IDEA already has a function that performs the soundex function which is the @Soundex function that is defined as "Determine whether text is similar in sound. It returns a code which can be used for comparisons." I found at http://rosettacode.org/wiki/Soundex#VBScript an algorithm for the soundex. I adapted the original a bit and created a custom function. Now the custom function should give exactly the same results as the @Soundex function but sometimes it is fun to know how things work. So below is the code that is used for the Soundex function and I have attached the custom function for anyone that wants to try it out.
Option Explicit
Function SoundEx(p1 As String) As String
Dim code As String
Dim previous As Integer
Dim i As Integer
Dim current As String
code = UCase(Mid(p1, 1, 1))
previous = 7
For i = 2 To (Len(p1) + 1)
current = getCode(UCase(Mid(p1, i, 1)))
If Len(current) > 0 And current <> previous Then
code = code & current
End If
previous = current
Next
soundex = Mid(code, 1, 4)
If Len(code) < 4 Then
soundex = soundex & String(4 - Len(code), "0")
End If
End Function
Function getCode(c)
Select Case c
Case "B", "F", "P", "V"
getCode = "1"
Case "C", "G", "J", "K", "Q", "S", "X", "Z"
getCode = "2"
Case "D", "T"
getCode = "3"
Case "L"
getCode = "4"
Case "M", "N"
getCode = "5"
Case "R"
getCode = "6"
End Select
End Function
