These functions replicate the equivalent user-defined worksheet functions at Numbers inside Number Arrays - formulae Instead of using single formula these functions are accessed via a dialog box from the main ACBA Tools Menu bar and extract the number data required from a data list of string values. The results are listed in a column to the immediate right of your data list. The column header acts as an audit trail. It reports both the process used and the parameters employed.

The ACBA Audit Tools package provides two approaches to extracting numbers from strings. This section deals with the second approach. Its advantage is that the programme reviews the whole string and evaluates each group of adjacent digits to see whether it can be treated as a bona fide number. This methodology recognises decimal values in the middle of strings. It posts information about each number or group of numbers to an array. An array is a temporary database of infornation about the numbers found in the string.

Rather than reporting the values directly the user gains access to the numeric information through its position in the array. Accordingly all analyses take place in two or more stages.

• Firstly find out how many number values the process has identified. This tells the users how many positions there are in the array for that string.
  
• Secondly seek specific information (its value, start position, text length etc.) about an individual number at a specified position within the array.
  

See also

Extract from Number Array | Array Criterion Analysis | Number Arrays in Strings | User Tools