excel - Getting "TRUE" when RegEx doesn't match? -

i attempting try , use regular expressions pattern match in vba. i've added reference regular expression libraries , using following code test.

sub testing()  dim re dim val set re = new regexp  re.pattern = "[0-9]{5}" re.ignorecase = true  val = range("a8").value  msgbox val  msgbox re.test(val)  end sub 

the issue when i'm testing string formatted as:

1234 565 4444543 12 33

i receiving "true" when use {5} , "false" when using {6}. why this?

shouldn't both {5} , {6} return "false" in case?

if regex matching on whitespace, how prevent this? want match 4 numbers followed 1 space followed 3 numbers, etc.

help!

you need anchor regular expression:

re.pattern = "^[0-9]{5}$" 

otherwise matches if finds pattern anywhere in input. ^ matches beginning of input, $ matches end of input.

i'm not sure why [0-9]{6} returns false input, since there 6 digits in 4444543.