Script/Formula Solution for Extracting Contiguous Text Counts (Location Dependent)

[Tom_H]

Hi All,

I’m looking for a simple/elegant solution for a formula/script that will produce what I’m looking for.

I have a text field (it will have a maximum of 9 ALPHA (uppercase only) characters in it. I’m looking for a solution that will perform the following functions.
a. If a character is contiguous to itself if will count the total contiguous characters and place the number followed by the character. For example if the text field was PPPPP I would get a result of 5P.
b. If a character has no contiguous matches then the result would just be the characters as shown. For example QRSTUV would give a result of QRSTUV.
c. Combining these two rules together if we were to have RRQRRRQS the result would be 2RQ3RQS. I can easily find a solution if I wanted the result of an input sting of RRQRRRQS to be 5R2Q1S but the sequence has to remain as was originally shown as each value is assigned to a corresponding column (column 1 through 9 which is associated with a quantity level) so this wont work.

Here is some actual data and the desired results.

Count	String	Desired Result
1	RSSSSTTZZ	R4S2T2Z
2	RRSSSST	2R4ST
3	QRSSSST	QR4ST
4	PRRRRST	P4RST
5	RRSSSTT	2R3S2T
6	RSSSSTT	R4S2T
7	PQRRRST	PQ3RST
8	PRRRRST	P4RST
9	RRRRRST	5RST
10	RQRRRST	RQ3RST
11	PRRRRST	P4RST
12	RRSSSTT	2R3S2T
13	RRRRRST	5RST
14	RRRRRST	5RST
15	QRRRRST	Q4RST
16	QRRRRST	Q4RST
17	QPQRRST	QPQ2RST
18	RRSSSST	2R4ST

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to proceed are much appreciated!

Tom

[Kamille_Parks]

After a quick google search I found this simple javascript function which will get you half way there:

stackoverflow.com

JavaScript function to automatically count consecutive letters in a string

javascript, arrays, string, counter

asked by Henry on 03:15AM - 22 Feb 15 UTC

Modified slightly, here’s the basic code:

var str = "RSSSSTTZZ"

function letterCount(str){
    var s= str.match(/([a-zA-Z])\1*/g)||[];
    return s.map(function(itm){
        return [itm.length, itm.charAt(0)];
    });
}

const arr = letterCount(str)

console.log(arr.toString().replace(/1/g, '').replace(/,/g,''))

To make the above actually usable, you’d replace the first line with pulling in data from a particular record, and replace the last line with a function to actually update the record. There are several examples of both throughout these forums, but I can help guide how to do it if you need further assistance.

[Tom_H]

Thank you so much for your quick response, Kamille_Parks!

So I was able to get your script to work perfectly with the output showing up in the console log.

Now I’ve set up an automation when the field “FinalDiscountCodeString” is modified in the “Product” table, the script will run and put the result in the “FinalDiscountCodeScriptRun” field also in the “Product” table. Here’s what I was able to come up with but I’m keep getting errors:

let table = base.getTable(“Product”);

let str = input.config();

function letterCount(str){

var s= str.match(/([a-zA-Z])\1*/g)||[];

return s.map(function(itm){

    return [itm.length,itm.charAt(0)];

});

}

const arr = letterCount(str)

table.updateRecordAsync.FinalDiscountCodeScriptRun(arr.toString().replace(/,/g,’’).replace(/1/g,’’))

Being a novice at scripting I know that this can be done but I seem to be beating a dead horse on new ideas for what to try to get the code to go through…any pointers, are greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

[Kamille_Parks]

To do this via an Automation you will need two Input Variables: one for str (the {FinalDiscountCodeString} field value from the trigger record), and one for recordID (the trigger record’s id)

So to pull in these variables properly, change:

let str = input.config();

to

let {recordID, str} = input.config();

And change:

table.updateRecordAsync.FinalDiscountCodeScriptRun(arr.toString().replace(/,/g,’’).replace(/1/g,’’))

to:

await table.updateRecordAsync(recordID, {
   "FinalDiscountCodeScriptRun": arr.toString().replace(/,/g,’’).replace(/1/g,’’)
}