string concatation in sql query - sql

Question

i am having confusion with this string concatenation
could some body please brief me how this string concatenation taking place?
The confusion i am having is that, how this +, "", ' are working in this
int i = Magic.Allper("insert into tbl_notice values ('" + Label1.Text + "','" + companyTxt.Text + "','" + txtBranch.Text + "','" + dateTxt.Text + "' ,'" + reportingTxt.Text + "','" + venueTxt.Text + "','" + eligibilityTxt.Text + "')");

Answer 1

Anything between two " characters is taken as a String in Java so "','" produces ','. SQL requires Strings wrapped in '. So "'" + venueTxt.Text + "'" parses to 'variable value' when the query is made.

Answer 2

("insert into tbl_notice values ('" + Label1.Text + "','" + companyTxt.Text + "','" + txtBranch.Text + "','" + dateTxt.Text + "' ,'" + reportingTxt.Text + "','" + venueTxt.Text + "','" + eligibilityTxt.Text + "')");
Assuming that
Label1= Hello
companyTxt = ABC
txtBranch = Engineering
dateTxt = 2010-12-01
reportingTxt = Fergusson
venueTxt = Batcave
eligibilityTxt = No
The above values are replaced in the SQL statement, making it look like
("insert into tbl_notice values ('" + Hello + "','" + ABC + "','" + Engineering + "','" + 2010-12-01 + "' ,'" + Fergusson + "','" + Batcave + "','" + No + "')");
The "+" operator joins the string values, resulting in
("insert into tbl_notice values ('Hello','ABC','Engineering','2010-12-01' ,'Fergusson','Batcave','No')")

Answer 3

I strongly recommend that you don't use string concatenation in SQL queries. They provoque SQL injections. This will cause security issues.
What is SQL Injection?
In response to your question, this concatenation simply takes every TextBox.Text property value and concatenate it into your insert statement.
I strongly recommend that you're using parameterized queries using ADO.NET lise the following example (assuming SQL Server):
using (var connection = new SqlConnection(connString))
using (var command = connection.CreateCommand()) {
string sql = "insert into tbl_notice values(#label1, #companyTxt, #txtBranch, #dataTxt, #reportingTxt, #venueTxt, #eligibilityTxt)";
command.CommandText = sql;
command.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
SqlParameter label1 = command.CreateParameter();
label1.ParameterName = "#label1";
label1.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input;
label1.Value = Label1.Text;
SqlParameter companyTxt = command.CreateParameter();
companyTxt.ParameterName = "#companyTxt";
companyTxt.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input;
companyTxt.Value = companyTxt.Text;
// And so forth for each of the parameters enumerated in your sql statement.
if (connection.State == ConnectionState.Close)
connection.Open();
int rowsAffected = command.ExecuteNonQuery();
}

Answer 4

I would use the string.Format method for clarity
int i = Magic.Allper(string.Format("insert into tbl_notice values ('{0}','{1}','{2}','{3}','{4}','{5}','{6}')",
Label1.Text,
companyTxt.Text,
txtBranch.Text,
dateTxt.Text,
reportingTxt.Text,
venueTxt.Text,
eligibilityTxt.Text));
You might also want to create an extension method that will make sure the strings are safe to pass to SQL in this fashion
public static string ToSqlFormat(this string mask, params string[] args)
{
List<string> safe = args.ToList();
safe.ForEach(a => a.Replace("'", "''"));
return string.Format(mask, safe);
}
which will let you write
string insert = "insert into tbl_notice values ('{0}','{1}','{2}','{3}','{4}','{5}','{6}')";
int i = Magic.Allper(insert.ToSqlFormat(
Label1.Text,
companyTxt.Text,
txtBranch.Text,
dateTxt.Text,
reportingTxt.Text,
venueTxt.Text,
eligibilityTxt.Text));