VBscript Regular Expression in ArcMap Field Calculator

Question

I'm looking for a regex in VBscript that I can use on a ArcMap table. I know what it would look like in python:

pat =r'[0-9]{3,4}'

This filters all numeric characters from the string which have the length 3 to 4. So from AO123 you'd get 123 and from VO2-324C, 324.

What would be the equivalent in VBScript? How do I implement it with the RexExp Object? ArcGIS has a Field calculator that let's you execute VBScript code. But even the most simple regex (see screenshot) fails with the error message object needed: 're'.

enter image description here

• TLS: So.... what's the problem? What have you tried?
• LarsVegas: see my edit on the question for more detail.
• TLS: This sounds like an ArcGIS question - how to get regex to run through VBScript in ArcGIS.
• LarsVegas: You're probably right. When I posted I thought I could use the re object, just found out that ArcGIS uses the 'ATL regular expression engine' - certainly a different com object. Sorry for the confusion, I try to move my question there. Thanks.

Answer 1

The error is because you have not initialized the RegExp Object using CreateObject. I am getting results with the below script.

Pre-Logic VBA Script Code

Set re = CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp")
With re
 .Pattern = "[0-9]{3,4}"
 .Global = False
 .IgnoreCase = False
End With
targetString = [OUDE_NAAM] 'your field here

Final Result Variable

re.Execute(targetString).Item(0)

• LarsVegas: Oh, heavenly sweetness. Nice. Didn't know you have to initialize the object like this. But what do I know about VBScript? Thanks mate, man of my Monday!