In data conversions I've done, there has many times been an area code but no real number. After you accept that you are going to process the number, you can then redefine the number in a specific format, only accept numbers that are at least 7 characters and handle the 1 off situations via a second function to keep your generic handling clean.
*-- Check length of only digits is at least 7 len(chrtran(field,chrtran(field,"0123456789",""))) > 6 YMMV, Tracy -----Original Message----- From: MB Software Solutions, LLC Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 5:24 PM Gene Wirchenko wrote: > At 12:04 2009-09-02, MB Software Solutions, LLC > <mbsoftwaresoluti...@mbsoftwaresolutions.com> wrote: >> Tracy Pearson wrote: >>> I compare lengths to see if there were any digits >>> >>> len(chrtran(alltrim(field),"0123456789","")) <> len(alltrim(field)) >> I like this approach the best....will add the '-' to it in case >> they've stored that as well (and I think most have). That would >> exclude the ones with "1-800-555-1212 ext 123" though. I guess I >> could add a separate check for "ext" $ lower(phonenumber) and allow >> it if that's the case. > > Adding checks for "-" and "ext" is unnecessary. > > You are misreading the code. > > The condition means > if there is at least one digit in field > > alltrim field. > Remove all digits. > Compare the length of resulting string to the length of alltrimmed field. > If the two lengths differ, allow the phone number. > If they are the same, then no digits were present to be removed: reject. Thanks for the clarification, Gene. But you could have a situation where you have a partial number, but then again, you just can't protect against all kinds of bogus scenarios. It's the 80/20 rule...code for the 80%, deal with the 20%. -- Mike Babcock, MCP MB Software Solutions, LLC President, Chief Software Architect http://mbsoftwaresolutions.com http://fabmate.com http://twitter.com/mbabcock16 _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/000c01ca2c15$0cd59620$2680c2...@com ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
