How to escape % in String.Format?

🔎Escape % in String.Format: A Guide for SQL Queries in strings.xml🔍

Hey there, tech enthusiasts! 👋 Are you trying to include a "like" statement in your SQL queries stored within the strings.xml file, but struggling to escape the % sign with String.Format? 😫 Don't worry! In this blog post, we'll break it down and provide you with easy solutions to conquer this issue! 💪

The Challenge 🕵️‍♀️

Let's set the stage — you're storing a SQL query in your strings.xml file, aiming to utilize String.Format to construct the final string in your code. 😌 Here's an example of what you're dealing with:

SELECT Field1, Field2 FROM mytable WHERE Field1 LIKE '%something%'

To format the query, you need to replace 'something' with %1$s to create a dynamic statement. So it becomes:

SELECT Field1, Field2 FROM mytable WHERE Field1 LIKE \'%%1$s%\'

💡 Note: The backslash is used to escape the single quotes in the LIKE statement.

However, the challenge lies in escaping that troublesome % sign. Your attempts to tackle this issue might have left you scratching your head! 🤔

Easy Solutions 🚀

But fret not! We've got your back with a couple of straightforward solutions to include the LIKE statement in your strings.xml file:

Solution 1: Double the Percentage Symbol

To escape the % sign, you need to double it! 😉 Instead of using a single %, utilize two consecutive % signs (%%). Here's how it looks:

SELECT Field1, Field2 FROM mytable WHERE Field1 LIKE '%%%1$s%%'

Voila! By doubling the % sign, you can now include the LIKE statement without any issues. 😎

Solution 2: Use Symbolic Constants

Another approach is to utilize symbolic constants. Declare a constant, such as PERCENT_SYMBOL, in your code and assign it the value '%'. Then use this constant in your strings.xml file. Here's an example:

In your code:

private static final String PERCENT_SYMBOL = "%";

In your strings.xml file:

<string name="like_statement">SELECT Field1, Field2 FROM mytable WHERE Field1 LIKE '%1$s${PERCENT_SYMBOL}%'</string>

With the above configuration, you can seamlessly include the LIKE statement by referencing the PERCENT_SYMBOL constant. 🙌

Time to Supercharge Your Strings.xml! ⚡️

Now that you're equipped with these easy solutions to escape % in String.Format, it's time to level up your SQL query game! 💥 Tailor your query strings in strings.xml with confidence and precision, knowing that you have the tools to handle such challenges. 💪

📣 Share your thoughts with us! Have you encountered this issue before? What other SQL-related hurdles have you conquered? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

So go ahead, escape those % signs and squeeze the most out of your dynamic SQL queries! 🚀💻