InputBox not allowing certain ASCII control characters

Question

Currently working with this string that has embedded ASCII control charters.

[)><RS>06<GS>17V0B100<GS>1PRID-001-A1<GS>S99999<RS><EOT>

Below filters out the record separators correctly

i = InputBox("Test") 'i = [)><RS>06<GS>17V0B100<GS>1PRID-001-A1<GS>S99999<RS><EOT>
i = Split(i, Chr(30)) 
'i(1) = 0617V0B1001PRID-001-A1S99999

But group separators do not. Why does the below not split?

i = InputBox("Test") 'i = [)><RS>06<GS>17V0B100<GS>1PRID-001-A1<GS>S99999<RS><EOT>
i = Split(i, Chr(29)) 
'i(0) = [)>0617V0B1001PRID-001-A1S99999

@braX chr(29) seems to be getting filtered out by the input-box while chr(30) does not. — Quint, Feb 13 '20 at 05:59
Then it sounds like that should be your question, if the `Split` is irrelevant. — braX, Feb 13 '20 at 06:03
It's not just an input box issue. The input box was used for my example. — Quint, Feb 13 '20 at 06:17
Well then you may want to clarify your question. I do not think you will get any answers as it is currently explained. — braX, Feb 13 '20 at 06:18
If you're not using InputBox then what is the problem/question ? — Tim Williams, Feb 13 '20 at 06:41
@TimWilliams Why can I split the record separators(chr(30)) but not the group separators(char(29)) in the above string. — Quint, Feb 13 '20 at 06:51
@Quint Because char(29) is filtered out by InputBox so it's not in `i` to begin with, which should not be a problem if you're not using InputBox? — GSerg, Feb 13 '20 at 06:58
@GSerg Do you know of another option for data entry that would not filter out chr(29)? — Quint, Feb 13 '20 at 07:04
Can you explain exactly what's happening during data entry? Are you copy/pasting from somewhere into a textbox? — Tim Williams, Feb 13 '20 at 07:13
@TimWilliams data entry via a barcode scanner. Basically the same situation as the links you provided below. — Quint, Feb 13 '20 at 07:15
Then you may be able to use the solution there - capture the keypress? — Tim Williams, Feb 13 '20 at 07:20

Tim Williams · Answer 1 · 2020-02-13T07:00:51.033

0

Ignoring the inputbox, this works fine:

Dim s As String, arr

s = "[)><RS>06<GS>17V0B100<GS>1PRID-001-A1<GS>S99999<RS><EOT>"

s = Replace(s, "<RS>", Chr(30))
s = Replace(s, "<GS>", Chr(29))

Debug.Print s                         '[)>0617V0B1001PRID-001-A1S99999<EOT>

Debug.Print Split(s, Chr(30))(1)      '0617V0B1001PRID-001-A1S99999

Debug.Print Split(s, Chr(29))(0)      '[)>06
Debug.Print Split(s, Chr(29))(1)      '17V0B100

edited Feb 13 '20 at 07:00

answered Feb 13 '20 at 06:51

Tim Williams

154,628
8
97
125

While inputting the above string with embedded control characters into a textbox, inputbox, ect. I am unable to split it using chr(29) as the delimiter but chr(30) works fine. Chr(29) seems to be getting filtered out. – Quint Feb 13 '20 at 07:01
Related maybe: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48296955/ascii-control-character-html-input-text and https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/2d255ecc-9d6c-4df1-8e66-83c01c5802c9/ascii-control-characters-in-a-textbox?forum=winforms – Tim Williams Feb 13 '20 at 07:09
this is super helpful thank you. Its strange to me that character 29 and 30 don't print the same. – Quint Feb 13 '20 at 07:21

Quint · Answer 2 · 2020-02-13T08:04:35.347

0

Thanks to Tim for leading me to the correct answer. Below worked for converting key events to text.

Private Sub Text0_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
Dim i As Integer
i = Me.Text0.SelStart
Select Case KeyAscii
    Case 4
        Me.Text0.Text = Me.Text0.Text + "<EOT>"
        Me.Text0.SelStart = i + 5
    Case 29
        Me.Text0.Text = Me.Text0.Text + "<GS>"
        Me.Text0.SelStart = i + 4
    Case 30
        Me.Text0.Text = Me.Text0.Text + "<RS>"
        Me.Text0.SelStart = i + 4
End Select
End Sub

edited Feb 13 '20 at 08:04

answered Feb 13 '20 at 07:46

Quint

530
2
8
23

`i+4` for the last two? – Tim Williams Feb 13 '20 at 07:54
Any thing more then 4 works. Cant select more then what is in the text box? – Quint Feb 13 '20 at 08:04
Why not `VBA.InputBox`? – GSerg Feb 13 '20 at 09:45

InputBox not allowing certain ASCII control characters

2 Answers2