Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 14:58:39 -0600 (CST)
   From: Mark Jacobson <jacobson@math-cs.cns.uni.edu>
     To: 810-022-01-FALL@uni.edu
Subject: SliceOf("ghostbusters, 4, 3) practice test question...

I goofed in writing that question before class.  It was NOT meant to
be exactly the same as the VBA Mid() function, but that is what was
shown and described for
                         SliceOf()

?Mid("Ghostbusters",4,3)           <--------- Mid() demonstrated
stb

?SliceOf("Ghostbusters",4,3)       <--------- SliceOf() demonstrated
stb                                                     BORING!!!!

Function SliceOf(theString As String, whereToStart As Integer, _
                                       howMany As Integer) As String

     SliceOf = Mid(theString, whereToStart, howMany)

End Function

   I guess it does show you how a very simple function is written,
   and helps you review the parameters and return type and syntax.

   Here is what I intended to be describing.  A string function
   that does something NEW and DIFFERENT.

   The 3rd argument does NOT describe HOW MANY characters you want,
   it describes instead of the HOW MANY, something else.

   What is that something else?  What Character To Stop At?

          SliceOfFromWhereToWhere says

                 2nd argument, just like Mid, says here is where
                 I want to start in the string data item,

                 but the 3rd argument says

                 here is WHERE I WANT TO STOP in the string.

?SliceOfFromWhereToWhere("GHOSTBUSTERS", 4, 6)
STB

       Start with the 4th character and stop with the 6th character
                                                  of "GHOSTBUSTERS"
                                                      123456789012

                                                                11
                                                      123456789012
                                                  of "GHOSTBUSTERS"
                                                         4 6
                                                         STB
                                                         ---
                                ------
?SliceOfFromWhereToWhere("GHOSTBUSTERS", 6, 11)
BUSTER                         678901 
678901
                            6th to Where to start and 11th is Where to stop

?SliceOfFromWhereToWhere("GHOSTBUSTERS", 6, 8)
BUS                            6 8
678                              8 is where to STOP, NOT how many.
                                                          --------

Function SliceOfFromWhereToWhere(theString As String, _
                                  whereToStart As Integer, _
                                  whereToStop As Integer) As String
     answer = ""

     For i = whereToStart To whereToStop
         answer = answer & Mid(theString, i, 1)
     Next i

     SliceOfFromWhereToWhere = answer
End Function

     This one requires a For Next loop, at least for the obvious solution
     to the problem.


Function SliceOfNoLoop(theString As String, whereStart As Integer, _
                                             whereStop As Integer) As String
     howMany = whereStop - whereStart + 1

     answer = Mid(theString, whereStart, howMany)

     SliceOfNoLoop = answer
End Function

And View menu, Immediate window demonstration that it works too.
     -          -

?SliceOfNoLoop("123456789ABCDEF",5,11)    11 - 5 + 1 = 7 = howMany...
56789AB             -------

?SliceOfNoLoop("123456789ABCDEF",8,12)    12 - 8 + 1 = 4 + 1 = 5
89ABC                  -----