and Tomek. PS. Once again the good people of this group have saved my Bacon, much appreciated. Bob Christie -----Original Message----- assuming you are correct and this is the last cell in the string (no invisible characters like spaces). in a cell next to the offensive text put in a formula like =code(right(A1,1)) Assume the offensive text is in cell A1 this will tell you what the ascii code for the character is. You could then use this information to do the replace or you could just use a formula like =left(A1,Len(A1)-1) then drag fill this down the column. Select the results, do Edit =Copy Select the original Data then do Edit=Paste Special and select values. then delete the column with the formulas. You could write similar type code. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Robert Christie" wrote in message ... Hi all Using XP Windows and XP Office 2002. I'm using Excel to open a tab delimited .txt file which is a report from a database. At the end of each row of fields is a total of the fields in the row. i.e 1 1 1 3 This total number has a square character on the end. Is it possible to remove this square character using a macro.? I've tried using TrimAll, copying and adding a blank cell using paste special, but can not remove it. I tried a find and replace, but the square character is copied across to the find as a space. Could I use a macro to copy/select only the numbers to a helper column along side, copy and paste special values only then delete the original column, The Square Character can be deleted manually. TIA Bob Christie . |
#7
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
My approach is more generalized, so I guess you can characterize it as that.
I believe Clean will get anything that shows as a square, but there are other types of characters that can cause problems even though they don't show as a square. Also, discovering the ascii value of the character can allow you to use the replace method in your code rather than doing cell by cell cells.replace What:=Chr(3), Replacement:="", Lookat:=xlPart It depends on how you want to attack the problem. by the way, char 3 is shown as End of Text (ETX) in the acsii code table. sometimes you can have success doing replace through the menu. In the first box hold down the Alt Key and using the Numeric Keypad, enter 003 then try the replace [click the replace all button]. (leave the second box blank). -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Robert Christie" wrote in message ... Thanks Tom Your code formula said it was ascii 3, which I think is a black heart shape,(Ascii 3 is alt key+numberpad 3) yes? Tom from BrianB and Tomek posts can I assume your formula =left(A1,Len(A1)-1) is a Boots & Braces way of going about the problem, where CLEAN() may not remove some characters. Thankyou again Tom and to BrianB and Tomek. PS. Once again the good people of this group have saved my Bacon, much appreciated. Bob Christie -----Original Message----- assuming you are correct and this is the last cell in the string (no invisible characters like spaces). in a cell next to the offensive text put in a formula like =code(right(A1,1)) Assume the offensive text is in cell A1 this will tell you what the ascii code for the character is. You could then use this information to do the replace or you could just use a formula like =left(A1,Len(A1)-1) then drag fill this down the column. Select the results, do Edit =Copy Select the original Data then do Edit=Paste Special and select values. then delete the column with the formulas. You could write similar type code. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Robert Christie" wrote in message ... Hi all Using XP Windows and XP Office 2002. I'm using Excel to open a tab delimited .txt file which is a report from a database. At the end of each row of fields is a total of the fields in the row. i.e 1 1 1 3 This total number has a square character on the end. Is it possible to remove this square character using a macro.? I've tried using TrimAll, copying and adding a blank cell using paste special, but can not remove it. I tried a find and replace, but the square character is copied across to the find as a space. Could I use a macro to copy/select only the numbers to a helper column along side, copy and paste special values only then delete the original column, The Square Character can be deleted manually. TIA Bob Christie . |
#8
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Unwanted Square Character in .txt file
Thankyou Tom for added info and your time.
Bob Christie -----Original Message----- My approach is more generalized, so I guess you can characterize it as that. I believe Clean will get anything that shows as a square, but there are other types of characters that can cause problems even though they don't show as a square. Also, discovering the ascii value of the character can allow you to use the replace method in your code rather than doing cell by cell cells.replace What:=Chr(3), Replacement:="", Lookat:=xlPart It depends on how you want to attack the problem. by the way, char 3 is shown as End of Text (ETX) in the acsii code table. sometimes you can have success doing replace through the menu. In the first box hold down the Alt Key and using the Numeric Keypad, enter 003 then try the replace [click the replace all button]. (leave the second box blank). -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Robert Christie" wrote in message ... Thanks Tom Your code formula said it was ascii 3, which I think is a black heart shape,(Ascii 3 is alt key+numberpad 3) yes? Tom from BrianB and Tomek posts can I assume your formula =left(A1,Len(A1)-1) is a Boots & Braces way of going about the problem, where CLEAN() may not remove some characters. Thankyou again Tom and to BrianB and Tomek. PS. Once again the good people of this group have saved my Bacon, much appreciated. Bob Christie -----Original Message----- assuming you are correct and this is the last cell in the string (no invisible characters like spaces). in a cell next to the offensive text put in a formula like =code(right(A1,1)) Assume the offensive text is in cell A1 this will tell you what the ascii code for the character is. You could then use this information to do the replace or you could just use a formula like =left(A1,Len(A1)-1) then drag fill this down the column. Select the results, do Edit =Copy Select the original Data then do Edit=Paste Special and select values. then delete the column with the formulas. You could write similar type code. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Robert Christie" wrote in message ... Hi all Using XP Windows and XP Office 2002. I'm using Excel to open a tab delimited .txt file which is a report from a database. At the end of each row of fields is a total of the fields in the row. i.e 1 1 1 3 This total number has a square character on the end. Is it possible to remove this square character using a macro.? I've tried using TrimAll, copying and adding a blank cell using paste special, but can not remove it. I tried a find and replace, but the square character is copied across to the find as a space. Could I use a macro to copy/select only the numbers to a helper column along side, copy and paste special values only then delete the original column, The Square Character can be deleted manually. TIA Bob Christie . . |
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