How does one escape special characters while compile the package.

Question

Hi
The below is my function, while compiling the function in SQL plus it’s asking the substitute values, still I want to & symbol this column 'S&P Long Term Rating'
now my question is how to avoid while compiling substitute values
FUNCTION get_attribute_list RETURN t_ref_cursor AS
lv_array varchar2_table_type := varchar2_table_type('Emerging Market Flag'
,'Region Code'
,'Region Name'
,'Moody''s Rating'
,'S&P Long Term Rating'
,'Credit Rating'
,'Region ISO'
,'Loan Country Code'
,'Loan Country Name'
,'What If Emerging Market Flag');
lv_ref t_ref_cursor;
lv_step_name a_run_log.step_name%TYPE;

Answer 1

Frank Kulash wrote:
SET DEFINE OFF is the best solution, as long as you don't need substritution variables elsewhere in the function.Agreed, however, just to toss out an alternative I use alot:
anytime I encounter a "special" or "odd" character (ie &, CR, LF, TAB, whatever ...)
I usually resort to stuffing it into a constant variable :)
Of course, the OP's code might beg why the hardcoding in the proc? If the values being passed in via parameters, none of this is an issue. :)
(in other words - if the OP is encountering this "issue" with a simple test - it might be worth mentioning - it might not be an issue with the "production" code - assuming things are being passed in via parameters)
set serverout on
declare
   lc_Amp   VARCHAR2(1) := CHR(38);   -- Ampersand
   lv_var   VARCHAR2(100);
begin
   lv_var := 'S' || lc_Amp || 'P Long Term Rating';
   dbms_output.put_line ( lv_var );
end;
/