Strings using special characters [ ]

[mtronix]

Hello,
I am getting an error with constructing a SQL statement in C++. I am using C++ BuilderI am wondering if the string class is doing something weird with the special characters. In particular, the SQL engine complains about the [ bracket

String SQL = "SELECT * FROM Study ORDER BY InternalPatientID, [Study Date/Time]";

The weird part is that this was legacy code that used to work but now does not.

Thanks

[matsp]

C++ will not take one bit of notice as to WHAT your string contains, as long as it's printable and not a '"' - the double quotes can be inserted, and several non-printable characters as well, by escaping it with a backslash, e.g.

string myStr("This is a string with a quoted \"text\" and a unprintable newline \n");

--
Mats

[CornedBee]

This seems to be entirely a problem on the SQL side, if it's the SQL engine that complains.

[QuantumPete]

non-printable characters as well...

Just wondering why we call them "non-printable"... After all the new line *does* appear in the final output, albeit not as a single char on screen...

QuantumPete

[CornedBee]

It has an effect, but it cannot be printed, as such?

Strangely, though, space counts as printable, while tab does not.

[QuantumPete]

Strangely, though, space counts as printable, while tab does not.

My point exactly.

[matsp]

I beleive "printable" is defined by what you could output to a lineprinter or a printing press without further processing - tab for example is "processed" by replacing it with spaces until the next tab boundary. Space is printable as such - it just doesn't show anything...

--
Mats

[matsp]

I'm just wondering about that syntax/naming convention - what SQL database are you using (AND is it the same database server as before?)?

--
Mats

[mtronix]

I'm using Borland Database Engine with Access 2003. If I use the Query component in access alone and setup a SQL statement that exactly matches the above (minus the quotes) the query works.
However, using C++ builder the BDE compalins about the [Study part of the string. I don't know if I would have to take into account the [ as a special character.

[CornedBee]

Well, to sum it up, from C++'s point of view, only " and \ are in any way special in string literals.