Format a message using MessageFormat.format() in Java

Question

I have stored some messages in a resource bundle. I'm trying to format these messages as follows.

import java.text.MessageFormat;

String text = MessageFormat.format("You're about to delete {0} rows.", 5);
System.out.println(text);

Assume that the first parameter i.e the actual message is stored in a property file which is somehow retrieved.

The second parameter i.e 5 is a dynamic value and should be placed in the placeholder {0} which doesn't happen. The next line prints,

Youre about to delete {0} rows.

The placeholder is not replaced with the actual parameter.

---

It is the apostrophe here - You're. I have tried to escape it as usual like You\\'re though it didn't work. What changes are needed to make it work?

Ironing

Answer 1

Add an extra apostrophe ' to the MessageFormat pattern String to ensure the ' character is displayed

String text = 
     java.text.MessageFormat.format("You''re about to delete {0} rows.", 5);
                                         ^

An apostrophe (aka single quote) in a MessageFormat pattern starts a quoted string and is not interpreted on its own. From the javadoc

A single quote itself must be represented by doubled single quotes '' throughout a String.

The String You\\'re is equivalent to adding a backslash character to the String so the only difference will be that You\re will be produced rather than Youre. (before double quote solution '' applied)

Emrick

Is there any other method to do format like this but not converting single quote to double single quote? because it is annoying. – Exegete

Why in C # I do not need to do this? – Ivyiwis

Answer 2

Just be sure you have used double apostrophe ('')

String text = java.text.MessageFormat.format("You''re about to delete {0} rows.", 5);
System.out.println(text);

Edit:

Within a String, a pair of single quotes can be used to quote any arbitrary characters except single quotes. For example, pattern string "'{0}'" represents string "{0}", not a FormatElement. ...

Any unmatched quote is treated as closed at the end of the given pattern. For example, pattern string "'{0}" is treated as pattern "'{0}'".

Source http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/text/MessageFormat.html

Housework

Answer 3

You need to use double apostrophe instead of single in the "You''re", eg:

String text = java.text.MessageFormat.format("You''re about to delete {0} rows.", 5);
System.out.println(text);

Handcrafted

Answer 4

Using an apostrophe ’ (Unicode: \u2019) instead of a single quote ' fixed the issue without doubling the \'.

Minimal

Answer 5

For everyone that has Android problems in the string.xml, use \'\' instead of single quote.

Pairs

Answer 6

Here is a method that does not require editing the code and works regardless of the number of characters.

String text = 
  java.text.MessageFormat.format(
    "You're about to delete {0} rows.".replaceAll("'", "''"), 5);

Carlist

Why replaceAll if it's not a regex? Can only use replace – Woden