Question

I have a select statement

command.commandText = "SELECT FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME FROM MYTABLE" +
                      " WHERE STATE LIKE @STATE + '%';";

This gives me an “‘” error

I tried this one

command.commandText = "SELECT FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME FROM MYTABLE" +
                      " WHERE STATE LIKE @STATE" + "'%';";

This gives me ‘%’ error… What is the correct way

Answer 1

You must add % in actual parameter value, not in query:

command.commandText = "SELECT FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME FROM MYTABLE WHERE STATE LIKE @STATE";
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("STATE", "CALI%");

If you have some value saved in string valState, for example, just append % in AddWithValue:

string valState = "Cali";
// ...
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("STATE", valState + "%");