Help on JSTL sql:query / tag

Question

Hi.....
Currently i am trying to query a date from MSSQL using <sql> tag. I had tested in MSSQL on this SQL statement which is:-
SELECT * FROM hr_leave WHERE startDate LIKE 'Apr 20 2006%'
It can query my MSSQL datetime.
Then , I apply this query inside my JSP/JSTL page which is :-
<%@ include file="/common/header.jsp" %>
<%@ taglib prefix="sql" uri="http://java.sun.com/jstl/sql" %>
<jsp:useBean id="now" class="java.text.SimpleDateFormat"/> <!-- get current date -->
<c:set var="userid" value="${sessionScope.currentUser.id}"/> <!-- get current user id -->
<c:set var="dates"><fmt:formatDate value="${now}" type="DATE" pattern="MMM dd yyyy"/></c:set>
<sql:setDataSource var="ds" driver="com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerDriver" url="jdbc:sqlserver://192.168.250.86:1223;DatabaseName=eleavedb;SelectMethod=cursor" user="sa" password="sapassword"/>
<sql:query var="countLeave" dataSource="${ds}">
SELECT * FROM hr_leave_entry WHERE startDate LIKE (?, '%')
<sql:param value="${dates}"/>
</sql:query>
From the code above it displayed an an error for me. I am worried whether my select statement and my way of using the '%' symbol is it not correct.
Can anyone guide me? Thank You!

Answer 1

And the error was?
No, that sql does not look valid the way that you have written it.
Parameters are NOT copied/pasted into sql strings. They replace the value directly. So the correct sql would be
SELECT * FROM hr_leave_entry WHERE startDate LIKE ?
You would need to actually pass the parameter as 'Apr 20 2006%'