Linked column with # sign doesn't work in report results

Question

I have a 2 page query situation, whereas in the 1st page I have a wildcard query to find a product number.
This product number is set-up as link to run a report which opens in another page.
(Type is a STRING.)
Everything works fine unless the product number starts with the # sign.
I can run a report using this in a non-linked page, but it doesn't work in the linked page...?
Simple queries
Page 1
select
from
Products
WHERE (((upper(TOP_ITEM) like upper(:P1_SEARCH)||'%')))
and :P1_SEARCH is not null
(Link on Top Item - :P2_Search)
Page 2
select
from
Products
where Top_Item = :P2_Search
(This works fine if I enter the #[Product] into the text field)
Link doesn't work...?

Answer 1

You need to escape the "#" character in the product no and generate the link's HTML code in report #1 directly within the SQL query.
select ..
   ,'<a href="f?p=REPLACE(product_number,'#',''%23)
  ,'<a href="f?p=' || :APP_ID || ':200:' || :APP_SESSION || '::NO::P200_PRODUCT_NUMBER:' || REPLACE(product_number,'#','%23') || '"> Link</a>' product_number_link
FROM ..
{code}
<i> 200 is report #2's page
P200_PRODUCT_NUMBER is report #2's page item which is set on redirecting to that page.
Product_number is the column name of column with '#' characters
Change display type of product_number_link column to "standard report type"</i>