Extracting certain text from string

[Son]

hi, i have a series of text with some numbers in it and i'd like to extract these numbers, not the letters.

here's an example:

I WENT TO - PARIS - (NOT ALONE) AND MY NUMBER WAS 2.6.3 AND I HAD A LOF OF FUN

I WENT TO - PRAGUE - (ALONE) - AND I DID NOT HAVE A NUMBER BUT I HAD 2.13.4 AND I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH MR. FUNNY

I WENT TO MILAN - (NB. I WAS NOT ALONE) - AND I HAD FUN - 8.15.14.1 AND I DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH MR. NOT FUNNY

What is known:
each case of numbers has 3 . maximum
the first number is always one digit
the rest of the numbers can be with two digits
there can be . either before or after the series of numbers
everything is regarded as text
the . do not correspond to decimals, they are just text
the desired outcome is: 2.6.3 and 2.13.4 and 8.15.14.1 for the above examples

any ideas on this would be most appreciated!

 

[kpark91]

each case of numbers has 3 . maximum
the desired outcome is: 2.6.3 and 2.13.4 and 8.15.14.1 for the above examples

Isn't there 4 cases of numbers for 8.15.14.1?

 

[martindwilson]

assuming thats the only numbers in the text string

=trim(mid(substitute(a1," ",rept(" ",25)),find(mid(a1,min(find({0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9},a1&"0123456789")),1),substitute(a1," ",rept(" ",25))),15))

 

[Scott Huish]

=trim(left(substitute(replace(a1,1,min(find({0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9},a1&"0123456789"))-1,"")," ",rept(" ",255)),255))

 

[Burrgogi]

=trim(left(substitute(replace(a1,1,min(find({0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9},a1&"0123456789"))-1,"")," ",rept(" ",255)),255))

That is cool. Hotpepper - could you please break that down for me? I'm new to this so I'd like to learn.

 

[Son]

Martin, you're a genius! It works perfectly!!!

i have to study the formula, of course, to find out how it works, but it does work!!! Thank you!!!

and kpark, yes, i know, i see now that i put one extra . in my example.

thanks both for your immediate response!

i have to say, excel never ceases to amaze me!

 

[Son]

also, Hotpepper, your formula works too! i notice it is simpler than martin's, still both work. i will need to break each down to find out how they actually do it, but for now, my task is complete! thank you both