Need help creating a Data Field expression

Hello,

I'm a brand new subscriber to the Data Extraction program and find it very versatile. I'm also very new to any VB-like programming and database creation, so forgive me if this is an annoying question.

I am attempting to flatten out some real estate data which comes in to the program in a 2-line record format, each of variable line length, but with fairly consistent formats throughout. Seen below is a typical record:

SOLD 088480 RE WEST BAY 123D/144,167 $135,000 CI $135,000 2/13/08
3 beds, 2 baths, 1500 sq ft GARDEN VIEW, 35 days

I'm successful in only the first 4 fields of the top line. I'm having a real hard time of it trying to write an expression in the Start Rule | Floating Tag field of the Field Definition box that will work on the 5th (the "3D/144" field.)

I need to write something in that field that will recognize the format 3numbers1Capital letter/ and propagate the data fields accordingly.... I can set the end rule to a "$" sign to finish. (No problem there, of course.)

I must be doing something quite incorrect, because no matter what expression or floating tag symbol (for instance a"/") I write in there and then check the Regular Expression box, there is no output shown in the Browse Data Record window. If I uncheck that box, the data is shown correctly (at least in the first 4 columns!)

What am I missing here? I've had a good look at the help section and can't seem to find out where I'm going south with this one.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Anthony

RE: Need help creating a Data Field expression

Hi Anthony,

Couple of questions...

  1. In your text file, does all of the data for one record reside on a single line?
  2. Are the records variable length? (I assume they are.)

- Jo