Identify certain ASCII characters in a text.

Hello, I have to clean up a database that might contain characters with text not compliant to an old application.

Permitted text is:
A-Z (capitals and small letters),
0-9,
. (dot),
, (comma),
- (dash),
(space)

OBJECTIVE: If a cell contains characters other than those, excel should return an information stating this (no need to specify which position the error is at). A simple message is enough.

I would need this as a formula in some way, or a macro that will automatically run without manual input such as clicking on a button or so...

Is this feasible and if, could you let me know how I can accomplish this?
The field length is usually 128 characters.

I thank you all and know, that if nobody can answer me here, it probably can't be done (which I doubt ;-)

Thanks!!!

Titus.

Here'a a macro that will work for you:

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Hope this helps,
theDude

Thank you for the great macro! Works fantastically, I am really impressed!

How I could I change the macro to check in one specific CELL only?
Just out of curiousity, I would like to implement a little error check when users input new data in a field.

It would be greeat that as soon as they enter the text and press "ENTER", a message pops up alerting them of the error...

Is that possible? Let's say, the text being in cell A2...

Thanks again and big respect to your skills...

Titus

Hi mudraker,

Thank you for the macro, it is exactly what I wanted! The only thing is, there is something that is not working, as the macro is displaying an error even if the characters are all valid (tried with the word "TEST", no quotation marks obviously).

See attached screenshot.. Anything I have done wrong, although I did follow the instructions with regards to inserting the macro in the work sheet...?

Thanks, Titus.

Sorry I posted the wrong version

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