Python string formatting error

Question

I'm trying to bind a parameter in SQL:

sql = "SELECT COLUMN_NAME,DATA_TYPE FROM USER_TAB_COLS WHERE TABLE_NAME=UPPER(:TABLENAME)"
print 'TABLENAME=',TABLENAME
sqlqry = sql %(TABLENAME)

but get the string formatting error:

TypeError: not all arguments converted during string formatting

What could be the problem?

What did you expect? I don't see any valid format specifiers in your string. — Lev Levitsky
– Lev Levitsky, Commented Nov 14, 2012 at 21:31
If you're using sqlite3 I'd recommend using prepared statements. — Whymarrh
– Whymarrh, Commented Nov 14, 2012 at 21:33
If you want to use a keyword in your substitution, replace :TABLENAME with %(TABLENAME)s, and then substitute like sql % {'TABLENAME': TABLENAME}. If you don't care about keywords, just use %s as mentioned below (however this introduces SQL-injection risks and prepared statements as mentioned by @Whymarrh would be the safest). — RocketDonkey
– RocketDonkey, Commented Nov 14, 2012 at 21:36

The Unfun Cat · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-14 21:34:10Z

1

You are missing a placeholder in your string.

You want to replace :TABLENAME in the string sql with %s I suspect.

answered Nov 14, 2012 at 21:34

The Unfun Cat

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Comments

Bas Wijnen · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-14 21:35:33Z

0

You really should post a bit more code for this to be entirely clear, but it looks like the string 'sql' doesn't contain any %-codes to be substituded. You are trying to substitude one value, but not all of those were used (in other words, nothing was substituted). You should use %s instead of :TABLENAME.

answered Nov 14, 2012 at 21:35

Bas Wijnen

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