Within ACBA Audit Tools all the processes used to extract numbers from strings are based on 'user-defined' Worksheet Functions.

Worksheet Functions are the standard formulae like SUM and COUNT that nearly everybody uses regularly. Every version of Excel understands them. Even other types of spreadsheet like Lotus and Quattro Pro can interpret them.

A spreadsheet built using these standard functions can be read by everyone.

This is not the case for 'user-defined' functions. If your spreadsheet is constructed using 'user-define' functions and you pass it to someone else, they will not be able to read it unless you also pass them the program code that interprets the functions. The typical evidence that your spreadsheet contains 'user-defined' functions that it cannot interpret is the appearance of '#NAME?' errors on your spreadsheet.

The majority of the ACBA Tools 'user-defined' worksheet functions can also be accessed by forms, from within the Audit Tools Menu Bar. These forms operate on lists as defined in User Tools and call for the same parameters as required by the worksheet functions. Clicking the form's OK Button (or equivalent) will process the number extraction for each string in the list using the worksheet function but only the value of the answer is posted on your spreadsheet. The name of the worksheet process user and the parameters employed form the audit trail heading for the answer column. This has the clear advantage that it can be read by everyone irrespective of whether they have access to the user-defined function itself.

The main disadvantage of this process is that the answer will not be re-calculated by the formulae if you change any of the input parameters.

See also

About Worksheet Functions | Numbers inside Strings - Form Based