I have a Tstringlist containing a list of keys used in a database table. I'd like a simple way to generate one string containing all the keys, with each separated by a comma and enclosed in single quotes. This is so that it can be used in a SQL 'IN' statement eg WHERE FieldX IN ('One','Two','Three').
I've tried using quotechar but it is ignored when reading the commatext. eg the following code
procedure junk;
var
SL : Tstringlist;
s : string;
begin
SL := Tstringlist.Create;
SL.Delimiter :=','; //comma delimiter
SL.QuoteChar := ''''; //single quote around strings
SL.Add('One');
SL.Add('Two');
SL.Add('Three');
try
s := SL.commatext;
showmessage(s);
finally
SL.Free;
end; //finally
end; //junk
shows the message One,Two,Three - without any quotes.
I know I can do it the long way round, as in
procedure junk;
var
SL : Tstringlist;
s : string;
i : integer;
begin
SL := Tstringlist.Create;
SL.Delimiter :=','; //comma delimiter
SL.Add('One');
SL.Add('Two');
SL.Add('Three');
try
s := '';
for I := 0 to SL.Count - 1 do
begin
s := s + ',' + '''' + SL[i] + '''';
end;
delete(s,1,1);
showmessage(s);
finally
SL.Free;
end;//finally
end;
but is there a simpler way using properties of the Tstringlist itself?
If you're using D2006 or later, you can use a CLASS HELPER:
USES Classes,StrUtils;
TYPE
TStringListHelper = CLASS HELPER FOR TStrings
FUNCTION ToSQL : STRING;
END;
FUNCTION TStringListHelper.ToSQL : STRING;
VAR
S : STRING;
FUNCTION QuotedStr(CONST S : STRING) : STRING;
BEGIN
Result:=''''+ReplaceStr(S,'''','''''')+''''
END;
BEGIN
Result:='';
FOR S IN Self DO BEGIN
IF Result='' THEN Result:='(' ELSE Result:=Result+',';
Result:=Result+QuotedStr(S)
END;
IF Result<>'' THEN Result:=Result+')'
END;
This code:
SL:=TStringList.Create;
SL.Add('One');
SL.Add('Two');
SL.Add('Number Three');
SL.Add('It''s number 4');
WRITELN('SELECT * FROM TABLE WHERE FIELD IN '+SL.ToSQL);
will then output:
SELECT * FROM TABLE WHERE FIELD IN ('One','Two','Number Three','It''s number 4')