Escaping special characters when entering values in DataSheet view

[gkl]

Dear All,

This might sound as an odd question, but I am interested into whether it is possible or not. Let's say I have a table with a text field and Required is set to Yes and Allow Zero Length Strings to No.

I want to input a value for this field which is "" (two double quotes literally). If you try to do that, Access thinks that you are trying to enter a zero-length string and the entry is blocked so I guess I have to escape them - coming from a programming background I tried \ but this resulted in the value \"\" going in and [] as I read on a webpage but this resulted in ["]["] in going in.

So the question is: if I want a value of "" to be the value and not the empty string how do I tell Access this is the case?

Regards,
George

 

[jdraw]

You may find this link of interest.

It's a little backwards from your needs, but does talk about Required and Zero Length Strings.


OOOps, just realized you initiated that thread ?????

 

[spikepl]

Try "" for each ". So """" in total. Meaning, in VBA.

In typing in plain bound textbox "" should do.

 

[jdraw]

I agree with spike.

I used "" (2 double quotes) in data sheet view.
This shows nothing in the field but does show a length of 0.
It does not get selected when using Is Null.


Good stuff spike.

 

[gkl]

Try "" for each ". So """" in total. Meaning, in VBA.

In typing in plain bound textbox "" should do.

Unfortunately it doesn't work. To be more specific, I am in Access 2013 in Table DataSheet View for a field that has Required set to Yes and Allow Zero Length Strings to No and I am trying to insert the string literal "" as the value.

If I type """" (four double-quotes) then the value of the field is four double quotes and not two as I wanted.

Regards,
George

 

[jdraw]

What happens with 2 double quotes?


you're saying Required=Yes and zls = N0 --so 2 double quotes shouldn't be allowed.

 

[gkl]

What happens with 2 double quotes?


you're saying Required=Yes and zls = N0 --so 2 double quotes shouldn't be allowed.

If you take into account the special meaning of "", this would indicate a zero-length string which is not allowed based on zls=NO. So I want to waive the special meaning by telling Access that the value I want to put is not a zls but it is the string with value "".

 

[jdraw]

What would be the length of your "" string?
If 0, it will not be acceptable when ZLS =NO.

Not sure what else to say.

 

[Pyro]

If it at all helps, you can insert "" as a literal through VBA by using 6 double quotes:

me!<myfield>=""""""

 

[arnelgp]

another flaw in access.

 

[gkl]

So are we all saying, if my understanding is correct, that if allow zero-length strings is set to No then Access is not going to accept "" as a string literal because it will always translate it to a zls and there is no way to block this behavior?