Extract the digits and append it in a different cell? - regex

Question

I am trying to automatically RegExp(extract) the digits(AREA number) in Column 3 combined with the Text 'A' to append in Column 1 Date INDEX.
The problem is I'm not yet familiar in using google sheets app-scripts.
Tried looking for solutions with similar situation as me, but to no avail.
I don't know to put VBA to app-scripts.
Tried using some codes.
I still can't seem to make it work.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thank you if you can help me out. Thanks.
EDIT:
The scenarios is in the office i cant make column for the formula.
It must be "behind the scene".
My googlesheets
//NOT WORKING code
function onEdit(e) {
var rg=e.range;
var sh=e.range.getSheet();
var area=sh.getName();
var regExp = new RegExp("\d*"); // Extract the digits
var dataIndex = regExp.exec(area)[1];
if(rg.columnStart==3) { // Observe column 3
var vA=rg.getValues();
for(var i=0;i<vA.length;i++){
if(vA[i][0]) {
sh.getRange(rg.rowStart + i,1).appendText((dataIndex) +'A'); // append to column 1 with 'A' and extracted digits
}
}
}
}

Answer 1

This answer extends your approach of using a script with an OnEdit trigger. But there are a number of differences between the two sets of code.
The most significant difference is that I have used the Javascript split method (var fields = value.split(' ');) to get distinct values from the data entry.
Most of the other differences are error checking:
if(rg.columnStart === 3 && area === "work") {: test for sheet="work" as well as an edit on Column C
var value = e.value.toUpperCase();: anticipate that the test might be in lower case.
if (fields.length !=2){: test that there are two elements in the data entry.
if (fields[0] != "AREA"){: test that the first elment of the entry is the word 'area'
if (num !=0 && numtype ==="number"){; test that the second element is a number, and that it is NOT zero.
if (colA.length !=0){: test that Column A is not empty
var newColA = colA+"A"+num;: construct the new value for Column A by using unary operator '+'.
function onEdit(e){
// so5911459101
// test for edit in column C and sheet = work
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet;
// get Event Objects
var rg=e.range;
var sh=e.range.getSheet();
var area=sh.getName();
var row = rg.getRow();
// test if the edit is in Column C of sheet = work
if(rg.columnStart === 3 && area === "work") { // Observe column 3 and sheet = work
//Logger.log("DEBUG: the edit is in Column C of 'Work'")
// get the edited value
var value = e.value.toUpperCase();
//Logger.log("DEBUG: the value = "+value+", length = "+value.length+", uppercase = "+value.toUpperCase());
// use Javascript split on the value
var fields = value.split(' ');
//Logger.log(fields);//DEBUG
// Logger.log("DEBUG: number of fields = "+fields.length)
// test if there are two fields in the value
if (fields.length !=2){
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the value doesn't have two fields")
}
else{
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the value has two fields")
// test if the first field = 'AREA'
if (fields[0] != "AREA"){
// Logger.log("DEBUG: do nothing because the value doesn't include area")
}
else{
// Logger.log("DEBUG: do something because the value does include area")
// get the second field - it should be a value
var num = fields[1];
num =+num
var numtype = typeof num;
// Logger.log("DEBUG: num= "+num+" type = "+numtype); //number
// test type of second field
if (num !=0 && numtype ==="number"){
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the second field IS a number")
// get the range for the cell in Column A
var colARange = sh.getRange(row,1);
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the ColA range = "+colARange.getA1Notation());
// get the value of Column A
var colA = colARange.getValue();
// Logger.log("DEBUG: Col A = "+colA+", length = "+colA.length);
// test if Column A is empty
if (colA.length !=0){
var newColA = colA+"A"+num;
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the new cola = "+newColA);
// update the value in Column A
colARange.setValue(newColA);
}
else{
// Logger.log("DEBUG: do nothing because column A is empty")
}
}
else{
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the second field isn't a number")
}
}
}
}
else{
//Logger.log("DEBUG: the edit is NOT in Column C of 'Work'")
}
}
REVISION
If the value in Column C is sourced from data validation, then no need for and testing except that the edit was in Column C and the sheet = "work".
Included two additional lines of code:
var colAfields = colA.split('-');
var colAdate = colAfields[0];
This has the effect of excluding any existing characters after the hyphen, and re-establishing the hyphen, row number plus "A" and the AREA numeral.
function onEdit(e){
// so5911459101 revised
// only one test - check for ColumnC and sheet="work"
// test for edit in column C and sheet = work
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet;
// get Event Objects
var rg=e.range;
var sh=e.range.getSheet();
var area=sh.getName();
var row = rg.getRow();
// test if the edit is in Column C of sheet = work
if(rg.columnStart === 3 && area === "work") { // Observe column 3 and sheet = work
Logger.log("DEBUG: the edit is in Column C of 'Work'")
// get the edited value
var value = e.value
//Logger.log("DEBUG: the value = "+value+", length = "+value.length);
// use Javascript split on the value
var fields = value.split(' ');
//Logger.log(fields);//DEBUG
// get the second field - it should be a value
var num = fields[1];
// get the range for the cell in Column A
var colARange = sh.getRange(row,1);
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the ColA range = "+colARange.getA1Notation());
// get the value of Column A
var colA = colARange.getValue();
// Logger.log("DEBUG: Col A = "+colA+", length = "+colA.length);
// use Javascript split on Column A in case of existing value
var colAfields = colA.split('-');
var colAdate = colAfields[0];
// build new value
var newColA = colAdate+"-"+row+"A"+num;
// Logger.log("DEBUG: the new cola = "+newColA);
// update the value in Column A
colARange.setValue(newColA);
}
else{
Logger.log("DEBUG: the edit is NOT in Column C of 'Work'")
}
}