Dealing with double quotes in mySQL

dvduval

I have 4 sites with databases of several hundred products each. The "description" field contains html as well other instances where double quotes are used. So far I have exported from MIVA to a flat file and then used...
http://forums.devshed.com/archive/5/2003/01/2/49679 (Gumball)
...to import to mySQL.

I'm usually a good problem solver, but I am relatively new to PHP database work. I've tried several angles, with few results.

What can I do to display the description field with html and quotes intact? Is this an inherant problem with PHP? Or is there a solution?

Kind Regards,
David DuVal

laserlight

use htmlspecialchars() on output data, after stripslashes (if you use it)

dvduval

use htmlspecialchars() on output data, after stripslashes (if you use it)

Won't that disable the html?

laserlight

well, isnt that what you want to do, "display the description field with html and quotes intact"?

From what I see, you are stored the text as is, which is ok.
Then you have a problem with output.
What exactly is this problem then?

dvduval

Before I go any furthur, I want to thank you laser light.🙂
Here is an example of a product description field that is stored in mySQL:

"<img src=""http://www.dancedresser.net/images/HEAT_t.jpg"" align=""left"">Light weight comfort with cushioned insoles in a casual lace-up. Made in England by International Dance Shoes. Available in (01) Beige Leather, (02) Black Leather, (09) Beige Basketweave Leather, (10) Black Basketweave Leather, (52) Black Lycra, (60) Beige Lycra, and (80) Black Snakeskin. <b>Order 2 sizes smaller than your American size.</b>"

For the sake of the four sites I hope to upgrade, I'm hoping to use the native PHP. Also here is an example of an output:
http://www.dancedresser.net/shop/seevariables.php?pid=2

Note: I'm new here. If I'm not allowed to post links, please accept my apology.

laserlight

I'm still not sure what kind of output do you want.

This is what you intend as a result:
http://www.aranel.net/heather.php

jimson

your data sounds weird....

anyway, it is not wrong but not so hygiene to have two "" in your HTML tag..
<a href=""this is the url"">so where am i</a>

dvduval

Yes, my data is weird indeed.

Using Excel 2002, when I try to save the .dat file to a text file (tab delimited), it adds quotes into some of the fields. This has been the source of many problems for me. I can't figure out how to get Excel to stop doing that!
When I try to use LOAD DATA INFIELD in phpMyAdmin I get an access denied for user 'me@localhost'.

Once again, I'm stumped.

Weedpacket

Originally posted by jimson
your data sounds weird....

anyway, it is not wrong but not so hygiene to have two "" in your HTML tag..
<a href=""this is the url"">so where am i</a>

Er, it is "wrong" in that it violates the HTML specification.

dvduval

This is what you intend as a result:
http://www.aranel.net/heather.php

Exactly