Join list of string to comma separated and enclosed in single quotes

Question

List<string> test = new List<string>();
test.Add("test's");
test.Add("test");
test.Add("test's more");
string s = string.Format("'{0}'", string.Join("','", test));

now the s is 'test's','test','test's more' but I need to replace the inner quotes with 2 single quotes

like this: 'test''s','test','test''s more'

update: I got it to work as below, but I would prefer a cleaner way if possible.

string s = string.Format("`{0}`", string.Join("`,`", test)).Replace("'", "''").Replace("`", "'");

Jay Riggs · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-29T17:49:54.970

69

This should work:

List<string> test = new List<string>(); 
test.Add("test's"); 
test.Add("test"); 
test.Add("test's more");
string s = string.Join("','", test.Select(i => i.Replace("'", "''")));

And if you're really looking to enclose the whole thing in single quotes:

string s = string.Format("'{0}'", string.Join("','", test.Select(i => i.Replace("'", "''"))));

edited May 29 '18 at 17:49

answered Aug 03 '11 at 23:59

Jay Riggs

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1

you guys are awesome. I have been squeezing my head to do just this but this didn't strike my mind. – GaneshT Aug 04 '11 at 00:08
2

I don't think the ToArray() call is necessary. – iheartcsharp Nov 27 '13 at 16:25

score 29 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 18 '12 at 14:01

29

This may be easier than using string.replace

string s = "'" + String.Join("','", test) + "'";

edited Sep 18 '12 at 14:01

Scott

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answered Sep 18 '12 at 12:00

CraigH

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2

But this doesn't escape the single quotes. Solution by Jay Riggs is correct for the original poster's situation. – iheartcsharp Nov 27 '13 at 16:20

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 03 '11 at 23:58

3

Try this:

string s = string.Join(",", test.Select(x => string.Format("'{0}'", x.Replace("'", "''"))));

By the way, there's no apostrophe in "tests" - apostrophes aren't used for plurals.

answered Aug 03 '11 at 23:58

Simon MᶜKenzie

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:) You are right. I made up some test list, I didn't really mean to say test's. Just some data with apostrophe is all I wanted. – GaneshT Aug 04 '11 at 00:15

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 03 '11 at 23:58

3

It isn't to everyone's taste, but I like to create helper extensions for these kinds of tasks, and put them into a "utility" namespace:

public static class ListExtensions
{
   public static void AddDoubleQuoted(this List<string> list, string input)
   {
     input = input.Replace("'", "''");
     list.Add(input);
   }
}

List<string> test = new List<string>();
test.AddDoubleQuoted("test's");
test.AddDoubleQuoted("test");
test.AddDoubleQuoted("test's more");
string s = string.Format("'{0}'", string.Join("','", test));

answered Aug 03 '11 at 23:58

davecoulter

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this one is cool, I prefer the above one is because I need it in just one place to use it. However I just learned how to create extensions. Thanks. – GaneshT Aug 04 '11 at 00:11
@gangt No problem! The first time I learned extensions I thought it was pretty awesome too. – davecoulter Aug 04 '11 at 00:12

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 03 '11 at 23:55

1

You can always encode quotes before you build your string.

answered Aug 03 '11 at 23:55

ika

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It should be a comment not an answer! – Mehdi Dehghani Dec 20 '18 at 11:16

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 05 '22 at 22:12

0

string s = string.Join(',', itemsList.Select(i => $"'{i}'"));

Using string interpolation. String.Replace is not required here.

answered Apr 05 '22 at 22:12

Som Das

1

score -1 · Answer 7 · answered Jul 08 '15 at 15:41

-1

I like a version without Replace:

using System.Linq;
(...)
string s = String.Join(", ", from l in MyList select String.Format("'{0}'", l));

answered Jul 08 '15 at 15:41

Starli0n

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Join list of string to comma separated and enclosed in single quotes

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