Java Properties: how to escape # (hash)

Question

How do I escape the hash sign (#) in Java properties files.

We have an internationalization framework that uses Java properties files.

There is a column called number and we want its header to be #. This ...

number=#

... doesn't work.

Answer 1

This one should work without any escape character:

number=#

Just made a small test using code ....

prop.load(new FileInputStream ("./res/app.properties"));
System.out.println("Property: " +prop.getProperty("Number"));

... and property file (note upper/lower case):

Number=#
Text=test

Result:

Property: #

So rather check your spelling, lower/upper case or further processing.

Check out this or that one (linking Java documentation too) for more.

p.s.: though it shouldn't be required you could also try the Unicode sequence: \u0023.

Cheers!