Special characters & ASP

[Mattarm]

Got a bit of a problem.

I have created an interface to allow the user to update some text on thier website using flash/ASP/Access. In the large text box all works until you use any of the following characters:

# & % :

all text beyonf these characters is ignored in the DB update.

How can I use these characters?

Cheers

[mad_A]

You can run some code on the textbox to swap those characters for their html escape characters before they are sent to the dB. Something like this...

function replaceAmpersand(myString){
tempArray=new Array();
tempArray=myString.split("&");
myString=tempArray[0];
for(i=1;<tempArray.length;i++){
myString=myString + "&amp;" +tempArray[i];
return myString;
}

[Mattarm]

Thanks Mad_A,
Interesting function, unfortunately is didn't work at first. I replaced the "& " for "&amp;" (and a multitude of other thies) but still joy. as soon as there is an & in the script is seems to think it is a new variable when I try to POST.

I then thought a bit more (coffee, coffee and more coffee) and realised that I was thinking backwards. The escape sequences I used were wrong. I modified the data in the database to include the characters, modified the ASP to return the string to a browser window and checked the result and there it was.

& = %26 not &amp;
# = %23
% = %25
: = %3A

I will now reform your function to include these additional characters. It might take a little while on large blocks of text but I am sure it is the on the right track

One strange thing that I also discovered is that the \ character is changed to / in the return from the DB.

Thankx again,
Mat

[mad_A]

sorry, should have realised that myself - & a m p ; is html escape. Doh!

Also realised that where I was saying & a m p ; in the function, that this forum was changing that to & (guess it is web based...)

Let me know how you get on with it.


A

[Mattarm]

Thanks for the help mad_A.

Got to the bottom of the problem. Also adapted your function to inlude the other characters that were giving me grief, even \r.

Works a treat now so I am now that much closer to letting the client loose on the site.

Thanks again

[Mattarm]

The guys over at Friends of Ed showed yet another way to skin this cat;

textvar = escape(textvar);

simple, elegant and works.

[mad_A]

hmmm...

yeah, I like the look of that. Simple code is always the best.

[xxlm]

Hi everybody...
I've made something you may like...
http://www.actionscript.org/showMovie.php?id=513

Plz, give feedbacks...

[Mattarm]

Hi XXLM,

Saw your work the other day (after I solved the problem of course) but have looked at the file to see more about this problem. I only wish I had found your file earlier, it would have saved many long, lonely hours wracking my brain.

The truth is that you are never the first to find a problem and there is always someone willing to show the way. This is the best thing about the flash community - the willingness to help and share ideas.

Thanks to everyone
Matt

[xxlm]

Joy of helping people...