Using Double-Double Quotes in a C# string

Question

Using Double-Double Quotes in a C# string

Brian Bulla 96

Hi,

In VB I use the following code to create a string with double-double quotes:

Dim jsonString As String = "{ ""id"": """ + drawingUID + """, ""fullPath"": """ + DestPathContractDB + """, ""link"": """ + LinkPath + """, ""scanFilename"": """ + txtCard.Text + ext + """ }"

This produces something like this in my application:

"{ ""id"": ""9999"", ""fullPath"": ""Z:\\AsBuiltDrawings\\OSHAWA\\OSH-00001.pdf"", ""link"": ""http://cctvweb/cctv/AsBuiltDrawings/OSHAWA/OSH-00001.pdf"", ""scanFilename"": ""OSH-00001.pdf"" }"

I need to convert this to C# code, but I am struggling to get the format of the double-double quotes to work. I have tried almost everything, but can't seem to get it correct. Using @, \, char.....this is driving me crazy. Here is my latest attempt:

string jsonString = "{ " + (char)34 + (char)34 + "id" + (char)34 + (char)34 + ": " + (char)34 + (char)34 + drawingUID + (char)34 + (char)34 + ", " + (char)34 + (char)34 + "fullPath" + (char)34 + (char)34 + ": " + (char)34 + (char)34 + destPath + (char)34 + (char)34 + ", " + (char)34 + (char)34 + "link" + (char)34 + (char)34 + ": " + (char)34 + (char)34 + linkPath + (char)34 + (char)34 + ", " + (char)34 + (char)34 + "scanFilename" + (char)34 + (char)34 + ": " + (char)34 + (char)34 + cardNum + ext + (char)34 + (char)34 + " }";

Which produces this:

"{ \"\"id\"\": \"\"9999\"\", \"\"fullPath\"\": \"\"Z:\\AsBuiltDrawings\\OSHAWA\\OSH-00001.pdf\"\", \"\"link\"\": \"\"http://cctvweb/cctv/AsBuiltDrawings/OSHAWA/OSH-00001.pdf\"\", \"\"scanFilename\"\": \"\"OSH-00001.pdf\"\" }"

Regardless of what I try I always end up getting the \"\" and not just ""

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Sam of Simple Samples 5,546

Are you sure that the VB code produces that? For me the following:

Dim drawingUID As String = "drawingUID"
Dim DestPathContractDB As String = "DestPathContractDB"
Dim LinkPath As String = "LinkPath"
Dim scanFilename As String = "scanFilename"
Dim jsonString As String = "{ ""id"": """ + drawingUID + """, ""fullPath"": """ + DestPathContractDB + """, ""link"": """ + LinkPath + """, ""scanFilename"": """ + scanFilename + """ }"
Console.WriteLine(jsonString)

Produces:

{ "id": "drawingUID", "fullPath": "DestPathContractDB", "link": "LinkPath", "scanFilename": "scanFilename" }

And that is a valid JSON string so I assume that is what the VB code is producing.

Brian Bulla 96 Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:22:28.38+00:00

Yes, I am converting some code on a tool we have been using for years. It it for sure using "". That is coming straight from the Watch window in VB and or C#.
Sam of Simple Samples 5,546 Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:36:02.097+00:00

The watch window is not showing the data as it actually exists. Viorel-1 is trying to tell you that. You need to have an accurate way to see the actual data and/or learn how to interpret the watch window.

Accepted answer

6 additional answers

Your answer

Sam of Simple Samples 5,546 Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:20:42.797+00:00

Are you sure that the VB code produces that? For me the following:

Dim drawingUID As String = "drawingUID" Dim DestPathContractDB As String = "DestPathContractDB" Dim LinkPath As String = "LinkPath" Dim scanFilename As String = "scanFilename" Dim jsonString As String = "{ ""id"": """ + drawingUID + """, ""fullPath"": """ + DestPathContractDB + """, ""link"": """ + LinkPath + """, ""scanFilename"": """ + scanFilename + """ }" Console.WriteLine(jsonString)

Produces:

{ "id": "drawingUID", "fullPath": "DestPathContractDB", "link": "LinkPath", "scanFilename": "scanFilename" }

And that is a valid JSON string so I assume that is what the VB code is producing.
Brian Bulla 96 Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:22:28.38+00:00

Yes, I am converting some code on a tool we have been using for years. It it for sure using "". That is coming straight from the Watch window in VB and or C#.
Sam of Simple Samples 5,546 Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:36:02.097+00:00

The watch window is not showing the data as it actually exists. Viorel-1 is trying to tell you that. You need to have an accurate way to see the actual data and/or learn how to interpret the watch window.

Answer 1

Brian Bulla 96

For some reason I need the double-double quotes.

Going back to my original post, but writing the string to a text file I seem to be getting what I need. So with all the (char)34 + (char)34 seems to be working.

I was always using the Watch window and stopping my code when it didn't look right. Do you know why the Watch window shows it with \" instead of an actual ""??

I'll roll with this for now. Thanks for help and assistance on how the VS IDE works!! :-)

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:55:51.037+00:00

Did you also write the string to file in VB in order to compare the results?
Brian Bulla 96 Reputation points

2021-06-10T20:00:25.083+00:00

I will do that tomorrow.

Thanks!
Sam of Simple Samples 5,546 Reputation points

2021-06-10T20:02:35.763+00:00

Instead of accepting a post that says what has been said by others you should accept one of the posts that actually got you the result. If not then the implication is that none of the other responses helped you so for the future we know not to try to help.

Answer 2

Viorel 122.6K

In C# "a\"b" and @"a""b" means a"b.

To view the real text in Watch window during debugging, enter jsonString,nq.

Answer 3

Brian Bulla 96

Thanks Viorel. I understand how to use double quotes, but the problem is in generating double-double quotes.

Do you have an example on how to get double-double quotes (ie. ""id"" into the string).

All of my samples above are taken from the "Watch" window.

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:11:18.023+00:00
You can write like in VB:

string jsonString = @"{ ""id"": """ + drawingUID + @""", ""filePath"": """ + DestPathContractDB + @". . .".

or use serialisation techniques.

The real text will be: { "id": "123", "fullPath":"somepath" . . .}.

Answer 4

Brian Bulla 96

Hi Viorel,

I agree...it SHOULD work....but for some reason it doesn't.

So using:

string jsonString = @"{ ""id"": """ + drawingUID + @""", ""filePath"": """;

Produces this:

"{ \"id\": \"b91541c9-4cbc-4357-998c-7228cbd9604b\", \"filePath\": \""

Any other ideas??

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:21:49.913+00:00

The produced text is a valid string according to C# rules. The real text does not contain these '\'. To view the text, write it to file using File.WriteAllText("myfile.txt", jsonString) and use Notepad, or simply view it in Watch window as explained before, entering jsonString,nq.

Answer 5

Brian Bulla 96

Hmmm....ok, so writing to the text file I get:

{ "id": "b91541c9-4cbc-4357-998c-7228cbd9604b", "filePath": "

Using: string jsonString = @"{ ""id"": """ + drawingUID + @""", ""filePath"": """;

So the double-double quotes are still missing.

Any other ideas??

Viorel 122.6K Reputation points

2021-06-10T19:28:51.407+00:00

Do you need double-double quotes or a valid JSON string?

Share via

Using Double-Double Quotes in a C# string

6 additional answers

Your answer