CFLib.org – Common Function Library Project

Description:
There exists a problem in all versions of ColdFusion when you try to urldecode a string that contain a lone "%" such as "5% credit card". Usually the "%" will translate to "%25" if URLEncoded. However sometimes when programming you might not scope a variable so that you can get the value from either the URL or a FORM post. The problem is that if you get the variable from a FORM post, the string is not URLEncoded, this is where the bug comes into effect. In CF5 and below the uncoded "%" in the string will be returned as a blank, such as "5 credit card". However in CFMX this will cause an exception error. This UDF is a workaround for both CF5 and CFMX until a hotfix is available.

Return Values:
Returns a string.

Example:

<cfset variables.string = "5% credit card">
<cfoutput>#FixURLDecode(variables.string)#</cfoutput>

Parameters:

Full UDF Source:

/**
 * This is a workaround for the URLDecode bug that exists in CF5 and CFMX.
 * 
 * @param string      String to url decode. (Required)
 * @return Returns a string. 
 * @author Anthony Petruzzi (tonyp@rolist.com) 
 * @version 1, September 23, 2004 
 */
function fixURLDecode(string){
    return URLDecode(ReReplaceNoCase(string, "%([^A-F0-9{2}])", "%25\1", "ALL"));
}