Checking for invalid characters in a string

[VB400]

<br>I need to check a string field to make sure that invalid characters (e.g. special characters ~!@#$%^, etc.) are not allowed.<br><br>What's the fastest way to do this?<br><br>I can use instr() function to check for each one of the invalid characters but I think that this would be very slow.<br><br>Thanks in advance!

 

[bigfoot]

The best way I know of is by using the instr() function.<br>It's not as bad as you think.&nbsp;&nbsp;We use it here to look for single quotes in any database string.&nbsp;&nbsp;SQL Server does not like single quotes.<br>If you like, I already have a working function.<br>Gimme your e-mail address & I'll send it to ya.<br><br>Gary

 

[VB400]

<br>Thanks Gary,<br><br>I'm already using instr() -- great minds think alike <br><br>But seriously folks, the instr() function doesn't perform badly but since I'm checking for a bunch of invalid characters I use a series of instr() commands.&nbsp;&nbsp;It still performs nicely; however, if there is a better way of checking for multiple characters then I would like to learn it.<br><br>Thanks!

 

[dsi]

You may want to use one Instr() funtion in a loop, utilizing the Chr(i) to identify the list of invalid characters to search for. I think it will be a bit more efficient than using a series of Instr() functions. It sounds like you already have it down, but &quot;a series of instr() commands&quot; just caught my eye.

 

[Guest_imported]

if you want to use just charecters.. a-z, you can check the ascii code of what they entered in the text_change event, and fix it there.<br><br>I used seomthin like this.. <br><br>if asc(x) &gt; 32 or asc(x) &lt; 105 then exit sub<br><br>those numbers are made up since I dont remember what they actually are.&nbsp;&nbsp;it wont help in your case, but i felt like postin anwyas

 

[bigfoot]

I forgot last time but are you using VB6???<br>Try the Replace Function. It returns a string in which a specified substring has been replaced with another substring a specified number of times.<br>I think this would work for you.<br><br>I hope this helps.