Thread: Using escape strings in an insert statement.

Using escape strings in an insert statement.

From

Paul Lambert

Date:

02 July 2007, 22:45:33

I'm having a little glitch in using escape strings within strings.

The following will best explain my issue:

tester=# create table testing (test_text text);
CREATE TABLE

tester=# insert into testing (test_text) values ('abc\\123');
WARNING:  nonstandard use of \\ in a string literal
LINE 1: insert into testing (test_text) values ('abc\\123');                                                ^
HINT:  Use the escape string syntax for backslashes, e.g., E'\\'.
INSERT 0 1

^^^ This works, but I still get an error/warning telling me to use E'\\'  - which I do:

tester=# insert into testing (test_text) values ('abcE'\\'123');
Invalid command \. Try \? for help.
tester(#

^^^ And this just doesn't work at all.


The help itself (ch 4.1.2.1) tells me to use double backslash "Thus, to 
include a backslash character, write two backslashes (\\). "

Which one is the correct syntax and how can I make it not return 
anything other than a successful insert?

Noob question, I know...

But TIA.

(Version is 8.2.3 on Weenblowz if that is of any relevance)

--
Paul Lambert
Database Administrator
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Re: Using escape strings in an insert statement.

From

Michael Glaesemann

Date:

02 July 2007, 23:11:24

On Jul 2, 2007, at 17:45 , Paul Lambert wrote:

> tester=# insert into testing (test_text) values ('abcE'\\'123');

This should be
INSERT INTO testing (test_text) values (E'abc\123');

> The help itself (ch 4.1.2.1) tells me to use double backslash  
> "Thus, to include a backslash character, write two backslashes (\\). "

Note that the String Constants section (4.1.2.1) says put the E  
"before the opening single quote".

http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/interactive/sql-syntax- 
lexical.html#SQL-SYNTAX-CONSTANTS

> An escape string constant is specified by writing the letter E  
> (upper or lower case) just before the opening single quote, e.g.  
> E'foo'.

Also be sure to read the Caution section.

Using \ as an escape character is the old non-standard PostgreSQL  
escape syntax that the WARNING (above) is, uh, warning you about.  
With standard_conforming_strings on (i.e., follow the SQL spec), the  
backslash is just a backslash character.

> Which one is the correct syntax and how can I make it not return  
> anything other than a successful insert?

Depends on the setting of standard_conforming_strings.

Michael Glaesemann
grzm seespotcode net

Re: Using escape strings in an insert statement.

From

Paul Lambert

Date:

02 July 2007, 23:27:07

Michael Glaesemann wrote:
> 
> On Jul 2, 2007, at 17:45 , Paul Lambert wrote:
> 
>> tester=# insert into testing (test_text) values ('abcE'\\'123');
> 
> This should be
> INSERT INTO testing (test_text) values (E'abc\123');
> 
>> The help itself (ch 4.1.2.1) tells me to use double backslash "Thus, 
>> to include a backslash character, write two backslashes (\\). "
> 
> Note that the String Constants section (4.1.2.1) says put the E "before 
> the opening single quote".
> 
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/interactive/sql-syntax-lexical.html#SQL-SYNTAX-CONSTANTS 
> 
> 

Missed that part - my apologies. Time to read the manuals more 
thoroughly it would seem.

>> An escape string constant is specified by writing the letter E (upper 
>> or lower case) just before the opening single quote, e.g. E'foo'.
> 
> Also be sure to read the Caution section.
> 
> Using \ as an escape character is the old non-standard PostgreSQL escape 
> syntax that the WARNING (above) is, uh, warning you about. With 
> standard_conforming_strings on (i.e., follow the SQL spec), the 
> backslash is just a backslash character.
> 
>> Which one is the correct syntax and how can I make it not return 
>> anything other than a successful insert?
> 
> Depends on the setting of standard_conforming_strings.
> 
> Michael Glaesemann
> grzm seespotcode net
> 

Looks like it's a toss-up between turning standard_conforming_strings on 
or turning escape_string_warning off, both seem to have the same effect 
in not giving the error anymore.

I'll go with your suggestion though, I guess since it's a new install 
not a previous upgrade of an old it's technically more correct to 
conform to current standards rather than attempt to conform to old behavior.

Cheers for the help - much appreciated.

-- 
Paul Lambert
Database Administrator
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Re: Using escape strings in an insert statement.

From

Michael Glaesemann

Date:

03 July 2007, 00:13:37

On Jul 2, 2007, at 18:26 , Paul Lambert wrote:

> Looks like it's a toss-up between turning  
> standard_conforming_strings on or turning escape_string_warning  
> off, both seem to have the same effect in not giving the error  
> anymore.

A warning is not an error :)

Michael Glaesemann
grzm seespotcode net

Re: Using escape strings in an insert statement.

From

Erik Jones

Date:

03 July 2007, 15:49:42

On Jul 2, 2007, at 6:11 PM, Michael Glaesemann wrote:

>
> On Jul 2, 2007, at 17:45 , Paul Lambert wrote:
>
>> tester=# insert into testing (test_text) values ('abcE'\\'123');
>
> This should be
> INSERT INTO testing (test_text) values (E'abc\123');

No, that will leave him with the string 'abc23' beinginserted, he
wants the backslash to be included in the string, that's why he had
two, so it should be:

INSERT INTO testing (test_text) values (E'abc\\123');

>
>> The help itself (ch 4.1.2.1) tells me to use double backslash
>> "Thus, to include a backslash character, write two backslashes (\
>> \). "
>
> Note that the String Constants section (4.1.2.1) says put the E
> "before the opening single quote".
>
> http://www.postgresql.org/docs/8.2/interactive/sql-syntax-
> lexical.html#SQL-SYNTAX-CONSTANTS
>
>> An escape string constant is specified by writing the letter E
>> (upper or lower case) just before the opening single quote, e.g.
>> E'foo'.
>
> Also be sure to read the Caution section.
>
> Using \ as an escape character is the old non-standard PostgreSQL
> escape syntax that the WARNING (above) is, uh, warning you about.
> With standard_conforming_strings on (i.e., follow the SQL spec),
> the backslash is just a backslash character.
>
>> Which one is the correct syntax and how can I make it not return
>> anything other than a successful insert?
>
> Depends on the setting of standard_conforming_strings.

With standard_conforming_strings turned on, it would just need to be:

INSERT INTO test (test_text) values ('abc\123');

>
> Michael Glaesemann
> grzm seespotcode net
>
>
>
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Erik Jones

Software Developer | Emma®
erik@myemma.com
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Re: Using escape strings in an insert statement.

From

Michael Glaesemann

Date:

03 July 2007, 17:56:57

On Jul 3, 2007, at 10:49 , Erik Jones wrote:

> On Jul 2, 2007, at 6:11 PM, Michael Glaesemann wrote:
>
>>
>> On Jul 2, 2007, at 17:45 , Paul Lambert wrote:
>>
>>> tester=# insert into testing (test_text) values ('abcE'\\'123');
>>
>> This should be
>> INSERT INTO testing (test_text) values (E'abc\123');
>
> No, that will leave him with the string 'abc23' beinginserted, he  
> wants the backslash to be included in the string, that's why he had  
> two, so it should be:
>
> INSERT INTO testing (test_text) values (E'abc\\123');

Ah, right. Thanks for the correction, Erik.

Michael Glaesemann
grzm seespotcode net