From: Dan Zwell <dzwell@...>
Date: 2007-06-13T11:36:50+09:00
Subject: Re: Querying MySQL from a select box form

Brandon Robison wrote:
> I don't even know how to explain the weirdness of this one except to
> show the query it's making when it displays the error
> 
> http://www.customlasercutting.com/site/info/materials
> 
> Scroll down to the yellow "Materials search too" box and try selecting,
> say... black AND black top white core (under colors). Normally the query
> uses IN, not LIKE, but so I could see the query, I made it like that.
> 
> Notice how it puts %2520 for spaces (or %252F for /)? It messes up the
> query, obviously. How would I tell it to output a " " instead of %2520?
> 
> Also, it only does it when multiple items are selected. If you select
> JUST one item with spaces, it works
> 
> Ruby code: http://pastie.caboo.se/69978
> Select boxes: http://pastie.caboo.se/69979
> 
> Any help with this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
> 

(Sorry--this may be a double send.)
Brandon,

I notice that when a space is converted to URL characters, it becomes
%20. When a percent sign is converted, it becomes %25. So you get %2520
when you attempt to convert " " twice: " " -> "%20" -> "%2520"

The same is true of the conversion for "/".

I don't see where these conversions are taking place, but knowing what's
wrong may be enough for you to find it. However, I think something else
is wrong with your queries, because selecting two items never seems to
work, regardless of whether they contain spaces.

Dan