Filter words containing a given string in a cell range [UDF]

The image above demonstrates a User Defined Function that extracts all words containing a given string that you can specify. In this case it is a @ sign. A User Defined Function is a custom function that you can build yourself in the visual basic editor.

Example, cell range B1:M50 contains random sentences, I have inserted some random emails in this range, see image above.

Array formula in cell range B3:B7:

=FilterWords(D9:O58, "@")

To enter an array formula, type the formula in a cell then press and hold CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously, now press Enter once. Release all keys.

The formula bar now shows the formula with a beginning and ending curly bracket telling you that you entered the formula successfully. Don't enter the curly brackets yourself.

VBA code

'Name function
Function FilterWords(rng As Range, str As String) As Variant()
'Declare variables 
Dim x As Variant, Wrds() As Variant, Cells_row As Long
Dim Cells_col As Long, Words As Long, y() As Variant
'Redimension variable
ReDim y(0)
'Save values in range to array variable
Wrds = rng.Value
'Iterate through array variable
For Cells_row = LBound(Wrds, 1) To UBound(Wrds, 1)
  For Cells_col = LBound(Wrds, 2) To UBound(Wrds, 2)
    'Extract words in cell to an array
    x = Split(Wrds(Cells_row, Cells_col))
      'Iterate through word array
      For Words = LBound(x) To UBound(x)
        'Check if value in array is equal to the given string
        If InStr(x(Words), str) Then
          'Save value to another array
          y(UBound(y)) = x(Words)
          'Increase containers in array by 1
          ReDim Preserve y(UBound(y) + 1)
        End If
      Next Words
  Next Cells_col
Next Cells_row
'Decrease containers in array by 1
ReDim Preserve y(UBound(y) - 1)
'Return array
FilterWords = Application.Transpose(y)
End Function

Where to do I copy the code?

Press Alt-F11 to open visual basic editor
Press with left mouse button on Module on the Insert menu
Copy and paste the user defined function to module
Exit visual basic editor

Note, save your workbook with file extension *.xlsm to keep the user defined function in your workbook.

Get the Excel file

Filter-emails-from-a-cell-range.xls

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Comments (2)

2 Responses to “Filter words containing a given string in a cell range [UDF]”

Rick Rothstein (MVP - Excel) says:

March 17, 2011 at 10:17 am

I notice that your UDF requires spaces to delimit the email address. For example, if the email address is surrounded by parentheses or adjacent to punctuation marks, those will remain attached to the returned email addresses. This is because you used a general word parser as the basis for your UDF. I had a robust email address parser function that I wrote awhile ago, so I wrote a front-end function (the UDF) that repeatedly calls it as needed; doing this makes the UDF return only the email addresses no matter what other delimiting characters surround them. Just copy the following two functions into a standard Module, then select a column of cells (more than you think email addresses exist), enter this formula in the Formula Bar (change the range as necessary)...

=FindEmailAddresses(B1:M50)

and then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to commit the array formula. By the way, the GetEmailAddress function below can be used as a stand-alone function by itself... it returns a single email address (the first it finds in the text passed to it). Okay, here are the functions...

Function FindEmailAddresses(Rng As Range) As Variant()
Dim Temp As String, Cell As Range, EM() As Variant
ReDim EM(0)
For Each Cell In Rng
Temp = Cell.Value
Do While InStr(Temp, "@")
EM(UBound(EM)) = GetEmailAddress(Temp)
Temp = Replace(Temp, "@", "", 1, 1)
ReDim Preserve EM(UBound(EM) + 1)
Loop
Next
ReDim Preserve EM(UBound(EM) - 1)
FindEmailAddresses = WorksheetFunction.Transpose(EM)
End Function

Function GetEmailAddress(ByVal S As String) As String
Dim X As Long, AtSign As Long
Dim Locale As String, DomainPart As String
Locale = "[A-Za-z0-9.!#$%&'*/=?^_`{|}~+-]"
Domain = "[A-Za-z0-9._-]"
AtSign = InStr(S, "@")
For X = AtSign To 1 Step -1
If Not Mid(" " & S, X, 1) Like Locale Then
S = Mid(S, X)
If Left(S, 1) = "." Then S = Mid(S, 2)
Exit For
End If
Next
AtSign = InStr(S, "@")
For X = AtSign + 1 To Len(S) + 1
If Not Mid(S & " ", X, 1) Like Domain Then
S = Left(S, X - 1)
If Right(S, 1) = "." Then S = Left(S, Len(S) - 1)
GetEmailAddress = S
Exit For
End If
Next
End Function

Reply
Oscar says:

March 17, 2011 at 12:10 pm

Rick Rothstein (MVP - Excel),

Thank you for your valuable comment! I tried your functions and they work as you described!

Reply

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