App is not updating database when string contains spaces

Question

I ran into a weird problem. I built a mysql database where the user can store his contacts through an app. He just adds his contact information by clicking on a button. Then, the data is added to the database.

However, when the contact's information has spaces between his first name, last name or number the app refuses to accept the data. I dont get an error message or anything like that, but I also dont get any confirmation. The record does not exist in the database.

There is no problem with my php file (The file is definitely correct, I got it checked here, twice). Here is my code:

NSString *strURL = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"http://www.abc.com/phpFile.php?number=%@&name=%@&lastname=%@", number, firstName, lastName];

NSData *dataURL = [NSData dataWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:strURL]];
        NSString *strResult = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:dataURL encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];

        NSLog(@"%@", strResult);

Please don't anthropomorphize your code. It makes it difficult for some people to follow. — Paul Nikonowicz, Feb 08 '12 at 15:07
Are you using Core Data? Maybe one of the entities attributes type is not set correctly. — JDx, Feb 08 '12 at 15:08
@Paul: Sorry, english is not my native tongue and I get carried away sometimes, I will edit it. — Blade, Feb 08 '12 at 15:22

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 08 '12 at 15:09

5

The space character is not allowed in a URI. Use %20 to encode the space. There are other characters that are also not allowed as part of the URI. Look up URI encoding.

answered Feb 08 '12 at 15:09

bbarnhart

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Thanks. I was thinking the same thing. But I have no idea where I could put it in my code, because I can't know where the spaces will be when someone uses the app. – Blade Feb 08 '12 at 15:21
1

Look at the following link for how to encode: [link](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3140424/stringbyaddingpercentescapesusingencoding-not-working-with-nsstrings-with-0) – bbarnhart Feb 08 '12 at 15:35

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 08 '12 at 21:57

NSString *strURL = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"http://www.abc.com/phpFile.php?number=%@&name=%@&lastname=%@", number, firstName, lastName];
strURL  = [strURL stringByAddingPercentEscapesUsingEncoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding]

NSData *dataURL = [NSData dataWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:strURL]];
        NSString *strResult = [[NSString alloc] initWithData:dataURL encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];

        NSLog(@"%@", strResult);

App is not updating database when string contains spaces

2 Answers2