Question

oracle sql translate / replace question

Asked by: edyonline

I have a string variable NAME: " 'name1','name2','name3','name4' "

If I do

select translate('NAME','!@#$%^',' ') from dual

to replace all of the characters to spaces it doesn't work because it translates to

select translate(' 'name1','name2','name3','name4' ','!@#$%^',' ') from dual

If I remove the single quote in front of name

select translate(NAME,'!@#$%^',' ') from dual

it will not work either because it will treat name2 as second parameter
select translate( 'name1','name2','name3','name4' ,'!@#$%^',' ') from dual

I do not have control on what user can input. Please let me know how can I handle it at the sql level

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Asked On
2009-09-15 at 14:57:17ID24734667
Tags

oracle

,

translate

,

replace

,

sql

Topics

SQL Query Syntax

,

PL / SQL

,

Oracle CRM

Participating Experts
3
Points
0
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: angelIIIPosted on 2009-09-15 at 15:00:51ID: 25340062

your "test" must be like this: a single quote inside a string must be "doubled", but that is SYNTAX ONLY.

2 single quotes inside a string result in actually 1 single quote as result.

select translate(' ''name1'',''name2'',''name3'',''name4'' ','!@#$%^',' ') from dual 

                                              
1:

Select allOpen in new window

 

by: edyonlinePosted on 2009-09-15 at 15:04:47ID: 25340097

I understand that completely. However, I can't control the value of the string. I wish i could filter it in php/java but I have no control over it and it has to be done at the sql level.

Any idea how?

 

by: Mike_The_SpikePosted on 2009-09-15 at 15:16:29ID: 25340200

 

by: HainKurtPosted on 2009-09-15 at 17:48:21ID: 25340911

I think you are creating the sql dynamically...
then first you should replace ' with ''
all languages support replace somehow...
you should say

name = replace(name,"'","''")
sql = "select translate(" + NAME +",'!@#$%^',' ') from dual"

 

by: edyonlinePosted on 2009-09-15 at 21:16:15ID: 25341815

i think there is no way oracle can handle it at this point. I will close this question.

 

by: angelIIIPosted on 2009-09-15 at 22:32:32ID: 25342157

>string variable NAME
what is that string variable? one in Oracle?

>I do not have control on what user can input
where does the user "input" that value?

please clarify

 

by: Mike_The_SpikePosted on 2009-09-16 at 08:51:21ID: 25346965

I miss understood your question at first.  I don't have access to PL/SQL, but what about something like
select translate("NAME", '!@#$%^','      ')

Don't forget that translate wants a character to translate too for every character to translate from, in your case, you want a space for every character you're replacing.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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